International Friendship Incorporated is a national ministry that focuses on providing hospitality and welcome in Christ’s name to international students attending universities in the United States. IFI volunteers provide very practical service to our international students: rides to and from the airport, trips to the grocery store, visits to the doctor’s office, driving lessons. At the core, the mission of IFI is to invite our international guests into flourishing relationships with Jesus Christ so that when they return to their countries and gain positions of influence, they are able to share the Gospel and to open up their countries to the message of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, August 24, IFI hosted a welcome picnic for arriving international students at Ridgeland Church, near the RIT campus. We began with icebreaker games, then had a cookout, followed by games of volleyball, bocce, and cornhole. About 40 international students attended, along with 20 volunteers.
Mason Pell (m.pell@ifiusa.org) is the IFI campus minister at RIT and Tiffany Khamphoune joined this year to provide part-time administrative support (organizing events, keeping track of students and volunteers, etc.). In addition, Peter and Hannah Putz continue to provide leadership support for Mason and Tiffany.
How can I get involved with IFI?
You can learn more about IFI by watching this video (https://youtu.be/ebIyZkToFN8?si=_XolkD3H2HYMZOAf) or visiting the IFI Partners website (https://www.ifipartners.org/).
Please talk with Dave Beinetti or Paul Craig if you would like to attend an IFI event or host an IFI guest for a meal. We are particularly interested in hosting international students for holiday meals (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter) or during breaks when the campus is very quiet.
You can attend IFI events and simply befriend the students. Dave and Paul can provide information about upcoming apple picking in the fall and a sledding event in the spring.
Please pray for IFI at RIT and around the nation.
For good attendance and participation at the IFI Bible studies for men and for women.
For upcoming on-campus meals that are designed to welcome and engage more international students
That more international students would attend IFI events and that we would see five international students decide to follow Jesus
That the IFI team, which is classified as a club at RIT, would have effective communication with the Campus Life office at RIT, and especially that they would receive prompt responses to their emails and phone calls.
For our student officers to be effective in leading the fellowship and in their interactions with the RIT administration.
That we would have enough volunteers to fully support the ministry and to host students for meals and events.