It's a small world after all

Delaware is approximately 1,640 miles from Texas, 7,266 miles from China, 7,976 miles from Taiwan and 964 miles from the Bahamas, according to Google. However, it all seemed so much closer not long ago. Three students have a closer connection to our team than we ever thought possible. Read more...

Jenifer, the author, served among international students in Newark, Delaware on a Project 52 team.

Volleyball & the Gospel

We’ve been hosting Friday night volleyball every week we’ve been here. We always have fun, and get a little too competitive. This event has allowed us to meet so many more people from international student groups. From this event we have had gospel conversations and opened doors to real friendships. People encourage each other and laugh every single round. Once we finish we normally either grab food or hang out for a little. This leads to more conversations about beliefs. Who knew that volleyball can bring people closer to the gospel? Normally we invite our new friends to go to church with us. We’ve even had a hard time finding rides for everyone.

Pray for the students who have heard the Gospel through this outreach over the summer.

Pray for the relationships to continue to develop with the local BCM staff when the summer is over.

-Reagan
P52 Newark, DE

Prayers to enter the Kingdom

We have met a large group of students from Columbia, a group from Panama, and many others. Some of these students have even come to church with us! Although many of our friends are still blind to all the Lord is doing here, we are hopeful and prayerful that we will see them take steps closer to entering the kingdom. 

-P52 Newark Team
Delaware

Continued Trust & Curiosity

At an international student social, Jen met Jill*. Through conversation, Jen learned Jill is from a Middle Eastern country. Despite best efforts, Jen felt as if Jill did not trust her based on body language, so the attempt was to continue spending time with her to build trust. The following week, Jen texted Jill to meet up and get to know each other better. Jill agreed and asked if she could bring a friend. Shelly* and Jen then met with Jill and her friend, Susan*. Immediately there was a physical difference identified. Jill’s hijab covered the majority of her face, only leaving her eyes and a portion of the bridge of her nose exposed, while Susan’s hijab left her entire face exposed. Jen eventually asked about the difference, and Susan explained she believes it is based on how devout a woman is to Islam; the more that is covered, the more devout. 

That day, Shelly shared the Gospel with both women, and Susan explained she had read parts of the Bible. Jen eventually asked what would happen if someone left the Muslim faith. Susan immediately responded with “they are killed” and reasoned it by explaining it is seen as calling Allah a liar. Jill and Susan then quickly had a conversation in Arabic, and Susan  changed her response to “they just leave the country” reasoning there were no churches in their home country. Since that time, Shelly and Jen have gotten more opportunities to spend time with Jill and Susan, as well as another one of Jill’s friends, Dawn*. 

Pray for open hearts, continued trust and curiosity, and safety for these women. 

-P52 Newark
Delaware

*Names are changed for security purposes

An Open Heart

Frank* is one of the people we met at the first ice cream social. He is from a Middle Eastern country and had just recently finished his second undergraduate degree. We all have become great friends with him. He has attended many of our events, and we have had multiple gospel conversations with him. Frank seems very open to the gospel. When we talk about it, he listens; when we read the Bible with him, he reads along with us. He has even opened his home to us. He made us pizza and chai tea. While we were enjoying the

delicious refreshments, he turned on a video of a local wedding from his country. He was quick to point himself out in the video and explained to us the different traditions. This opened a conversation about marriage and how Western and Eastern weddings differed. Anytime we are available to hang out, Frank is there with us. Keep praying that Frank sees the truth and beauty of the gospel. 

-P52 Newark Team
Delaware

*Names changed for security purposes

Sweet Relationships

The day after our plane landed we were already reaching out to the community. One of our supervisors told us about an ice cream social hosted by the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), and we decided to attend this event. There, we encountered many students, but not many believers. However, the people we had met at the social have been some of our closest friends this summer. As a team we made a total of 30 separate connections! The OISS continues to have social events every week throughout the summer which has been a platform for us to continue relationships as well as make new connections.

Pray for the relationships we're developing with these students. Pray for opportunity for us to share the Good News.

-P52 Newark
Delaware