Two students from India performed a beautiful, traditional-style dance to illustrate the gospel. Watch the story of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection unfold, and hear how he has changed their lives:
Take Me on a Journey
As Jonathan, a student from Uganda said, “Vision Conference answers questions or needs that all human beings have. Questions about identity, questions about what’s the most important thing in life.”
This short highlight video gives you a clear picture of the spiritual impact of our Vision Conference. Check it out! (Click the CC button for subtitles.)
Transcript:
Andre – A journey isn’t just defined by physically traveling from one location to another.
Dr. Shaw – All of us are on a spiritual journey. God has planted eternity in our hearts.
Sharon – Sometimes you can be on a crossroad and you don’t know what to do.
Jonathan – Vision Conference answers questions or needs that all human beings have. Questions about identity, questions about what’s the most important thing in life.
Julie – This is a chance where I’m able to meet different people from all over the world and I’m able to explore their cultures and learn about God with them.
Alan – Coming to a place where there’s so many different people, so many different cultures represented, really encourages me.
Sharon – It’s sensitive to everybody, to every different ethnicity, and religion, because you are important to God.
Kent – Everyone was created in God’s image, and God breathed the same breath that he breathed into everybody.
Mandy – Vision Conference is to me, is like my family.
Andre – And as we go through this journey we’re trying to make sense of the world around us.
Jonathan – Jesus Christ, ultimately, is the answer to all these things. Whether you feel a sense of emptiness and loneliness, Jesus is able to fill that. Whether it’s a sense of shame or guilt, he’s an answer to that.
Mandy – He’s the true love, and he’s the true one.
Ana – He doesn’t just want to hand you good things – he will, and he does. But he wants something greater, he wants to make you a good thing, a very good thing.
Sharon – Then you’re willing to change because you just want to be with God. You just want to have walked into his likeness and have his likeness in your life.
Julie – You’re here for a reason because God has a great plan for you.
Kent – Being able to recognize that and say, God I want to give you my life. Take me on a journey, let’s see what you’re going to do in my life.
Quick Recap of Vision 2018
Check out this 1-minute recap video of Vision 2018 to get a feel for all that happened at the conference.
We are His | January Newsletter
Thank you for your prayers and support that allowed our whole family to go to Vision Conference. It was a great experience for all. Annalei joined the prayer team, and I (Naomi) could see her growing more of a heart for prayer. She also got to meet students from all over the world as she hosted a craft table, where students could depict their spiritual journey through art (pictured below).
Miah connected deeply with new friends in childcare and loved all the Bible lessons she learned. Cassia and Paxton enjoyed the elevators, the escalators, and the snow. I have realized what a blessing it is to raise my children on Bridges staff. What better way for them to develop a heart for the nations than to interact with people from all over the world.
For me, this Vision conference renewed and refreshed my tired heart. It was wonderful to be on the prayer team with my mom (who also came to help with the kids). So much of what we do as Bridges is fought in the heavenlies.
One of the most powerful images of prayer was a huge map of the entire world that was set up in the Prayer Room (pictured below).
Conference attendees could say a prayer for their home nation or a friend’s nation and light an electric candle and place it on the map. It was SO powerful to walk into this room at the end of the conference and see the whole world covered in prayer.
Our prayer team was in the room while the Chinese students shared the gospel at their outreach party. It was so fun! One gal, Arya (pictured above), caught my eye as she glowed with excitement about Jesus while sharing the gospel with the non-Christians at her table. I got a text later that during the outreach time, “at least 2 students accepted Christ, but I’m sure it’s more than that!”
Two young women from India did a powerful traditional Indian dance depicting Jesus’s death and resurrection (pictured above). At the end of the dance they said, “This is a dance form used to worship deities. This is the first time we have used this dance form to worship Jesus. We are His.” It brought many in the room to tears. It was such a beautiful picture of all Bridges hopes and prays to accomplish in the lives of internationals.
HEALING
I (along with Harriet, the prayer team leader) did an inner healing prayer session with a Japanese woman named Eriko. It was a powerful and transformative time, where the Lord spoke deep truth to His precious daughter. I’m so thankful that I could speak some Japanese to Eriko during the time!
PRAISE REPORTS
- 652 students from 71 nations attended the Vision 2018 Conference
- Hundreds of these students heard the gospel clearly.
- Believers were challenged to share their faith, commit their lives to the Lord, and some were challenged to go into full- time ministry.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- For all students — believers and seekers — to take the next step on their journey of faith.
- Eriko would live out the truth God spoke to her at Vision.
Michael’s Story | Intentional About God
“Growing up in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, I heard a lot about God, but I was never intentional about knowing him personally.” Michael is a student from Ethiopia who shared his testimony at the Vision 2018 conference. Hear the rest of his story, how he discovered a heavenly Father who understands our pain.
Vision 2018 Quick Report
Thank you so much for joining us in prayer. Wow. It was quite a conference. God really carried us (and all the Bridges staff) through it!
I heard from my friend who staffed Multi-Nations, that three Japanese Christian girls shared the gospel clearly during the outreach party. This is HUGE, as most Japanese Believers never share their faith (they think sharing the gospel is the pastor’s job). Also during the outreach party, a Japanese guy named Takuro said he wasn’t interested in God before he came to Vision, but he received the gospel explanation and is thinking “to change religions and be a Christian.”
The prayer team got to be in the room praying while the Chinese students shared the gospel at their outreach party. It was so fun! One gal, Arya, caught my eye as she just glowed with excitement about Jesus while sharing the gospel with the non-Christians at her table. I got a text from a Chinese staff member later that during the outreach time, “at least 2 students accepted Christ, but I’m sure it’s more than that!!”
As we were leaving the hotel today, there were several people milling around the lobby. No one was wearing their conference name tags, so I didn’t know who was with Vision and who was just a guest at the hotel. I said goodbye to an American who I had met in the elevator during the conference. As he acknowledged me, the young men who were with him perked up. They happily introduced themselves with big smiles. Two were from Bangladesh and one was from the Ivory Coast. Their instant warmth towards me was God’s kindness in showing me that He had answered the prayer for love and friendships to be built here in Vision. It really was like one big family!
There are SO many more stories of the work God did at Vision. We will share more in our upcoming prayer letter. We will also send out the Vision Conference Report. It is written by our Bridges staff who are gifted in story telling, highlighting some of the life change that happened these past five days. We may never know this side of heaven all that God did, but we are so thankful to be a part of it. Thank you for joining us in this adventure!!
His,
Naomi (and Zack)
Praise Reports:
-Japanese Christians shared the gospel clearly
-Takuro’s heart to “be a Christian”
-We got to see Chinese students boldly sharing the gospel
-At least 2 Chinese students accepted Christ at the outreach party
-Students felt loved and had great camaraderie at Vision
-The kids did a great job at the talent show! I posted the video to my facebook page, if you want to watch it.
Prayer Requests:
-Good rest and recovery for our family over the next few days (Paxton especially is really worn out)
-Continued gospel conversations on the bus rides home
-Middle Eastern students would accept Christ in the next few weeks (most often students from these nations accept Christ after the conference, instead of during the conference)
-New Christians (including Takuro) to be plugged into fellowship and grow spiritually
December Prayer Calendar for Vision 2018
- Overall – That the weather will not be a factor in getting students to the conference or in affecting the conference experience on-site (The possibility of a lot of snow in Denver could affect these things.)
- Promise – Praise God that Philippians 3:12-14 provides eternal perspective, giving us the right motivation to set our journey towards Jesus.
- Ambassadors – That participants will learn a lot about different cultures and have courage to engage new friends with the gospel
- Chinese – That God will direct all of the speakers as they prepare their messages. May the Lord speak through them to stir the minds and touch the hearts of Chinese participants.
- Children of Abraham (COA) – For God to bring 70 COA seeker delegates
- Multi-Nations – That God will help Joel as he works through the registration process and grouping of people; that the Spirit will put just the right combinations of people together
- South Asian – For wisdom on how to best use the time we have within the South Asian track, and that God’s ‘best’ will be clear
- Partners – Participants will have clear direction of how to put into practice what they have learned during Vision to reach internationals
- Promise – Read Philippians 2:5-11 and praise God that Jesus went on a very specific journey to save us and bring us near.
- Ambassadors – That the “Honor Restored” tool training will propel students deeper into their relationships with friends from honor/shame cultures
- Chinese – That the sessions will provide participants with authentic community and there will be meaningful spiritual discussions.
- COA – For wisdom in thinking through what locations we will challenge the believers to be sent, and that they will respond to our challenge by going on summer missions in the US and abroad
- Multi-Nations – That God will bring students into his grandeur story through Mult-Nations and that they will be a channel of blessings to others
- South Asian – That our speakers will hear from God, as they prepare for their teaching sessions
- Overall – That the final details of the conference will come together to allow for a smooth experience for everyone involved so that the focus can be on helping students know God better
- Promise – Praise God that according to Psalm 37:23-24 those who trust in the Lord will be led by God on the best journey. Even though there will be difficulties, the Lord will protect them.
- Ambassadors – That students will sign up for everyinternational.com and engage even more volunteers to serve with them
- Chinese – That Chinese believers will be moved to take steps of faith to serve God on their campus, community and to the world. We specifically pray that many students will be compelled to sign up to participate on the Chinese missions over the summer – Boston or East Asia
- COA – That the planning team for the retreat for believers following Vision will have wisdom and insight regarding a good location that accommodates all their needs, and that deep relationships and connections will be formed among all those who participate
- Multi-Nations – That God will be pleased and honored in every way so He gets all the glory
- South Asian – Ask the Spirit to create a sense of belonging within the SAN track, and remove any hindrances to the gospel being clearly understood.
- Partners – That God will work through the delegates in the Partners’ track to make Christ known to internationals and mobilize others to do the same
- Promise – Praise God for His amazing promise in Isaiah 40:28-31 to give strength to those who wait upon Him in their journey.
- Chinese – That the New Year’s dinner event will be a wonderful time of celebration, connection, and challenge. May the believers have boldness, faith and love as they communicate the gospel to seekers. May seekers understand and respond to the gospel.
- Merry Christmas! – Enjoy the Christ of Christmas today and seek for opportunities to make Him known among the nations! Praise God that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Pray that those coming to Vision 2018 who are unsure of where their journey in life will end will leave knowing how they can be sure according to I John 5:11-13.
- COA – That nothing will hinder those who registered from being able to arrive safely and really listen to what God is speaking to them during the conference.
- Staff Arrival – For good health and travel safely for staff arriving today and delegates tomorrow. Some are on buses and vans that are traveling long distances and others on planes, so pray for good weather conducive to travel. Pray that every student who comes will take a significant step forward in his/her spiritual journey.
- Day 1 – For all to feel welcomed, a smooth registration process using local volunteers, with adequate housing for all, a good start for the on-site prayer team, and a great opening session with Dr. Douglas Shaw, followed by stud-dents being introduced to their track—and for all to be a foretaste of Revelation 7:9-10.
- Day 2 – Ask God for great interaction during the track times, an enjoyable time touring in Denver (with no one getting lost), and Andree Yee creatively developing Peter’s journey of faith during the evening program. Pray for God to orchestrate some great connections and fun during the variety of choices for Community Night.
- Day 3 – Pray that momentum will build in the track times. Ask God to allow all to feel personally cared for during the campus time. Also pray for Andree Yee to continue the story of Peter’s faith journey during the evening program plus a good follow-up to that in the track times.
- Day 4 – This will be the longest day of the conference. Ask God to use Ana Schrader as she challenges believing students to live on mission. Pray God will use his talk to call many to participate on a spring or summer mission. Pray for another meaningful time touring Denver. Some tracks will have special closing banquets and some will also have outreach parties where believers will share their faith with seekers. Pray for receptive hearts to the gospel. Pray too that the New Year’s Eve party and talent show will be a fun way to end 2018 and begin 2019.
January 1 – Day 5 – Ask God to grant safely in travel home. Also pray for a chance to continue conversations that began at Vision 2018 and the ability to process all that was learned.
January 2 – Rest for all and a chance to reflect on and share with friends what was learned. Ask God for believers to share their faith with others as a way of life and seekers to continue seeking truth. Pray that movements of spiritual multiplication will be raised up on every campus/city represented.
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:
November Prayer Calendar for Vision 2018
- Multi-Nations – That God will bring students hungry and curious to know Him
- South Asian – That God will lead Dave Michaelian and David Stuckenschmidt as they go to Denver next week to meet with local South Asian Christian families, plan logistics, and secure an Indian restaurant
- Overall –. That we will see a large number of students register for the conference before the first price increase on November 10
- God’s Promise – Praise God for His promise in Deuteronomy 31:8 to go before us in our journey in life and never to forsakes us.
- Ambassadors – That programming plans will be engaging and instructive
- Chinese – For over 300 Chinese participants to attend the conference, especially for believers to bring their seeker friends. Pray that former participants will return and bring friends too.
- Children of Abraham (COA) – That the Lord will raise up 20 believers from a background of the majority religion of the Middle East to attend the COA track and potentially stay for a two-day retreat after Vision as well. Ask God to remove all the barriers for these 20 to attend.
- Multi-Nations – That God will bring students who will profit from the discipleship track as well as the track that teaches people how to share the gospel
- South Asian – That God will bring seekers with prepared hearts, so that they may take the next step toward embracing Christ as their personal Savior. (Especially greater numbers from the west coast, as this conference is more accessible than past conferences.)
- Partners – That the Lord will draw people who are excited to be trained in international student ministry
- God’s Promise – That each participant will have a vision of God as portrayed in Revelation 5:6-10
- Ambassadors – That Christian student leaders will register for Ambassadors
- Chinese – For all the staff who are planning and preparing for the Chinese track to have insight, creativity, and perseverance as they accomplish key tasks. Pray for those serving with this track for the first time to gain a greater understanding and vision for ministry to Chinese students in the U.S.
- COA – For additional COA scholarship funding to be provided for all attendees–approximately $5,000
- Multi-Nations – We are still looking for an evening emcee and possibly two morning emcees.
- South Asian – That the Holy Spirit will draw a good core of believers, who have a desire to grow in their walk with Jesus and to reach out to their peers with the love of Christ
- Overall – For wisdom for team leaders of the various parts of the conference as they work with their teams and put plans into motion
- God’s Promise – Claim Psalm 115:1 and Psalm 127:1 to be realities at Vision 2018
- Ambassadors – That many more students from around the world will come and be challenged in their faith
- Chinese – That the program will meet the needs of both seekers and believers. May they all be engaged and challenged to take the next step in their spiritual journey
- COA – For wisdom for Jerry and Mindy as they co-lead the COA track and as they delegate roles to staff, decide content, and coordinate all the moving pieces. Also pray for wisdom in deciding who and what will be shared during the COA breakouts.
- Happy Thanksgiving! Thank God for your salvation and the freedom to worship in America. Then pray for great connections and conversations between students and staff in the Multi-Nations track.
- South Asian – For funding for scholarships to help students, especially from the east coast, where bus transportation is not possible because of distance
- Partners – That attendees will experience a greater vision of what the Lord is doing among internationals and how they can be a part of it
- God’s Promise – Claim Philippians 1:6 for all participants, no matter where they are in their spiritual journeys as they come to Vision 2018. We long for each one to take the next step of faith.
- Ambassadors – That the testimony scripting time will be memorable as well as useful as they share it with others
- Chinese – That the new approaches we are trying this year will be more effective to engage with Chinese students
- COA – For Jordan Merkle, the main morning speaker for COA as he prepares the content. The COA track also wants to focus its time around the theme of a ‘Rocky Mountain Family’ and how the gospel changes our experience of being in God’s family.
- Multi-Nations – That God will work in and through the ambiance team (Jenny, Carrie, and Nichole) to help students feel cared for and loved, the scheduling team, and the program team as they get speakers and tell Biblical stories
- South Asian – For wisdom for the South Asian track planning team as they seek to address the increasing number of students from Hindu families that declare themselves to be atheist.
This Book Will Save Your Life | October Newsletter
Life Saver
“This book will save your life.” Mo looked at the Bible his friend had handed him, thinking about these words. It seemed counter-intuitive. In the Middle Eastern country they lived in, reading the Bible or believing in Jesus was dangerous. Less than 1% of their countrymen were Christian. Still, Mo was intrigued, so he tucked the Bible in his backpack, hopped on his motorcycle, and went on his way. He had no idea what God had in store for him.
Every day, Mo took out that Bible and tried to read it, but he had trouble understanding it. Every time, he returned the Bible to his backpack, not sure what to think about it.
One day, Mo was riding his motorcycle, and turned a corner into a horrible situation. Right in front of him, a man was robbed at gunpoint and then shot. Mo quickly turned around and sped away, but the robber had seen him. The man shot several times at Mo.
When he finally got to a safe spot, Mo discovered he was unharmed, to his great relief. He emptied out his backpack and then was stunned: the bullets that had been intended to kill him had lodged themselves into his Bible.
Several months later, Mo came to the United States as an international student. One day on his campus, he walked by a table and saw Bibles on display. He stopped and looked up at the people behind the table. They were Christians, representing a student ministry. He said to them, “I must talk to you. I was in a situation where the Bible literally saved my life. But can you explain about Jesus to me?”
These new friends were happy to meet with Mo and walk through the gospel with him. That day, he surrendered his life to Christ. Several months later, he had this to say:
“It’s the difference between night and day, between being in prison and being set free. My lifestyle in my home country was very bad. I had no hope. I only discovered Jesus’s power to set me free when I came here, and I was able to talk to real Christians on my campus. From them, I realized that God loves me, and wants to set me free from the prison of my sin through Jesus. Because of my faith in Jesus, my fear being punished by God is gone. Now I have hope and peace that comes only from a relationship with Jesus. I am a totally different person because of Christ.”
Launching Soon
The purpose of our training curriculum called Every International is to equip the church here in North America to reach international students like Mo for Christ. We have video lessons for reaching specific cultures and religious groups, as well as more general equipping for evangelism, discipleship and crossing cultures.
Recently, we finished up all the training videos for the website:
Very soon it will be open to the public. Currently we are testing out all the features to ensure a smooth and productive experience with the curriculum. Can you imagine the day when every international in North America knows someone who truly follows Jesus?
PRAISE REPORTS
- Mo’s new life in Christ!
- After five years of planning, and six months of hard work, Every International is done and nearly ready to launch.
- Jenny had this to say after we completed the first 6 lessons of Discovery Bible Study: “Hey Naomi, thank you for thinking of us. We are open mind and in the process as you know. We enjoyed the Bible study, and loved the discussion as well as sharing among the group.” Praise God that Jenny and Peter’s hearts are so open to the Lord.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Spiritual protection over Mo and other new Muslim background believers.
- A smooth process for the public launch of Every Int’l.
- Jenny and Peter to become Christians soon.
- Salvation of our neighbor, Ashley, and another friend, Alonzo, who also attended our Discovery Bible Study.