I’d like to update you on two key initiatives coming up in January. Please remember these in prayer. The annual International Student Regional Southeast Conference will take place again this January 19-21 in Alabama. This year’s conference theme is Knowing, Growing and Sharing Christ. The theme verse is Colossians 1:28: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
International students from several universities in the southeast will come for recreational opportunities, relationship building, bible study and worship. Please pray for this time. The majority of the students are believers who seek to grow spiritually, but some are seekers who are interested in learning more about the Bible, Christianity or are simply interested in spending a weekend away with the Knoxville Navigators International Student Fellowship. I am also working with staff at UT to continue the International Student/American Family Partners program. This program is designed to provide opportunities for cross cultural exchange and friendship between international students at UT and families in the Knoxville. 70% of the students in the United States are never invited to an American home. We are hoping to reduce that percentage and we want these students to feel welcome in Knoxville regardless of their cultural, ethnic or religious background.
Please pray for connections to be made. Several people had the opportunity to meet and connect with students this fall. Some of these were one-time meetings, while others have developed into deeper friendships. In addition to these two items, please pray for the following students that God has brought into our life:
- A new believer in our ministry that he may grow in his walk with God.
- An African couple who are raising a 3 year old girl and a 3 month old boy. They have been having car trouble. Pray that the husband may get a graduate assistantship soon. His wife is currently working toward her doctoral degree at UT.
- A new couple who arrived in August. One of them is pursuing the doctoral degree and the other still needs to learn English.
- Students from Muslim backgrounds that he may come to see the evidence of Christ in the lives of new American friends.
We also are continuing to raise support towards full-time ministry. Our current need is to raise about $1850 monthly. Please pray for God’s provision. He is the one who provides for all of our needs. May the Lord Bless You and Keep You!