International Student Track Reports
Meeting International Students at Registration
Nick Johnson
The anticipation is finally over! Hundreds of Christian international students descended upon the University of Illinois campus Saturday to learn what it means to be a Christ follower in the world God created and loves. Within the larger Urbana Student Mission Convention, over 900 international students from all over the world joined the 19,000 delegates to find out more about what God is doing in the world, and what place the have in His plan to reach the world for Jesus Christ.
One student, Kazuko, came from the University of Vermont where she is currently teaching. Kazuko originally comes from Japan. She learned about Urbana as a student. She assisted with the InterVarsity chapter at her former university, Johnson State College, and learned about the incredible opportunity Urbana gives students to see the world through God's eyes. When asked how she would like to meet God at Urbana, she replied, "In any way possible!" This is Kazuko's first time at Urbana, and is excited, along with the other delegates in the International Student Track, to worship God and learn more about their place in God's world.
Another student, from Peru, came with the group of Japanese delegates. He just graduated from college and has a strong desire to see how God might call him into mission work at Urbana. The convention is the largest missions fair of its kind in the world, so this Peruvian student will not have any trouble exploring the myriad opportunities available to him for serving Jesus Christ full- or part-time. He's considering mission work in Japan, since "there's more spiritual need in Japan than in Peru." He's probably right …Japan has only 1% of its population which claim any Christian background whatsoever, compared with a much higher percentage in Peru. He commented that he only has one life to live for God, so he wants his life to count for something big-something bigger than himself, so he's anticipating powerful times of hearing the Lord speak to him through the plenary speakers, Bible studies, and special breakout sessions for internationals on December 28th and 30th.
I found Omar in the registration line at Huff Hall, where thousands of delegates will register for the five-day Urbana Convention. Omar is a student at Virginia State. Omar is an international student from El Salvador. Studying here for just over four years, Omar expects to meet God in some fresh ways at Urbana. He would like to learn more about specific people groups in the world. His limited understanding inhibits him from embracing God's world in all its diversity and grandeur. He hopes Urbana will help him grow in seeing the big picture of the needs represented in the world. With Omar's excellent grasp of Spanish, he is considering serving Jesus Christ in Spain, a very needy country spiritually. When asked what he anticipated by worshiping with students from 93 other countries, he said, "Wow, it's a big experience…People from all different countries and different languages coming together to worship God…It's amazing!"
Students come for a variety of reasons. One student, Misako, hopes to learn how to forgive others more fully. She finds it hard to forgive some people, but realizes this is something God desires for Christians to participate in. She also struggles with accepting God's love and forgiveness in her life. She's hoping to discover, in a richer, deeper way, God's love and forgiveness at this Urbana. Misako doesn't come from a Christian background, but has made a commitment to Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. She came with a number of other Japanese delegates to the track. In fact, the Japanese delegation is the largest country group in the International Student Track. Almost 100 Christian students from Japan are at this year's convention!
There are students in the track from other parts of the world also. Mattheiw, hails from Benin, West Africa, between Nigeria and Togo. Mattheiw is currently studying at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in California. He heard about Urbana through a friend who's also a student at MBBS. He also heard Urbana endorsed at a recent Perspectives course, which is a lay course offered around the US for people wanting to grow in mission's awareness and understanding. He said Perspectives helped him learn what God is already doing in the world, and what He's still going to do in the future. He believes God is leading him to teach in the Benin Bible School back home. He'd also like provide leadership and support for the mission's movement in his country when he returns home. Before he came to the US to study, he was involved with bringing the Gospel village to village in the rural areas of Benin. He'd like to continue to see this advanced and provide Christian education and training for Christians in Africa. Mattheiw attended an International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (InterVarsity is a member movement of the IFES) conference similar to Urbana for Francophone Africa. Mattheiw is anticipating worshiping God with delegates from all over the world at Urbana. He said this will be "a small taste of what worship will be like in heaven…I can't wait!"
Mary was another student I met in the registration line. Mary comes from Kenya. She speaks several languages, including English, Swahili, Doleau (her mother tongue), and a number of other dialects. Unlike her American counterparts which speak only English (and that often not so well), she speaks several languages. This is common for internationals coming to the US to study. Mary is studying for her Masters in Education in Minnesota. She hopes to use her degree for God's glory. She desires to be led by the Lord in everything she does. Mary is hoping to see God use Urbana to bring spiritual revival and renewal into her heart and many other hearts…A fire that will spread all across the land and bring His salvation to the millions of lost souls in our world. She feels excited and privileged to be equipped and sent out from Urbana.
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