Grace Community Church

International Sudents, Inc (ISI) was founded in 1953 to help university students from other countries adjust to American culture and to share the Christian faith with those who are interested.

ISI ministers to international students through professional staff and Friendship Partners (volunteer sponsors) on over 300 campuses.

Julie’s role in ISI as a ministry representative gives her various responsibilities. She spends most of her time interacting with students in order to build evangelistic friendships. She does this by tutoring English, eating meals with students, or just by simply hanging out.

She prays that as she spends time with the students they will see, feel, and hear the love of Christ, and that they will be interested in learning more about the most important relationship in her life, Jesus Christ! She leads investigative Bible studies with interested students and has the pleasure of discipling new believers.

Another responsibility Julie has is some of the behind the scenes work for our Friendship Partner program, such as making follow-up phone calls and editing the month newsletter. Through the Friendship Partner program, sponsors of students are trained in cross-cultural relationships as well as how to lead a 6 lesson Evangelistic Bible study. The family gets to build a friendship with their student and pray that the student will want to learn more about Jesus.

 
There are over 2000 international students in Wichita. Most are eager to have an American friend, and over half of those who apply for a Friendship Partner indicate an interest in learning about Christianity. Students do not live in the homes of their sponsors.

God has brought the world mission field to our doorstep. He's not calling everyone to this ministry, but could He be calling you?