Tuesday, July 20, 2010

ISI National Staff Conference Denver, CO

Every year we are blessed to gather together from all over the world for a time of fellowship, refreshment, inspiration and training. Every year our plenary speakers are top notch, and seem selected by God in perfect timing for me. This year was no different.
Dick Foth, a mentor to leaders in Washington,D.C., encouraged us to "take the adventure in trust" and follow Jesus into a relationship together, TOGETHER. David Watson, VP of Global Church Planting at City Team Ministries, challenged our strategies box with creative ideas about the elements of the kingdom tactics and leadership. Al Newell, founder of a volunteer ministry development company, taught us some principles in building effective volunteer teams. Judi Vankevich, the Manners Lady, gave us 3 keys to being good ambassadors: a respectful attitude, respectful words and respectful actions; "which is just good manners!"
This year Richard gave a testimony at a ChurchMobilizationInitiative focused lunch, and later taught in a series of friendship partner training workshops.
We heard many student testimonies that blessed and encouraged us, and saw God setting the stage for some great breakthroughs in Japan.
We returned home tired in body and refreshed in our spirits. We hope to share and implement what God has added to us.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Friendship Partner Training





This spring we had two training
sessions and have another this
summer.



The purpose is to help people interested in reaching out to international students to get comfortable with some of the differences and to cope with some of the difficulties they may encounter in the befriending process. We get to see "lightbulbs turning on" as we share helps in overcoming language issues like idioms; and culture differences that are not bad, just different. Role playing some meeting scenerios is fun and helps people understand things they've never had to think through.
We emphasize love without conditions as we share amazing stories about students who have returned home and what God did then. We help people develope an efficient way to share their own story.
Our hope is to set people up for a successful friendship experience that will lead a student to desire to know our precious Lord Jesus Christ for himself.