In 2005, Cam Janzen was already serving interculturally through the ESL ministry of a Chinese church, but he was looking for more relationships and fewer grammar lessons. So he started to explore other opportunities to serve international students. That’s when he came across International Student Ministries Canada and began a conversation with then-President Paul Workentine.

Following God’s leading, Cam and his family joined ISMC Vancouver in 2006. “It was an exciting and very stretching time,” says Cam. He remembers being on his own at Simon Fraser University, developing friendships with students and partnerships with a church on campus. And God was at work! The first student Cam led to Christ became an ISMC student intern, then staff. This student introduced his future wife to Christ, and now their family is growing in faith. “I discovered that this ministry not only crosses cultures, but generations,” says Cam. “I’ve seen this multiple times.”

Cam’s ministry was filled with student activities

After several years in Vancouver, Cam and his family transferred to the University of Saskatchewan to be closer to family, where they continued sharing their lives with students from around the world. As city director, Cam’s ministry was filled with Bible discussion groups, gym nights, potlucks, and social activities, though he also made time for deeper relationships with individual students.

But Cam’s role was also changing, and as he assumed national leadership roles, he stepped away from coordinating big events. He first served in returnee ministry leadership: “A positive change I’ve seen in ISMC is the focus on trying to find God-connections for graduates moving home or elsewhere for further studies or work,” he says. “We might not be able to keep close contact with every student, but we can do our very best to introduce them to someone who will walk with them in the next part of their life adventure.”

Then, about five years ago, Cam became ISMC’s executive vice president. “The transition was life-giving,” says Cam. “Along with serving students, I truly enjoy building into the lives of ISMC staff. I’m passionate about caring for our staff and do my best to equip them for their ministry contexts.”

ISMC’s 40th year brings another significant change to Cam’s role: next month he becomes ISMC’s fifth president. While Cam was serving as vice president under Yaw Perbi and then under Jakob Koch, he never considered the role of president. “But Jakob showed us a model of leadership that resonated deeply,” says Cam. “I am excited and humbled to be in a position to encourage and grow ISMC as we begin our next 40 years.”

Cam is looking forward to seeing how God continues to bring together people of various cultures and life experiences to reach out to international students in innovative, simple, yet effective ways.