 
Support (how you can support IFA and IFA can support you)
If you are interested in financially supporting this ministry, please make checks payable to Lampeter Church of the
Brethren and put IFA in the memo since we are under our church's umbrella until we can get NPO status. Mail to:
Scott & Taeko Bronner
1544 Dunmore Drive
Lancaster, PA 17602
If you would like to pray for us, send an email to scottinchristgmailcom and we will gladly put you on our prayer
email list. bronner 'at' alumni.cmu.edu (change 'at' to @) or call Tel: 717-390-9089 and we'd be glad to
provide any information you desire about IFA and us as cofounders to make an informed decision in prayer.
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CONTACT:
If you have questions about International Friendship Association or how you can be involved, please feel free
to call: Scott or Taeko at Tel/Fax: (717) 390-9089
or to email: scottinchrist[at sign]gmail[period]com [at sign] = @ [period] = .
9 REASONS TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL
FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION:
INTRO: I have been asked by a dear brother to clarify what it is we do & why consider sponsoring it. Great
question! Each day we network with internationals and those who may join us in reaching out to them. We make
flyers , email, call, help refugees & pray for the work among internationals here. To found & run this multi-church
outreach to int'ls is full-time work & without this effort many int'ls would stay unreached. Consider this:
1. HOSPITALITY NEEDED: Almost every int'l we've met when asked if they have American friends say they have
either none or one (after 2+ years!). All talk about how difficult it is to get to know Americans & national statistics
bear out that less than 30% of int'l students get to see the inside of an American Home. Our society is fast paced
and people have friends they're comfortable with, so few think of reaching out to the internationals in their midst.
We have awakened Christians at a variety of churches here to the need & will continue to do so.
2. HOSPITALITY OFFERED ELSEWHERE: Missionary Friends in Middle Eastern, African and South American
countries tell of the tremendous hospitality of most all the cultures there. In some places it is considered an honor to
welcome the foreigner and people will even 'fight' to do so. Now these people come here to a nation they've heard is
Christian and experience often the opposite. What does this say about the power of the Gospel here to affect
Christians to reach out to the foreigner? We pray and exhort the Church not to miss the foreigners at her doorstep
while reaching out abroad.
3. SCRIPTURE COMMANDS IT: Our theme verse says it all: Leviticus 19:34 "Foreigners living among you will be
like your own people. Love them as you love yourself, because you were foreigners living in Egypt. I am the LORD
your God." One can add to this, scores of Biblical commands to fairly treat foreigners like laws to leave gleanings
for the alien (NIV), orphan & widow. Then in the New Testament the very first Acts2 miracle of the Holy Spirit is to
empower the disciples to speak in the languages of the God-fearing foreigners gathered there that they might know
the Gospel! The legendary hospitality of the early church includes reaching out with a multinational body to the
world close and far.
4. WE ARE UNIQUELY PREPARED: Taeko and I through our time in each others countries are well aware of what
it feels like to be a foreigner and the needs they have. We also met over 20 years ago while working at Friday Night
Int'l Fellowship in Milwaukee, so we have a much experience reaching out to internationals here and abroad and are
well-networked with groups helping internationals and increasingly so among churches here.
5. WE'RE INTERNATIONAL: Some have wondered why they should support a ministry in a local place like
Lancaster, PA, USA. But when you support a missionary, he or she usually goes to one place, not many. And with
International Friendship Assoc, one is reaching out to many cultures with the potential of impacting multiple lands
with the Gospel. We are part of a North-American wide group called Association of Christians Ministering to
Internationals (www.acmi-net.net) and follow their guidelines regarding evangelism and get the input through an
email Q&A list of many people working to reach internationals. As the ministry here becomes more stable, we
intend to help other nearby areas start such a ministry & I'm willing to assist a start-up wherever there is a desire.
6. RIPPLES IN A POND: Our intention is through friendship evangelism to see internationals come to know the
Lord, be involved in making sure they are discipled well, and then see these Christians sharing the Gospel. Known
as full-cycle evangelism, with the international twist this means international communities and nations can be
touched by what goes on here like the ripple of a stone thrown in a pond. We know an increasing number of ethnic
churches here and agencies that help international students who became Christian abroad adjust to the change back
home to increase the chance of the ripple continuing strongly. Exciting stuff!
7. WE ARE SINNERS SAVED BY GRACE: Though missionaries, we're no different from any other Christian facing
temptations and too often yielding. We need a prayer and support team for this mission to continue on track. In
return, you will get realistic ministry reports with the positives and difficulties, no overinflated glossy newsletters.
We have Christian brothers and sisters we are accountable to and covet every person praying, since what we are
doing has not been done yet here and thus we often feel the pressures – stop, get a 'real' job,.... But we also know
that God in our weakness can work great things!
8. PIONEER WORK: This is pioneer work in this area – we found no other group reaching out as a whole to the
international students, immigrants and refugees here. We are truly in an area of high need, -- many int'ls have told
us they were lonely and in need of an American friend. In talking with others doing this kind of blended ministry to
internationals and immigrants, they recommended the kind of approach we're using. To start this kind of ministry
needs at least a couple full-time workers to spearhead networking among the body. With 15 to 40 coming to
Japanese Connection and over 30 to our last Friday International Gathering, we are sure this is exactly where God
wants us to be. To keep up this work, we will need the support of dear friends, whether $25 / $50 / $100 or X per
month or donations sent as possible, we appreciate every gift and every prayer. Thank you.
Yours sincerely in Christ, Scott for the Bronners & International Friendship Association
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HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE INTERESTED IN INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH:
Supporting International Outreach in the Lancaster County Area: International Friendship Association is here to
support anyone interested in international outreach. With our 20 years experience with international outreach and
our college classes (taking and teaching) in intercultural communication, we feel God has blessed us to be a
blessing to others who may not feel so sure about reaching out to an international. We will arrange the
International Friendship Partners and network with int'l student advisers & international agencies, both Christian
and secular in this area. This way, various int'l ministries can be set up that will suit the church or group of
interested Christians.
We will provide a 2 hour orientation for International Friendship Partners to teach intercultural communication
skills using simulation games and case scenarios. It will also give guidelines needed to keep in good graces
with the college international offices. There is not problem with openly asking if people are interested, but if
an international student feels pressured or deceived into something Christian, it won't be a good testimony.
On the positive side, mistakes in cross-cultural communication are common and part of what makes the
experience enriching. It may be a bit difficult at the moment, but often this is what builds character and gives
stories to share. By and large, most international students are quite diligent in their studies as this is why
they came, and some will go back to important positions in their home country. Thus, we have a great
opportunity here to influence the course of nations. |
