David and Beth Larson have been overseas since the end of January working on a new initiative with International Students Inc. (ISI) to reach students in other countries. David’s new role as the Director of Global Reach also involves creating new alumni networks that meet frequently based on geography and ethnicity. Although the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) model of ministry is popular in the U.S. and is used sometimes elsewhere, it is surprisingly rare in other parts of the world.
As part of a 6-week trip, David and Beth are in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore to build a network of local churches and ministries, charting a path forward for ISI’s role in strengthening international student ministry. One of the highlights of this trip has been the opportunity to visit with and encourage students who have returned to their respective home countries. These are students who have been involved with the Larsons’ more than 30-year ministry. I can only imagine the joy in some of these reconnections!
The plan is for them to arrive back in Ithaca on Monday, March 11th. The Larsons request prayer for flight connections, safety, and discernment as they decide how quickly to jump back into life as usual.
After their return, Linda Crispell, the Larsons, and I will head down to Philadelphia for ISI’s Northeast Regional Conference from March 15-17. This year’s focus is on the theme “Rivers of Living Water” from Psalm 1. The conference will be an opportunity for various teams from around the northeast region to gather with the Philly team and learn from their models of ministry to international students.
The Larsons are grateful to you for your prayers as they have witnessed a lot of fruitful developments on this trip and are looking forward to being back at BG. If you are interested in international student ministry, please to reach out to Beth at bethellenlarson@gmail.com or me at teddy@bg.org.
