Who are we?

International students often struggle with culture shock, stress, and loneliness when leaving their homes to study in the US.

International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a national community organization partnering with local churches, universities, and volunteers to provide life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students, scholars, and their families.

We work strategically to make the world feel at home and extend God’s love globally — right where we are.

We seek to promote friendship and hospitality for international students. The students participating come from various countries. Staff members work closely with volunteers from local churches to provide various services that address the social, cultural, and spiritual interests of international students. Our activities are open to students from all cultural and religious backgrounds.

Is this the right direction for me?

As you discern what your next step may be, check out these resources on discerning the will of God:

Fundamentally, the will of God is Jesus, is that none should perish and that all should come to everlasting life, to bear the fruit of the Spirit, for us to get along in unity and more (John 3:16-18; 2 Peter 3:9; Galatians 5:22-23; John 17:20-23). If you are in Christ, you are in the will of God.

Some of our resources:

These are a few of the resources we provide to help grow and succeed in reaching international students:

  • IFI Ministry Kit
    • A resource designed to help start a new ministry or build on an existing ministry
    • Covers a wide range of topics on the vision behind and how to welcome more international students
    • The first section is accessible without a login, and you can see an outline of everything
  • Global Academy
    • A resource to train volunteers and staff on many topics related to working cross-culturally
    • Requires a login to access everything
  • Hospitality Ebook
    • A resource detailing Biblical hospitality

Our Mission

To extend life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students out of reverence for Jesus

Our Vision

God’s love extended globally in partnership with spiritually vibrant international students.

IFI Videos/Stories

We have collected many of the stories over the years, and a handful are published on YouTube and other platforms.

Check out some of what God is doing through IFI!

Raising Support

  • This opportunity requires the development of a prayer and financial team
  • You can learn more by visiting the summary of the book we use for Ministry Partnership Development (MPD), The God Ask
  • We also partner with a ministry called Via, which provides training through their Bootcamp

IFI Locations

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC

Discipleship

  • IFI helps staff and volunteers mentor and train international students
  • Our ISEED program is designed to go deeper with Christian students who desire practical training in their field of study and spiritual growth, equipping them wherever God leads
  • Optional cohorts are available to volunteers and staff for additional support and resources

Returning Internationals

  • Returning internationals are students who are returning to their home nation
  • We provide resources for staff and volunteers to equip and help them based on a variety of needs

Churches