As members of the modern world, an abundance of needs and service opportunities are constantly pulling at our attention. Help here! Give there! Join this or that cause! In this cloud of requests, why choose International Friendships? What sets us apart?
At International Friendships, Inc. (IFI), we’re constantly reminded of the profound simplicity of God’s love. While His love is unfathomable, it’s also beautifully simple—understandable even to little children. This simplicity shapes how we approach the work God has called us to: avoiding unnecessary complexity and focusing on the essentials so we don’t become overwhelmed.
To simply illustrate what IFI is all about, our Global Ambassador, Rich Mendola, recently created a three-legged stool graphic for our three uniques, the things that set us apart as an organization: Welcome, Help, Grow. These foundational pillars keep us grounded and focused on what truly matters in our service to international students. 
Welcome: Practicing Hospitality
Welcoming is at the heart of IFI’s mission. Just as God welcomes us into His kingdom, we aim to reflect His love by opening our homes and hearts to international students. Hospitality is not a special gift reserved for a select few, but something we’re all called to practice:
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13:2
Whether inviting international students over for a meal, offering a listening ear, or simply creating a space where they feel safe and valued, our goal is to embody God’s welcoming spirit. Through these simple acts, we extend His invitation to be part of His family.
Help: Meeting Practical Needs
The second leg of the stool involves helping students with their practical needs. This could mean finding housing, providing transportation, assisting with shopping, or bearing one another’s burdens during difficult times:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2
Meeting these needs requires us to be attentive and compassionate, following the example Jesus set as he went around doing good and healing many. May we be His hands and feet!
Grow: Investing in Lives
The final pillar of our ministry is helping students grow in their faith and in their personal lives. This involves mentorship—walking alongside students as they learn to follow Christ, discover their unique callings, and prepare for their own journeys:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
Our hope is that international students we encounter will grow in their understanding of who God created them to be, and become equipped to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Love: The Foundation
Underlying all three pillars is our main ingredient: love!
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”- Matthew 22:36-40
According to this verse, we’re called to not only love God but also love others. Without an intimate relationship with God, our ministry cannot thrive; without teamwork and the support of ministry partners, we cannot accomplish the mission before us.
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By keeping things simple like our three-legged stool— welcome, help, grow– we can focus on the essence of God’s calling for our ministry. We’re encouraged by God’s promises that our labor isn’t in vain. One day, we’ll see the fruit of our labor as nations come to know Him. As our CEO, Ryan Finke, said:
“God is doing a great work at IFI. He has promised it and we’re honored to be a part of it!”
We invite you to join us in prayer and partnership as we continue this mission. Together, we can share God’s simple, yet transformative love with the nations.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to making the world feel at home!