The Defining Moment

“I was a pretty aimless guy,” said Alex, a student from India. “I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I wanted to do something significant in life. I thought I’d join the army, dying for the country. I thought of becoming a movie star, musician, sports star.”

Alex shared with me (Zack) how he came from a Christian background; in fact, his ancestors trace back to the ministry of Thomas the disciple, who traveled to India after Jesus’ resurrection. But even with a rich spiritual heritage, to Alex, religion had become routine. As an undergraduate, he began searching.

“I was curious about what my life was meant to be? I was afraid that I would die and what would happen after that. All this brought me to a position of reading the Bible. I never knew that so many things were there in the Bible about life and how to live. It’s been there all along. I realized that Jesus Christ was the way, the truth, and the life. That was the defining moment. It was like I found a treasure.”

Parenting for the Kingdom

The kids and I (Naomi) have recently started attending a weekly playdate. It’s been great for Cassia (2) to make friends her own age, and for me to make some new mom friends. One of those friends is a Chinese gal who I call “Eileen.” Her daughter is pictured below with our three girls.

Right away, Eileen struck me as an easy person to talk to, and a kind mother. She also gave the other moms in our group a great tip on how to re-use a pasta jar (use a hairdryer to remove the label). We’ve swapped all kinds of advice and wisdom together.

Like most people from China, Eileen was not exposed to Christianity before she came to America. The other moms in the group are all believers, so Eileen is seeing firsthand how our faith affects how we live and parent.

I was able to have a spiritual discussion with her, and she is open to learning about the Christian faith. It was very natural and comfortable to talk with her. I gave her a copy of the Chinese book, Song of a Wanderer, by Li Cheng. This book is similar to Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel, but it is written by a Chinese author. Cheng shares his story of how he came to faith in Jesus during his time as an academic in the U.S. It is an excellent resource for sharing the gospel with Chinese students and adults, and gives many reasons to believe.

Eileen has started reading Song of a Wanderer, but has told me as a busy young mom she doesn’t have much time to read. Please pray that she would make time, and for God to open the door to further discussions.

Praise Reports

•We recently celebrated “Four Decades of Naomi” (pictured above, top right).

•Alex is a growing disciple with a passion to share the gospel with fellow Indian and international students.

•God has opened door for me to talk about Him with Eileen.

Prayer Requests

•Pray for Alex to grow in becoming a leader and multiplier on campus, and to be encouraged by the Lord. It can be very isolating to be one of only a few Indian believers in a Master’s program.

•God would use Song of a Wanderer in Eileen’s life to bring her to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

•For our family to stay healthy during the oak pollen season

Special newsletter from our national office:

MOON-WALKER URGES STUDENTS TO SEARCH FOR THEIR ‘DESTINY’

International students from 64 nations pursue a quest for life’s purpose at “Vision 2016.”

NOTES, QUOTES, & ANECDOTES

Vision 2016 brought together students from 64 nations. This remarkable mixing of cultures coincided with an important spiritual development—individuals drawing closer to God

“It was encouraging for me to see the Chinese believers sharing the gospel with nonbelievers. One of the believers at my table was so full of joy! You could see how much God had changed her life.”
–Ayla Norris, student staff member “I learned that no matter how sinful you are, you can always turn to Jesus and believe on Him. I also learned why Jesus died on the cross.”
– Male student from an Arab nation Vision’s South Asian track drew 83 participants, an all-time high. “This generation is more open than their parents,” says a Bridges leader. “If you compare our opportunity to share the gospel (with South Asians) with boogie boarding, the wave is coming in, and it’s time to start paddling!”

“To have all these students from all over the world in this one place, I could stay here forever.”
– Male student from Africa

“Vision 2016 opened my eyes about my relationship with Jesus and my responsibility to express the Kingdom of God wherever I go.”
– Noadia Rodrigues, visiting faculty member from Brazil

“It (the conference) helped me to understand what Jesus did through miracles to prove that he is Messiah.”
– Male student from Iran 

Because of the rich spiritual environment at Vision, amazing breakthroughs are possible. Iris Wang, a Chinese student on a campus in Indianapolis, arrived at Vision 2015 with confusion and doubts about Jesus. Staff member Chuck Goertzen talked with her there and he remembers that “she thought that Jesus was a myth, just like Santa Claus.” But with an open heart, Iris soaked up apologetics and Bible truth throughout the 2015 gathering in Austin. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the Lord opened her eyes to faith and she asked Jesus to come into her heart. With a year of spiritual growth under her belt, she arrived happily at Vision 2016, having helped staff members Mike and Rachel Frost bring a delegation of 14 students from their campus in Indy.

Notes and Numbers

A quick summary of results from Vision 2016 

ATTENDANCE:

665 conferees; 255 staff members; 150 volunteers; 90 children…a total of 1,160 individuals

NATIONALITIES:

64 nations represented, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe

GOSPEL RESPONSES:

At least 27 students indicated that they had placed faith in Jesus

FUTURE SERVICE:

Approximately 60 Christian students indicated interest in future service with Bridges—volunteer, internship, part-time staff or fulltime staff. Some 120 students, including many of those 60, expressed interest in Bridges’ spring or summer missions.

This Big God

It’s not every day I (Zack) go to Daytona Beach (above, L), meet moonwalking astronaut Charlie Duke (above, R), and most importantly join 700 students from 60 nations. In other words, the Vision Conference was incredible!

“God is not just in our lives and our community, but He works all over the world,” said Andrea (pic. below). About her conference experience, she told us, “I saw people from different language worshiping God…the God of every tribe, every nation, every language. We are part of that big family that He has created.”

>> See the 1-minute highlight video! <<<

“I’m part of this big promise, this big God that loves all of these people from different countries. I love that about this conference, how people who have never heard of Christ come.” For many of the students in attendance, it was their first time to ever sing a worship song or see other people raising their hands to this God.

For almost all of us, it was our first time to sing in Swahili or Uzbek! One of the songs, “For this Purpose,” was translated into different languages each night and we learned together. It was a continually amazing, holy experience.

Discovering Their Destiny

Students were invited to write down their answers to these questions: “Who do you say Jesus is? What questions do you still have about God? What is your next spiritual step?” Their answer cards were put together to form a mural that spelled DESTINY, our theme.

As for Andrea, she said: “When I was not a Christian we were all in the darkness. My vision is to really reach out to those people in the darkness. That’s really hard in Malaysia,” she says, as Christians are a minority. “Some people get really in trouble if you actually share Jesus with them. But it’s something I think God is challenging me to do.”

Thank you for your partnership in reaching these students for Christ!

Praise Reports

•Vision Conference was a powerful time of lives being changed for eternity. At least 24 international students have come to know Jesus personally. Hundreds have heard the gospel clearly, learned many reasons why they can trust the Bible, and seen how the Christian faith makes sense.

•Andrea is getting a clear vision for her life as far as the work God is calling her to do.

Prayer Requests

•For the many other students who heard the gospel for the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd time but have yet to take a step of faith. Pray that the seeds that were planted would be watered.

•Pray for physical and spiritual protection for new believers who are from countries that are hostile to Christianity.

Check out the highlight video I made about the conference!

Fishers of Men

“I’m just a country boy from Belton, Texas,” said Tony. “I’m not the most well-versed man, I’m not the most educated man, I’m not the most qualified man, Biblically, to tell people things. But my love for God is so unbelievably strong because He has shown me the rewards of trusting in Him.”

Update: watch this video of Tony and others to see the full story.

I (Zack) tried to hide my smile behind the camera as Tony shared all this. He was recounting a conversation he had with a college student from Pakistan, who we’ll call “Omar.” Omar was one of 150 international students from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and all across Texas that had come to Lake Buchanan for a Bridges Fall Retreat. Tony was one of many ministry volunteers that took students out “jug-fishing” on the lake (pictured above).

Explains Tony: “We take a piece of foam with a fishing line on the end of it and push three hooks down with bait, and we out and we harvest fish. But more importantly, as time goes, we harvest people.”

Of all the spiritual conversations he initiated, Tony was most impacted by his talks with Omar: “He felt so much love on the boat, that he was literally confused about why it was that he met us – individuals that love Christ. He asked me, ‘Would it be ok if you and I talked to God and ask God to forgive me for where I have been in my life?’”

This made Tony a bit choked up: “I’ve done a lot of amazing things. I’m very blessed, despite any hardships I’ve had. But having him hug me and call me ‘Uncle Tony’ shows me that Jesus died for a reason.”
In Bridges, we love to give people like Tony the chance to minister to students, like Omar, who have come here from across the world.

A Party in Heaven for Miah

One afternoon, Miah and I (Naomi) were working on her AWANA’s memory verse, Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Miah and I talked about what we “earn” for sinning is eternal death (spiritual separation from God). But the gift that God gives us is eternal life in Heaven. With great vulnerability, Miah said, “I’m not sure that I am going to Heaven.” Miah had prayed to “give her sins to Jesus” when she was three years old, but she didn’t remember it. So we talked through the basics of the gospel, and that this is simply a gift. All you have to do is take a gift. You don’t have to “earn” it or work for it.

Miah was ready to ask Jesus in her heart. So I asked her, “Miah, do you have sin in your life?” She said yes. So I told her to tell Jesus that. Then I asked her, “Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins?” She said yes and told Jesus that, too. “Do you want Him to be your Savior and save you from your sins?” Yes! After she prayed there were tears…in both of our eyes. I told her that the angels were having a party in Heaven to celebrate!

She said with great joy, “Yes. They are celebrating because today is the day I became a Christian!” That evening, she, Zack and her sisters went to a kid’s worship album release party at our church (pictured above, in the header). She got to have a party worshipping Jesus with hundreds of other kids, just like the party in Heaven that was happening for her. She wants to get baptized soon as well.

Upcoming

Zack will be in Orange County, California from 10/25-10/28 for Cru’s Creative Arts Guild. It’s the annual gathering of “missionary artists” – designers and filmmakers on staff with Cru – to foster community and further our professional development.

Praise Reports

• 150 international students came to the Fall Retreat in Central Texas and heard the Word of God clearly.

• Miah clearly understands the gospel and received Christ!

Prayer Requests

• For effective, continued evangelism with Omar, and also for his safety as he looks more into Christ’s Word.

• For all the students who came to the Retreat to take the next step of faith.

• Miah to grow strong in her new life in Christ.

Bridges’ annual Vision conference offers you a strategic opportunity to touch international students with God’s truth.

Not just any Christian conference assembles 600-800 students from 50-60 nations—especially when half of those students arrive without a prior commitment to Jesus. Bridges’ annual Vision conference is unique and packed with spiritual potential.

This year’s Vision gathering will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida, from December 28 to January 1, and conferees will explore the theme of “Destiny.” Says Griff Housemeyer, the conference’s co-director, “These students are asking, ‘What is the meaning and purpose of life?’ and ‘What do I want my future to be about?’”

The conference will seek to deliver answers through a variety of small group discussions and evening plenary sessions.  And the first plenary will showcase one of only 12 individuals who has ever pondered the deeper questions of life while standing on the moon.

Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke, the 10th man to ever land on the moon, will describe his lunar experience and tell how he met Jesus six years after that mission ended.  Duke’s message on the evening of December 28 will dovetail with the next afternoon when students will have the opportunity to tour the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

Other plenaries will utilize videos, testimonies and perhaps drama or art to convey the truth of the Bible regarding destiny.  On December 29, says Housemeyer, “We want to help students understand God’s plan for the world.” Then on December 30, “We want them to see God’s personal plan for them as individuals.”

Aside from plenary meetings, conference sessions will be organized according to five tracks.  Chinese, South Asian and “Children of Abraham” tracks will provide contextualized teaching to both Christians and non-Christians from three major cultural groupings.  “Multi-Nations” will offer input to students from cultures not included in those first three tracks.  “Ambassadors” will provide training for Christians—international or American—who want to develop a ministry to international students.

Many participating students will be financially stretched by the $335 registration fee, so Bridges is seeking to raise scholarship funds to subsidize the cost of travel to Daytona.  Those who wish to invest in this fund can go to give.cru.org/0776598 for information and direction.

Article by Bill Horlacher, Bridges Staff at Penn State

Bridges’ global emphasis leads to summer projects around the globe.

Although some 1.3 million international students live in the USA, the global population of international students is much greater – about 5 million. Bridges International focuses on students in America, but the ministry does not want to ignore the others. Thus, Bridges periodically offers opportunities for staff members to grow in their awareness of what it is like to study and live in a foreign land.

As a result, Bridges has been emphasizing “global cities” during 2016. From last spring’s staff conference in Vancouver to next month’s leadership conference in Mexico City, staff members are experiencing other cultures.

This past summer, many staff members also broadened their horizons via summer projects in Sydney, Paris and London. While not neglecting traditional stateside outreach – for example, short “treks” took place in Boston, Raleigh and San Francisco – Bridges leadership wanted people to experience international student ministry in other lands and to give away their expertise.

“Our focus will always be on internationals in the United States,” says Chief of Staff Dan Tietz. “But as we look at these global cities, maybe we can help. Our goal is not to launch Bridges all over the world, but to come alongside partners and help them with a ministry they are already doing.”

INDIANS IN FIJI

Not only did Bridges staff members have an impact on global cities, but some also came alongside partners in lesser known places. In the island nation of Fiji, for example, staff members wanted to explain the message of Jesus to the 40 percent of that nation’s population that traces its heritage to India.

Though most Fijians grounds are open to the gospel, cultural differences hinder followers of Jesus from reaching out to the Indian population. Meanwhile, the South Asian Network of Bridges was seeking a place to train Indian Christian students in how to share God’s love with fellow Indians

So this summer, Ricky and Errica Stevens of Bridges took two international students to Fiji. Rick, from South India, comes from a background of atheism, while Sruthi grew up in the predominant religion of India. But today, both are passionate followers of Jesus, studying in the USA.

The team members found Indian students in Fiji to be open to the gospel. They had many opportunities to explain the gospel and even teach basic Christian principles to some who wanted to follow Jesus.

“One guy stood up and thanked us,” said Rick, a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island. “I was really knocked over, due to my New England experiences! How blessed it is to hear people thank us for sharing about Christ.”

CROSSING PATHS

When Bridges staff member Brian Ricci helped lead a team to Sydney, he met “Andrew,” a professor from a prestigious university in China. Shortly after they met, Andrew told Brian that while he had come to Australia to do academic research, he was really there searching for “the God.” The two became friends, and during the project Andrew placed his faith in Christ.

“I think the one true God brought me from China to Australia . . . and you from the U.S. to Australia,” the professor told Brian, “so that we could meet and you could introduce me to the one true God. I am so happy!”

Article by Bill Sundstrom, Bridges Staff at Penn State