We Will Try It for Five Years!

These were my words in 2001 to Paul Maxwell, then ISMC president, when Heather and I joined the organization in Kamloops. I had hesitation and anticipation. Now, 20 years later, we are still with ISMC.

We came to ISMC from a mission and pastoral background. Though lacking university training, we had experience in cross cultural ministry and hospitality; Heather had international cooking skills. These assets attracted students to Jesus, as most of them weren’t necessarily looking for academic prowess, but instead for friendships and hospitality.

Hundreds of international students come to university in Kamloops from countries closed to traditional missionary outreach. The world was on our doorstep and most churches were unaware of the opportunity. With the confirmation of our church elders and at the invitation of the mission, we were willing to build a ministry reaching international students in Kamloops.

Some ministry highlights:

The day my closest friend from China, Rocky, was baptized. After three years of praying and showing God’s love, which included going to China to visit his family with him, Rocky gave his life to Christ. Over 100 attended his baptism and heard his testimony.

Our first (of three) international friends tour in 2008 began in Kamloops and saw us take a vanload of international students on a two-week trip across Western Canada to share in churches and FOCUS Clubs. A life-changing experience for many!

Moving to Vancouver in 2010 had challenges: a high cost of living, and deciding where to begin. So many colleges and universities! But God provided a three bedroom house with a big yard for an extremely low price. Then He began raising leaders, volunteers, and students to lead the work at Simon Fraser, Douglas College, UBC, and Langara, replacing Heather and me. Annual fundraisers and speaking in churches brought many new partnerships.

Nothing happens without prayer and God’s Holy Spirit. Taking students with me to give testimonies in meetings provides powerful examples of God at work. Asking Christians to cook, drive, or even host a student for dinner demonstrates how anyone can be involved. Forming partnerships with churches motivates involvement. When foreign missions start in our backyard, we impact the world.

Last year was challenging with COVID restrictions, so instead of hosting student groups, we (with the help of a donor) gave 90 gift packages to lonely and isolated students. About 20 of the gifts included 20 hand made scarfs and home made Christmas cookies. For many, it was their first Christmas gift while in a foreign land. God’s love is not restricted or limited!

Galatians 6:9 says we should not become weary in doing good, “for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Yes, results take time. We need to lay good foundations, persevere, learn from others, and keep planting seeds. One day there will be a great harvest if we pray and do not give up.

Bert & Heather Kamphuis
Consultants, ISMC Vancouver

But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. (Daniel 12:4 NIV)

For Muhammad, it was a dream come true when he won a full scholarship with a monthly stipend to pursue both a masters and PhD in a certain country. Now, he just wants to wake up from the nightmare, he says, and wishes he had chosen to study somewhere else. Muhammad returned to his home in northeast Africa a year ago, when embassies evacuated overseas students during the COVID-19 outbreak. He was among the legions of foreign students compelled to leave their countries of study, and whose futures have been stranded ever since. He is one of thousands of international students who recently signed an online petition and launched a social media campaign calling on certain countries to re-open their borders to them. In addition to having to borrow money from relatives to survive, Muhammad said trying to continue his studies online is a daily struggle, with an internet connection that makes it difficult to access needed materials and resources.

This real story, from an Asian newspaper report I recently read, starkly contrasts with the direct messages from good friends of mine in the last few weeks; they wanted to connect me/ISMC with international students coming to Canada. While the pandemic with its attendant travel and on-campus restrictions have slowed the in-person rush into Canada, students are still being processed to attend schools in Canada online, in-person, or both. There is no stopping of the global international student phenomenon in the light of biblical prophecy and government policy.

At the beginning of January, I had the privilege of leading a workshop on global trends in university policy at a retreat of international student ministry staff of InterVarsity USA. While certain countries have recently had policies that have repelled international students, Canada continues to produce attractive policies, including a recent announcement of 1.2 million new Canadian permanent residents over the next two years, many of whom will be graduated international students.

So, many will still rush to Canada to increase knowledge, for scripture cannot be broken, and Canadian international education policies are doing well to keep the traffic coming our way. May ISMC staff, volunteers, supporters, and partners be of good cheer. Inasmuch as we will have to continually make newer and better wineskins (mission strategies and methodologies) to remain relevant to the changing contexts and needs of students, as for the wine (God’s Spirit and international souls), it will keep flowing from the Lord of the harvest. O God of the nations, help us be faithful and fruitful in season and out of season!

Dr. Yaw Perbi
ISMC President

My name is Yaeji (Emily) Ra. I was born in Korea. My parents’ families were Christian to varying degrees; while I acted like a Christian, I just followed the letter of the law like a Pharisee, not realizing that true holiness must be motivated by God’s love.

After finishing grade five, my family immigrated to British Columbia. That meant entering grade six without any English ability! Another adjustment: changing my hard-to-pronounce name to Emily.

After graduating from high school, I took engineering because it was the only bachelor’s degree with which I could find a well-paying job quickly. Money, I thought, was the path to acquiring everything I wanted. I graduated from mechanical engineering and started my career as a field engineer in Red Deer.

In the summer of 2017, I was in a terrible accident while driving to Prince Edward Island. The doctors doubted I would survive and put me in an induced coma to deal with a badly swollen brain. My pelvis, sacrum, and left femur were broken. Despite seven brain surgeries, doctors had little hope of my surviving, telling my mom that if I did, I’d be bedridden for life.

Mother did not give up hope. She trusted that Jehovah Rapha (the God who heals) would heal me. While I was in the induced coma, she patiently read the Bible to me in Korean and English. Her prayers were answered over two years. Although I still struggle with some pain and short-term memory loss, it was only by God’s grace that I regained most of my language and singing ability.

After my accident, I no longer chased money; I followed something far more valuable: a promise from the never-changing God: “I will not leave you or forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). What joy to know that with everything having been taken from me, I could find all I needed in Christ.

With my recovery, I stopped being a pharisaic Christian and sought God personally, embracing His love. Today, I live to serve His kingdom. I rejoined the Montreal Gospel Choir, using my voice to worship and bring joy to others. I started an Airbnb Experiences soap making workshop, and by God’s grace, connected with many participants, sharing my testimony.

Although the pandemic stopped my soap making workshops, I use YouTube to share the joy of the Lord, and His miraculous healing and transformative power in my life, through my singing.

Yaeji (Emily) Ra
Former international student

Montreal Gospel Choir Christmas Concert 2019

Montreal Gospel Choir Christmas Concert 2020