Category: Partnership

Good News of Great Joy for All Nations

Merry Christmas from the Russell family! Whether you are traveling or staying home, gathering with loved ones or keeping it simple, we hope you have a wonderful celebration of Christ’s birth.

The Vision Conference this year will be a hybrid virtual and in-person event (in Baltimore/Washington DC). I will attend the conference in person and Naomi will be a member of the Virtual Vision Conference Prayer Team, as she is at home with the kids. Every year, the Lord is so faithful to change lives at this conference. We are praying the Lord will show up again in a mighty way.

This is our largest and most strategic ministry event of the year. Be sure to check your inbox for daily prayer request/praise report updates from Naomi 12/28-12/31 to join us in prayer.

One highlight for Naomi has been staying in touch with a Nigerian student she met, named Joke (Joe-Kay), at Vision 2019. Joke (pictured below on the left) said this about Vision…

I had the opportunity to attend the Vision Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019. It was a time of refreshment and belonging for me. Most international students like me do not have the opportunity to go back home and spend the holiday with family. My experience in Atlanta led me to participate in the conference again last year, even though it was virtual. The Vision Conference was an avenue to share my faith and the gospel of Christ with other students.

I have made friends from all over the world from the conference, and I still stay in touch with them sharing my experience and growth in Christ with them. Also, I experienced growth in my walk with God from the teaching and discipleship during the conference. I now boldly share my faith with whoever comes my way.

Presently, I have a YouTube channel (“jokemoore”) that is dedicated to the Kingdom & work, and the propagation of the gospel. The best decision I have ever made was surrendering my life to Christ and trusting him from that day onward. I believe in using my gifts and talents to serve God. It will be an excellent opportunity for me to attend the Ambassador Track training, which is the highest level of the tracks to prepare me for a leadership role on my campus and even beyond.

I will be doing videography at the Vision Conference, and Joke will be one of the students I get to interview! I can’t wait to share more of her story with you.

As 2021 draws to a close, we invite to you to further your partnership with our ministry to students like Joke. If you haven’t yet, would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift? You can give directly on Cru’s donation website. Thank you for considering us and for how you already bless our family!

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The Strategic Importance of Ministering to International Students

Writing for Christianity Today, Ed Stetzer lists three reasons why reaching internationals for Christ is a significant opportunity for the church in North America:

These students themselves matter.

The nations from which these students are coming matter.

Taking advantage of the opportunities for ministry God gives us matters.

From Stetzer’s article, “Ministering to International Students”

Only a quarter of these 1.8 million international students in North America gets invited to someone’s home. So the impression of America they go home with is often a mosaic of our media and politics. There’s an incredible opportunity for American believers to love these students by having them over for a meal.

Many of them come from places where Christians are very few and have to meet in secret. Missionary activity in many of these countries is illegal or culturally forbidden. Yet they have been brought near to our churches and fellowships.

Engaging in missions and reaching internationals is not an either/or, but a both/and. By sharing the gospel with the top tier students that come to North America, we are influencing the future leaders of countries hostile to or devoid of the Christian faith.

Every International | Special Year-End Request

“Lord Jesus, you have told us to take your gospel to all peoples of all lands. But it means leaving our families, friends and culture to tell your message in a foreign land and language to an alien people. So send the people to us! Send those who are bright and vigorous, who will someday be leaders in their home countries. Send many from places where missionaries are forbidden to go. And let them be well distributed around the country so that lots of churches and individual Christians can take part.”

This prayer was printed decades ago in a college ministry magazine. At the time, only 100,000 international students were in North America. Today, there are 1.8 million, many from gospel-resistant countries. God has answered the first half of this prayer, to bring the whole world to our doorstep, but what about the second half?

Our answer is EveryInternational.com, a training and mobilizing website for the Church in North America. This ministry tool is a major collaboration between Bridges International and 11 other international student ministries. It’s been the main focus of our work this year and a long-term dream come true. The training website is live now — go check it out!

To continue ministry to these “bright and vigorous future leaders,” we are trusting God for an additional $9,000, so our family can end the year at full budget. One aspect of this need is the Vision Conference on December 28, our biggest student ministry event of the year. For the first time, all six of us will attend. We are excited about bringing our kids to Vision, to let them interact and worship with students from dozens of nations.

Would you consider giving a year-end gift to our ministry of $250, $100, or some other amount? You can make a donation here:

Year-End Giving

As 2017 comes to a close, would you consider a special gift to our ministry?

Our ministry with international students is possible through the generous gifts of people like yourself. We are currently in need of additional funding to continue effective ministry to these students. Your partnership makes an eternal difference in helping to bring the message of Jesus Christ to people all over the world. All gifts are income tax-deductible. Thank you for considering.

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