Sitting over lunch with my family and fiancé Madison at our local Cracker Barrel, I received a text from Aaron Pontius. As the waitress circled the table that day in July 2022, I read, “Hey man, do you have a few minutes to talk? I have something to run by you.”
Aaron, a cherished friend, had recently transitioned from his role as a student pastor in Nashville, Tennessee, to pastoring the Rejoice Church in Columbia, Missouri. I’d served alongside Aaron in student ministry at The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville and learned under his leadership. We have a great relationship, but his text was unexpected. I immediately thought, “Oh boy, Aaron wants me to move up there and become his youth pastor.”
What he wanted was far from anything I would have guessed.
Something to Pray Through
Later that night, Aaron and I spoke over the phone. His church is near Mizzou (University of Missouri). Learning how culturally diverse the school is, Aaron had an idea, nothing more. He knew my experience among other cultures and my heart for the unreached. He invited me to “pray through” what it would look like for me to move to Columbia to minister to the diverse Mizzou community. He offered the potential use of Rejoice Church to host events for the international students studying in Columbia.
I immediately began to cry. Little did Aaron know I had already begun a prayer journey. I wondered how the Lord wanted me to use my diverse cultural experiences. I’ve served in Japan and Cuba, ministered across two American Indian reservations, and led ministries in the local church. “Father, here I am. Send me wherever you want me to go,” I prayed. Then questioned, “What do you want me to do?”
Aaron’s invitation presented the opportunity to influence a college campus where more than 50 countries are represented. What a testament to how God hears and answers our prayers according to His perfect plan! Needless to say, I responded, “Yes! Let’s pray through it together.”
Our shared prayers soon led to a conversation about how to make it happen. I opened discussions with IM, Inc. about requirements to serve through them. I met with their leadership team and met with the board. After board approval, I began raising support early in 2023. Finally, I transitioned to Columbia, Missouri, September 13 to begin field work as a missionary to international students. I launched The Axis and currently work with IM through a ministry partnership.
Fields White With Harvest (John 4:35)
Over a million international students call U.S. colleges and universities home for several critical years of their lives. The good news? This number is rapidly increasing. However, international student presence across the United States is growing faster than the number of disciple-makers for these students is growing across our denomination. Students travel from all over the world. They travel from countries closed to Christianity. They emigrate from the countries we send missionaries and countries where we have not yet sent missionaries.
These students bring expectations. Obviously, they expect to reach their desired level of education for future jobs. They also want to practice English-speaking skills. They hope to learn American tradition and culture. They anticipate making American friends. Many envisage a variety of other expectations. Could it be, within these students’ expectations, the church has an opportunity to instill the truth of the gospel into the hearts and minds of these who are already searching for so much? Absolutely.
Unfortunately, their expectations are only partly met. Yes, they will gain their education and acquire jobs if they remain diligent in their studies. They may experience a freedom never enjoyed in their country of origin. Yet, 80% of international students never feel welcomed into an American home.
I often share this glaring statistic with fellow laborers, then ask, “How does this make you feel as a disciple-maker?” The most common responses are “sad” or “ashamed.” I agree. As Christ’s Church, we sometimes seem blind to the opportunities around us. The opportunity to minister to the uttermost parts of the earth in our very own backyards may never have been on our radars. After reading this article, it should be.
My plea to every reader is to step up to the plate and respond. Many people across our denomination seek opportunities to minister from their own homes. According to a
3 for 30 survey completed in May 2023, 32 Free Will Baptist churches are located within a 10-minute drive of a residential college. This offers a prime opportunity to not only have an impact on an individual, but also to play a part in a revival across the nations.
The Axis’ Mission and Vision
Our mission with The Axis is to make disciples of international students attending culturally diverse colleges and universities nationwide. When the time comes for these students to return home, we want them to have a relationship with Christ and possess the beautiful conviction of continuing the disciple-making process—reaching those of their native tribes and tongues. This represents discipleship multiplication on a global scale. Our vision is to mobilize international student missionaries from these multi-cultural college communities all over the United States, partnering with a local church for ministry operation.
An Invitation
We are praying God will open the door for a second Axis missionary by 2025. I invite you to pray through this with me! Ask God if you should work full-time in international student ministry. Not everyone will be called to work in full-time ministry. However, anyone who lives near a college campus can minister.
Ask God to show you how He can use you to impact the nations at your local college or university. Find out if your nearby college has international students. Volunteer with student organizations serving international students. Engage in English conversation partnerships. Offer your home as a home-away-from-home. Ask God how He wants to use you, and He will answer.
About the Writer: Bradley Mercer received board approval in 2022 as a missionary to international students at the University
of Missouri. Learn more about IM strategic partnerships: www.iminc.org.
