Neighbor’s International Staff:
Sonya Yeates, Sara Tindall
neighbors
international
“Reaching The World at our Doorstep!” is the
description for Neighbors International, Calvary’s
International Student Ministry. Students from all
over the world flood into Grand Rapids through
enrollment in our local colleges. Many are from
countries that are otherwise closed to the gospel.
These students are eager to meet Americans and
be welcomed to their new country.
Neighbors International hosts an annual
banquet for these students each fall. Students
who are interested are matched with friendship
families and individuals. These friendship families
reach out in love and hospitality and talk with their
student at least once a week and get together
with them at least once a month. You do not need
to learn a new language or travel to a foreign
country to be on the mission field. The world is
coming to us!
A few stories from last year that touched our
hearts:
Shawn, a graduate student from China,
heard about Calvary Church’s love for
international students, and feeling overwhelming
loneliness, drove himself to the church asking
for help. He was assigned a friendship family
who welcomed him with open arms to be a part
of their family. Through them and with the help
of Pastor Steve Gibson, he was able to hear the
gospel message, embrace it, and be baptized at
Calvary Church.
The Stortz family signed up last year to be a
new friendship family. After the banquet they were
assigned three students. Howeve Ȱ