International Student Track Reports
A Legacy of Service Among Students Continues - InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has a great legacy.
Ron Riesinger
For more than 60 years student witness on college campuses in the USA
has been nurtured by committed staff who gave up more lucrative careers and their
youthful energies. In the 1940s, Wiepske Rozelaar served among students in New
York City. She worked alongside Barbara Boyd, who later gained fame around the
movement for her work in designing the Bible and Life program. The man who would
eventually marry Weipske was Howard Larsen. Howard worked for InterVarsity in
Minnesota and the Dakotas, encouraging the growing work.
Dr. J. Christy Wilson, the director of the first Urbana Convention (which was actually in Toronto!) in 1946 invited the now married Larsens to come to Afghanistan to serve in what was even then an unreached people group. They accepted, which led to many years of service to God overseas.
A few years later, a daughter, Natalie was born. She recalled in an interview today that her parents by their example of godliness through their morning quiet times, did not so much preach the Gospel to their children, "they lived it out". Natalie grew up going to boarding school and living overseas a significant part of her life before graduate school and marriage to Dr. Mark Rockley of New Zealand. She and Mark, both with doctorates in Biochemistry, moved to the flat prairie of central Oklahoma, with Mark taking the job of Associate Professor. They both plunged into working with students in the Oklahoma State University IVCF chapter and have served students through InterVarsity and the church since.
A few years ago, Natalie and her daughter, Natasha, decided to concentrate their evangelistic efforts on the 2,300 international students on the OSU campus. Natalie started Hands Abroad to serve international wives through English As A Second Language classes in her local church. Horse-back riding and other fun activities have also been a part of the outreach. She and Natasha started a Friday night International Coffee House, in order to have a forum for discussions with students on a regular basis. These have led to good one-on-one discussions with many internationals, with several making faith commitments as a result.
Now Natalie has seen others taking the legacy full circle. A Brazilian woman, disciplied by Natalie, has started a Bible study in her home. Another woman, from Belarus, has done the same.
Natalie is here at Urbana, in the International Student Track trying to figure out what the next step is for her and her ministry with students. What will she and her husband do as he thinks about retirement in the next few years? What is the next step of faith to take?
From faithful, early InterVarsity staff to a faithful daughter and now to disciples who are returning to their countries, God has been at work.
7:23 AM 12/31/03
Print
Email
