In 2022, Gabriel* moved from South Asia to Peoria, Illinois. He came in January, the deep winter of the Midwest.
“It was snowing my first day,” Gabriel remembered. “I was freezing and thought I’d get frostbite.”
Thankfully, Gabriel wasn’t worried about finding friends; he was ready to attend college clubs and extracurriculars to meet people. Nonetheless, something was missing, just like the winter gear he so needed that first day in the US.
Trying to fill the void, Gabriel attended many different types of groups until he found IFI. From that point, he would attend almost any IFI event offered.
“I went to tons of IFI things…”
“I went to tons of IFI things,” Gabriel said. “I was especially grateful for families who allowed me to see American culture.”
Gabriel noticed a difference in the way his host families interacted with one another and with him.
“I saw how people lived and had many discussions about Jesus. I knew a lot about him, but was skeptical.”
“I saw how people lived and had many discussions about Jesus. I knew a lot about him, but was skeptical.”
It was only after he graduated in May of 2023 that the puzzle of his cold heart was gradually solved.
Feeling defeated because he couldn’t secure employment post-college, he returned to Peoria looking for community and to do more job searching. He even reluctantly joined a Bible discussion and philosophy group.
Once he finally found a job in 2024, he relocated to Nevada. IFI people remained in contact, sending him notes and Bible verses regularly. And then after a hard day at work, he glanced at a sign on the road which said Jesus is the answer. Shortly after, a stranger on the bus initiated a spiritual conversation with him.
“It was nothing special or different than what IFI did,” Gabriel stated. “But this time felt fresh. I actually paid attention and put thought into it. I knew the road sign and meeting the stranger on the bus weren’t accidents. It was as if God had been following me all along!”
Gabriel went off the bus and to the park, reflecting on the stranger’s words and everything he’d experienced concerning God up to that moment. He decided to pray, asking Jesus into his heart. An unexplainable peace flooded him, his cold heart melting at last.
“I let go of my pride and opened the door,” Gabriel explained. “God was right there on the other side, chasing me down, waiting to be welcomed into my heart.”
“I let go of my pride and opened the door,” Gabriel explained. “God was right there on the other side, chasing me down, waiting to be welcomed into my heart.”
After his change of heart, Gabriel decided to find a church and publicly announce his faith to others through baptism. Currently, he’s being mentored remotely by one of IFI Peoria’s volunteers.
“I can now see it was all in God’s plan,” Gabriel admitted. “There was so much evidence, I just couldn’t see it yet. I encourage anyone: allow yourself to look around at life’s evidence, and surely you will find Him.”
**Student name and photo changed to protect privacy
