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