Short Circuit Vol 4 Num 2

Campus Bible Fellowship in Iowa City began its outreach two weeks before school started with our International Give-Away. The people from Faith Baptist Church had been collecting furniture, linens, kitchen things, lamps, etc.for months to give to the new International students because basically they arrive with just two suitcases and then need to set up housekeeping.

On August 18, 2002, after one of their Orientation meetings, we went to pick them up. What a surprise to find about 125 students from 25 countries waiting for us. Even with a bus and vans we had to make two trips. We had set up all the furniture outside and everything else on tables inside. We had each student "sign-in" and receive some literature. This was a real eye-opener for many of our church people who helped to be able to meet so many Internationals and to realize the possibilities of reaching out to them. As a result of that Give-Away several have started attending our church, nine are in Bible studies, and I have a list of 40 who are interested in our activities (many of whom have attended at least one). One of the Chinese gals who had been in a Bible study last semester accepted the Lord over Christmas Break.

International Give-Away

Another opportunity we use to reach out to Internationals is during the Thanksgiving holiday. Students are invited to the homes of American families for a meal, and then everyone meets together at a church for a program, the Gospel message and a dessert fellowship. This year 180 Internationals attended from 18 countries. Several signed up for Bible studies.

A different type of outreach God has given us is with the Ladies Softball team here at Iowa. For the past five years we've had Bible studies with 18 different members of the team. Presently there are three Christians on the team who reach out to the others. We are praying for an unsaved third baseman who attends the study faithfully with many questions. Over the years we've seen three of the athletes saved.

The gal in the center is on the Ladies Softball team

God has opened many doors for us to share the Gospel. We have so many students to follow up and not enough time or helpers. Pray with us that God would continue to open the eyes of our church people to be burdened to reach out to their Jerusalem and for successful contacts through our literature tables.

Elva Craig, Staff worker

Literature table