Ministry invests in international students to transform the future
MONTREAL, QC—A ministry to international students is setting its sights on empowering Christian leaders for the next generation.
"Our mandate is to empower international students to impact the world through Jesus Christ," says Yaw Perbi, president of International Student Ministries Canada (ISMC), "but we want to go beyond friendship and discipleship to leadership development. We want these students to see themselves as emerging leaders who God is preparing to make an impact in the world."
ISMC held its 29th annual National Conference in July, featuring the inauguration of Perbi as its new president and the release of a new vision, centred on the conference theme of "student leadership development and empowerment." Perbi emphasizes that they want to see students not just as students, but as emerging leaders.
"Creation is crying, 'where are the leaders? Where are the sons of God who are supposed to make a difference?' We need to see these students as the answer to creation's cry," Perbi explains. "It is amazing how many international students have gone on to become prime ministers and presidents throughout the world."
Loneliness is a common struggle for international students. ISMC reaches out with friendship, hospitality, help coping with cultural differences and opportunities to explore the gospel for those who are interested.
"Before [the conference] my focus was on how I can shift friendship to discipleship," says Yoori Chung, an intern with ISMC. "That's great, but now I want to shift discipleship towards leadership."
Chung says the conference helped her to see the bigger picture. She explains that when you treat someone as a leader it communicates value and trust. As these students recognize God's value in them they will go further in fulfilling their potential.
"There are 255,000 international students in Canada and we are serving about five per cent of that," Perbi states. "One of my visions is that by God's grace we will double the number of students we reach in the next two years. We want to set the pace and wake up the Body of Christ to arguably the most strategic Great Commission opportunity we have in our generation."
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