Expanding the ministry has meant expanding the infrastructure of IFI. In 2012, Jerry Shellhaas, who had been on the campus ministry staff, accepted the position of Facilities Manager to care for IFI’s building and oversee the apartments above it. A trained accountant was hired to oversee the Finance Department, and God brought Columbus a full-time Campus Ministry Director and part-time Assistant Director of Campus Ministry.
As God showed IFI leaders that they needed to free Rich even further to advocate nationally for welcoming international students, they prayed for more help. In response to their prayers, God led Ken Barker to leave his corporate position in summer 2015 to become IFI’s Chief Operating Officer. God’s timing was perfect. By the time Rich requested a 6-month sabbatical from July 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017, Ken knew the ministry well enough that Rich felt confident the ministry would be tended well in his absence. It was.
The strategic importance of serving international students has become even clearer as the population of international students increases on U.S. campuses, even in junior and community colleges. As Rich has promoted ISM all over the U.S. for many years, serving on the Board of ACMI (the Association of Christians Ministering with Internationals), speaking at Perspectives on the World Christian Movement classes and at national and church-based conferences, writing articles, and encouraging other ISM ministries, God gave the IFI leadership team the vision to make Columbus a national training center for ISM staff and volunteers. The establishment of our two internship programs has further reinforced that vision.
Prompted by God, IFI leaders have designed and are completing a Startup Kit to help people start IFI in new locations. Concept work on it began in early 2016; writing followed. Contributors’ input was videoed in summer and fall of 2016 and launched in 2017.
The Startup Kit addresses topics such as living the IFI Vision and Mission, how to start work in a new location, establish good relations with the local international student office, set up the initial Bible discussion group, ways to publicize the organization to interested students, and much more. During the second half of 2017, tested the first edition of the Startup Kit at three sites. With what we learn from these tests, we are refining the Kit for national launch.
Many times in its history, IFI has faced big challenges, whether from God calling one or more key staff to other work, lack of adequate funds, God seeming to wait a very long time to fill a key position, the opportunity to purchase a much-needed and well-situated office property, a visa for an international worker taking a very long time to be approved, misunderstanding marred relations with the local university, or the bittersweet challenge of more internationals wanting our help than we can provide. We’ve found that we can trust God to fulfill His purposes through us, no matter what comes. God has, is, and will carry us in His heart and hands. As Paul assured the Thessalonians, “The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)