(For the safety of students who are from places which are hostile towards the gospel, this web page is hidden and accessible only to those who know where to find it. Please do not link to this page from any other web sites, and only share it with individuals whom you personally know to be supportive of taking the gospel to the nations.)
If you have any questions as you go through the following information, please contact me. If you don’t have contact information for me you may use the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Since 2016 I have been working with Bridges International at Arizona State University. Bridges is the international student branch of Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ). Prior to this I was with the Andre Kole Ministry – another ministry of Cru which used a touring theatrical illusion show to attract people, in order to share the gospel message with them through an optional presentation at the end of the program. When Mr. Kole retired I transferred to ministering to international students at ASU.
Arizona State University has more than 15,000 international students from 140 countries – most coming from countries in the 10/40 Window. This includes the majority of countries which are most resistant to the gospel.
Bridges seeks to reach the future leaders of other nations for Christ while they are right here in our own backyard, and equip them to take the gospel back home with them – often to places Christian outsiders are not welcome.
We do this by building relationships with the students through demonstrating God’s love in a variety of ways.
My role is a team leader and special projects coordinator.
I’m able to do this only through partnership with individuals like you. This partnership can take several forms: in prayer, through financial support, and by helping spread the word to others who have a heart for the lost.
My biggest financial need, currently, is for regular, monthly investments; although special and reoccurring annual contributions are very helpful, as well. Your gifts can be easily set up online by following these simple steps.
Please let me know of any of the ways you would like to partner with me in my ministry to international students, as well as any questions you may have, by phone, text or email. If you don’t have my contact information, you can use this contact form.
Building Relationships
When students come to the U.S. from other countries they often feel isolated and overwhelmed by the pressures of life in America. They are especially open to Christians who love them and share the gospel with them. Following is a two-minute video which represents this.
The key to reaching these students is relationship, and we attempt to build relationships with internationals through the following Four S’s:
- Social Connections: Creating an environment that becomes a home away from home where students connect with other people from both the United States and every corner of the world.
- Service Opportunities: Serving the students and equipping them to serve others. We offer a variety of services to students, from airport pick-ups to help with their English. But we don’t want it to stop here. We want to give the students opportunities to serve others too.
- Spiritual Conversations: Though open to students from any religious or non-religious background, we offer opportunities for them to explore the Bible and understand Jesus Christ in a safe environment.
- Student Leadership: Bridges International seeks to equip students to be global leaders – helping them lead other people, both during their studies and later in life.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly changed the dynamic of what we do, it isn’t necessarily worse. In some ways it may be better because many students have begun to give more thought to what is really important in life. We continue to build and maintain relationships with students, if even virtually.
A few weeks ago, one of our regular students from Japan was preparing to return to his home because of the pandemic One of our staff team, concerned that she would not have another opportunity, made a point of clearly sharing the gospel message with him one more time. This time he was ready, and he prayed to trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins and to begin following Him.
My Role
My role on the ministry team at ASU has been as one of the co-Team Leaders. This involves helping strategically direct the team’s efforts, clear roadblocks for other team members, train and coach the staff and volunteers, as well as interface with the university and other Christian outreach ministries on campus. In addition, I’ve managed some of the many behind the scenes details that are necessary in order to help maximize the time other team members have to invest in the lives of the students.
This next year, though, I’ll be shifting roles from Team Leader to what I’ll call Special Projects Coordinator. This will allow me to more effectively contribute to the ministry out of my giftings. One aspect which I am most excited about is having my time freed up to use my lifetime of experience as a magical entertainer. This will include developing a small scale magic show geared specifically towards the interests and experiences of international students, including a clearly illustrated presentation of the gospel message. I can take this program around the country as a tool to draw internationals to get involved in Bridges on other campuses.
Partnership
In order for me to work full-time towards reaching international students with the gospel of Christ I need a team of people to support me both in prayer and financially. As a result, individuals like you become partners with me in impacting the lives of international students at ASU and across the country. As a financial and/or prayer partner, I will provide you with monthly updates so you can stay informed about Bridges activities and what God is doing.
You can join with me in reaching out to internationals with the love of Jesus by contributing financial support each month. Would you please prayerfully consider pledging $100, $200, or some other monthly amount? Your investment will enable me to continue reaching the world through international students who are here – now.
Another very important way you can help is by providing referrals of others who I may contact about this very strategic and effective way of helping reach the world. Would you please consider giving me email/phone numbers of five to ten people you know? They might be relatives, fellow church members, or co-workers. They don’t even need to be local, since nowadays most people are familiar with virtual meeting options like Skype and Zoom
How to Give
If you have been led by the Lord to invest in my ministry, you can do so by one of the methods below.
Online – Giving by credit card is one of the easiest methods, but keep in mind that a percentage of your investments will go towards paying credit card fees. For ongoing commitments, one of the following options may be a better choice. Click here to give via credit card. Or to do so by phone, follow the instructions in the middle of this page.
By Bank Transfer – You can save credit card fees by setting up an electronic funds transfer directly from your bank. To do so online, go here, sign in, and click the “Add New Payment Method” button. Information for how to do this by phone can be found in the middle of this page. If you would like to notify me by phone, or via the contact form at the bottom of this page, I can help step you through the process.
By Check – If you would like to invest by mailing in a check, instructions for doing so can be found at the bottom of this page. Be sure it is made out to “Cru” and include a note with your check indicating that your gift should go to my account: 0255937. Or, notify me using the form at the bottom of this page and I will mail you a pre-addressed envelope which you can use to ensure your check is directed to the correct ministry account.
† To learn about what has been happening through Bridges at ASU you can peruse my past newsletters here.
† To learn more about the overall ministry of Bridges International you may visit www.bridgesinternational.com.
† The web site for Bridges at Arizona State University is www.asubridges.club.