New Programs for Internationals!

1. IFA is a ministry to help Christians reach internationals in their midst with God's love. 

These can be international students, short-term residents, refugees or immigrants.  We intend

to closely connect with area schools, immigration services, refugee agencies, international

student offices, foreign companies... to offer assistance through is a ministry to motivate,

train and connect people within churches or ministries to our network to help new

internationals to adjust or even give advice to those yet to arrive.

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2. The most exciting face of IFA now is the Friday International Gathering from 6-9 PM now at the

Bronner home but to be moving for the 5 weeks we're back in Japan.  To find out location and

check what to bring email me Scott: bronner [at] alumni [dot] cmu [dot] com    or call us at 

Tel: (717) 390-9089    We enjoy a time of Food, Fun and Fellowship on Fridays with Friendly

people from around Lancaster County (and even a Chilean from Lebanon County!)
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3. IFA currently consists of Scott and Taeko Bronner, 12-year missionaries to Japan, who in the

past couple years have seen the Lord amazingly bless their ministry to Japanese in Lancaster.  Having
met while working at an international fellowship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, their heart's desire
is to see more and more internationals reached with the Gospel in the U.S.A.  As
Taeko herself studied in the USA and Scott lived in China and Japan, we both know well the
feeling of internationals and are able to offer inspiration and training from real-life experiences.
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4. IFA seeks to build up a movement of cooperation between ethnic & other churches in

Lancaster County, through facilitating fellowship between ethnic & nonethnic churches in the area. 

These gatherings could involve times of food and fellowship as well as discussion and prayer Ethnic

churches we know are here include  Vietnamese, Chinese, Kenyan, Ukrainian, Russian, Francophone

(mainl people from French-speaking areas of Africa), Hispanic (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican,

Mexican, Colombian...), Filipina, Haitian,  etc.
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5. IFA gives motivational messages about the Biblical motivation and incredible
opportunities for reaching out to U.S. internationals, many of whom are far more
open here than they would be in their home country. The opportunities are amazing to share
with people who otherwise might never hear in their own country.  There's no need for a
visa or language training as internationals are looking to learn our language and culture.
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6. Once a group in a church or ministry is interested, IFA helps set up and train for
whatever style of ministry is decided upon from international friendship partners (inviting
an int’l student at least once a month to one’s home), to a Friday Night International
Fellowship or Women's International Crafts & Food Ministry, to church refugee sponsorship,
to service ministries including transportation, help adjusting & ESL (Scott holds an M.A. in
linguistics / Teaching English as a Second Language [TESL] and has taught over 14
years).  We will help design what fits best give the talents and availability of your members
and provide intercultural sensitivity training. A willing and teachable spirit are all that's required
to minister cross-culturally.
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7. IFA staff will raise funds to cover basic costs through both donations and synergistic
teaching of ESL and JSL (Japanese as a Second Language), which also helps develop
relationships with internationals and helps Americans learning Japanese more aware of
a fascinatingly different culture and language.  We ask only that there be a
love offering for the times we come out and assist a church/ministry to help cover IFA's
costs. This also helps us continue to facilitate Christians reaching more internationals in this
area. Churches who prefer can also pay a set rate, and we are open to other ways in which
organizations may wish to give.

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to the first disiciples too!]

Revelations 7:9 “After these things I saw a large crowd from every
nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how
many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne
and the lamb.”