SURFS and RIPPLES

“From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” 1 Chronicles 12:32, NLT

October 9, 2016. Seattle, Washington. A brown skinned young lady rushes toward my wife and me, beside herself with joy and exclaiming, “Uncle Bakht Singh, Uncle Bakht Singh!”

“What is going on?” I wondered, bracing for one of God’s frequent pleasant surprises.

It was a joy to be invited to Seattle Missions Fest early last month to serve as a keynote speaker on their insightful theme, Global Disruption: Problem or Opportunity? How appropriate, considering the present, unprecedented global movement of people—voluntarily and forcibly—be they economic migrants, refugees from war and terrorism, or international students. There are more people on the move than ever in world history: 245 million of them crossing international borders, including over five million international students. That is a wave!

Why? Because God is on the move! Paul’s message on Mars Hill makes clear the sovereignty of God in determining the eras of history and the locations of people. God makes and moves in waves so His people get to spread His fame (Acts 8:4) while others get to know His name (Acts 17:26-27).

We cannot create these waves but can learn to surf them as God makes them. As a mission agency, we feel honored that God would open our eyes to see His latest wave. We are learning to surf it. Welcome to the new era of mission where globalization has so shrunk time and space that international student ministry is not local, not global, but glocal. Small local action in any Canadian city can have huge global ramifications through a ripple effect.

For a perfect example of surfs and ripples, consider the young lady I mentioned earlier.

Her name is Lima. When she saw a slide of Bakht Singh, a Sikh international student who was transformed by the love of Winnipeg’s John and Edith Hayward, Lima couldn’t believe her eyes. That young man, Bakht Singh, returned to India to disciple her parents, marry them, commission them for ministry among university students in India, and dedicate her (Lima) as a baby.

Lima’s father later became an international student in the U.S. where she was raised. She served as a missionary in China and now serves the Lord with her Chinese husband and three children among low income families and refugees in the U.S.

The pebble was dropped in Canada, rippled to India, returned to the U.S., spread to India and China, just reconnected to Canada and . . . who knows what and where next?

May we understand the times we live in, learn to surf God’s waves, and allow Him to use us to cause glocal ripples from where we work and live to the ends of the earth!

Dr. Yaw Perbi

President

ISMC

Among the stories of international students impacting the world through Jesus Christ, I share that of Wing (name changed), a Ph.D. student from China who attended the FOCUS Club at the University of British Columbia.

Wing recalls, “I heard a voice inside saying ‘Why don’t you become a Christian?’ Until then, a different question was there: ‘Why should I become a Christian?’ I knew this was God speaking.”

Wing’s face beamed as she told us how she gave her life to Christ. Soon after, in the cold December waters of Vancouver’s English Bay, she was baptized.

When I met her in Beijing a few months later, Wing shared how God answered our prayers for the defense of her thesis on feminism. Before coming to Vancouver and joining the FOCUS Club, she had been frustrated by her inability to complete a crucial chapter of her dissertation. It was on the nature of men and women and how this contributes to a proper view of the potential and dignity of women. However, once Wing became a Christian and read Genesis 2 and 3, she was able to finalize the writing, using the creation story. Wing knew she was taking a huge risk in using the Bible as support, but God honored her faith and courage with a successful defense.

Wing’s dream had been to teach in a large university where she could inspire the next generation, particularly young women, to become all they hoped to be. In China, the competition for such jobs is fierce. Once again, we rejoiced together as God answered our prayers—Wing is teaching and reaching hundreds of students at a prestigious university. As a Christian, she is living out her dream and impacting the world—not for herself and not for her university or family, but for Jesus Christ!

Wing’s story is one of many about international students coming to the Lord in Canada before returning home, carrying the light of Christ to shine into the lives of many.

John Cuddeford

Campus Director

University of British Columbia, Vancouver

For international students, life as a new Christian is often more different in Canada than it is when they return home.

In Canada, they can comfortably join ISMC or other Bible-based programs and be surrounded by supportive and helpful Christians. But back home, many may feel disconnected from the good news. To address this situation, ISMC’s returnee department is building a network so returnees can connect to Christian communities in their homeland. We see this as an essential empowerment for continued growth in the faith. Dave Buchner speaks of following up returnees as an important and heartfelt part of the Guelph ministry:

“We normally meet with the students to discuss necessary re-adjustments, answer questions, and give an informal gospel presentation. All returnees receive a DVD with our Bible studies and other resources in English and in their language. Once they are back home, we follow up with group messages, personal emails, and feedback to ensure they have connected to a Christian community. It is a good way to explore Christianity, even if they are not believers.

Recently, during individual meetings to prepare three of our Chinese Bible study participants for returning, those who had become believers were linked before returning home. For example, Jim and family were connected with a house church, Kate returned to connect with her best friend who was already a Christian, and Milli expressed a desire to see a sign that God is real. A few days later, before she left, she shared how God had spoken to her in a dream and she opened her heart to Jesus. We are excited to see God working through miracles today! Milli and her husband (already a believer in China) attend a Bible study group we’ve connected them to.”

We are so grateful for the pioneering work the Buchners have done in the area of returnee ministry. Please pray with us in asking God to strengthen the resolve of our student friends, so they can impact their world for Jesus Christ at home.

Cam Janzen

Vice President

ISMC International Field

“I press on toward the goal the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

As a young soccer fan, I used to get very frustrated and terribly agitated when my favourite national team then, Brazil, would dribble and dance with the ball in their characteristic Samba style of play, sometimes dominating as much as 80% possession and yet not score any goals! “Come on guys!” I would scream in my heart, “No one wins a soccer game by even 100% possession!” The only way to win is to put the ball in the net—score goals. And as many as possible, for that matter.

In life and ministry, it is easy to be caught up in a bunch of good activities one after the other, and be busy, very busy, but how can we tell if that busyness really counts? Unless we have a clear God-given purpose and keep that end in mind, it just might be, in the words of Shakespeare, ‘much ado about nothing.’

I was fortunate to learn early in my marketplace career to “schedule my priorities” rather than “prioritise my schedule” for even if one gets to check off all items on a ‘To Do’ list that isn’t tantamount to ‘success.’ Like riding hard on a rocking horse yet going nowhere, activity doesn’t necessarily equate to productivity. What determines if it is a win?

Boy has there been frolic activity in ISMC over the past three years since I’ve had the privilege of leading this strategic mission. Yes, we praise God for the average 70% growth of ISMC in pioneer ministries and new staff over those 36 months and a whole lot of other major ministry milestones chalked, but really “so what?”

As a mission, our senior leadership team together with the Board recently went through a very engaging exercise asking ourselves, “What’s a win for us?” We concluded that at the end of each day, week, month or year, ISMC would have won when:

• International students/scholars have been given opportunities to become disciples of Jesus Christ;
• These students/scholars are growing in their discipleship and leadership journey;
• We have good community and harmony among staff and volunteers while we facilitate these above opportunities, and;
• We are able to do all of this in a financially sustainable manner (we can ‘afford’ this enterprise).

It is a joy to share how under God we’re mostly winning valiantly; and even when we don’t win, we evaluate, learn and “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Dr. Yaw Perbi

President

ISMC

ISMC marked a historic moment during International Students Day last November when a new FOCUS Club was launched at Memorial University in St. John’s. The launch theme, Humanity United, aligned with the world’s standing in solidarity with Paris due to the terrorist attacks that took place the weekend before the launch.

Thirty-five students from ten countries heard ISMC President Yaw Perbi talk
about his experience with multiculturalism, the diversity of international students pursuing academic studies in Canada, and the opportunity to reach international students with the message of Jesus Christ. He emphasized the significance of leadership development in preparing international students for their roles and influence in society. The extension of international student ministries to Newfoundland has awakened a sense of responsibility in reaching the nations through international students.

Since the launch of the Newfoundland FOCUS Club, God has guided us beyond what we could have imagined. For example, we established two significant partnerships, one with Bethesda Pentecostal Church to organize an international student Christmas dinner and another with the Memorial University Pentecostal Ministry to arrange a weekly Alpha series for all students. We really thank God for how far He has brought us and look forward to seeing more international students impacted by the message of Jesus Christ!

Alex Akrofi Yeboah

student leader of FOCUS Club

Memorial University, Newfoundland

The great Middle Ages poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, has been credited for taking what the third century Roman saint, Valentine, stood for and bringing about the celebratory day of romantic love we know as Valentine’s Day. As followers of love itself, God (1 John 4:8), and as His servants at the University of Saskatchewan, we serve to show and tell of a love more lasting than human romantic love.

Every day we marvel at how God’s love reveals itself as we witness international couples growing to love each other, young parents enthralled by the life of their newborns, and young Christians understanding God’s love for them and His calling to love His family. In the past twelve months, we attended weddings, newborn celebrations, and baptisms in our international community. What a privilege and joy to be part of their lives and to share our experience in helping these young friends learn God’s wonderful plan for marriage, parenting, and a love relationship  with God himself.

During International Students’ Day last November, the FOCUS Club at Douglas College I regularly attend set up a Pray for the World booth so students could pray for recent global events.

Initially indifferent, I did not feel like joining. What’s the big deal? I would rather spend time studying, but decided to participate because I was curious why God would care about these things when I saw nothing worth caring about.

To my surprise, many students—Christians, non-believers, atheists, even Jehovah Witnesses and Muslims—prayed with us in Jesus’ name! I was moved to see many so concerned about others that they came to write their prayer requests at our booth. I saw that this is how all of us should live—loving one another, no matter our beliefs and religious background.

The Bible teaches us to love one another, for love comes from God (1 John 4:7). Yet, many Christians, including me, fail to do it. We barricade ourselves from those who have different beliefs and religions, a different sexual orientation, or a different culture or race. We consider ourselves right and others wrong. Our prideful attitude and behavior have created conflicts, hatred, and wars. They also influence me to become an individualist who does not care as I should. At the prayer booth, God led me to a new perspective—that we can choose to set aside our barriers and pride, that we can choose to live in unity and peace, and that we can choose to love and care through simple acts like praying together for the world and each other. All are possible when we understand how much God loves us!

“Bless you!” many students said as they left our booth. Yes, I am truly blessed because of this experience. It taught me the true meaning of love. I pray for the world to truly understand the meaning of love so we can live in unity and peace.

Eunice Dyani Tanuwijaya

Student Leader of FOCUS Club

Douglas College, Vancouver

It is my passion to serve as Moncton city director. Together with my volunteer team, we lead a weekly FOCUS Club for fellowship, thoughtful discussions, social activities, and outreach. Most of my time is given to building friendships with friendly international students.

Last December, we invited international students to join us in celebrating Christmas; we enjoyed a precious time of eating, playing games, laughing, and discussing life issues. What a joy to share Christ’s love by simply doing life with these internationals!

Our Moncton ministry is exciting and challenging as we seek to equip and encourage students to take the gospel home with them. Our vision is to see students built into communities of disciples and transformed by the gospel so they will impact the university, the church, and society for Christ’s glory!

Please pray with us that these students will discover Jesus, develop spiritual maturity, and become godly leaders.

Paulin Ngweth

City Director in New Brunswick

ISMC

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Matthew 28:8-9 NIV

Founded by Billy Graham in 1974 and cemented by the likes of John Stott, when the Lausanne Movement speaks, people listen. This pivotal movement, which connects ideas and influencers for global mission, has undergone significant changes over the past couple of months, such as appointing new and generally younger leaders.

In November 2015, Dr. David Platt, president of International Mission Board, who is about my age, was appointed chair of Lausanne’s theology working group. A month later, I had the privilege of being appointed the new Lausanne co-senior associate for international student ministry. To God be the glory!

Several awesome things happened at Urbana 15 (InterVarsity’s student missions conference) last December in St. Louis, Missouri. There were over 600 decisions for Christ and 5,500 commitments to short-term missions! What challenged me most was Dr. Platt’s exposition on our propensity to passionately pursue a cause (even international student ministry) while personally ignoring Jesus.

Indeed, wasn’t John Wesley (founder of Methodism) a devout preacher and trans-Atlantic career missionary before his conversion years later?

As Dr. Platt succinctly put it, many try to manufacture a heart for missions, yet miss a heart for Christ.

In Matthew 26:8-9, the disciples expressed concern for the poor, but just a few verses later Judas sells his Master for a few coins and Peter publicly denies Him three times.

After an incredible six weeks of visiting 13 cities to promote my Amazon book Thinking outside the Window, it was a relief to take off the entire month of January, not only to rest, reflect, recuperate, and enjoy my family, but to fully engage in ISMC’s annual 21-day fast and prayer.

How I want my heart to absolutely and fully belong to Jesus first, to Jesus only! As you step into the new year, reflect on and recalibrate your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dr. Platt’s poignant question at Urbana still resounds: “Does your heart fully belong to Jesus?” If it does, your time and energy and money should automatically follow, even if it’s a whole year’s worth of wages distilled in one alabaster jar.

The Great Commandment, to love God, comes before the Great Commission to go and tell. Worship first, then work and witness.

O that our ministry and mission for Him will only be an overflow of our absolute in-loveness with Him!

Dr. Yaw Perbi

President

ISMC