John & Linda's Journey  
 

Thanks for the opportunity to share how God has been working in and through our lives and how He has brought us to this point. We were both raised on farms in Illinois – John near Kankakee and Linda near Rockford. Linda accepted Christ as her personal savior as a youth at a Billy Graham movie presentation, but really began to mature in her faith in her 20’s when she and John began to attend an evangelical church. John accepted Christ in his college years when God spoke to him through a message at a church that he attended on an invitation from a co-worker.

We met as students at ISU and were married in February 1973. John has a BS in Education degree in biology and has worked as a microbiologist for Central Soya Company; taught science at Bellflower High School; worked in public health at McLean County Health Department; and worked in environmental health and safety at ISU. Linda has a BS in Education degree in special education and has worked as a childcare teacher; paper carrier supervisor; substitute teacher in the public schools; and Director of Children’s Ministry at Grace Church. Most of Linda’s time was spent at home with our 3 sons, Aaron (28); Tim (25); and Steve (21).

As our sons were launched onto their own, we began to explore how God could use us in the second half of our lives. As we were looking for an area of ministry in missions in which we could serve together, we completed the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Through that class God confirmed our call to missions. At that time He opened our eyes to the needs of international students on the campuses in Bloomington/Normal. During a search to determine what current ministry organizations were doing to reach international students, we identified International Students, Inc. (ISI).

ISI is a Christian organization that has been reaching out to international students for the past 50 years. ISI’s Mission is to share Christ’s love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others. ISI’s vision is to see every international student befriended, led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and discipled for His service. Despite closed countries, official suppression of the gospel, and hostility toward missionaries, God has opened the door to these countries by bringing students to the United States. The students coming to the US are open to new ideas, receptive to friendship, and are the future leaders in their countries. Current statistics indicate that among the international students who study in the US, historically 70% have never been invited to an American home during their stay. More than 85% are never invited to an American church nor have any meaningful contact with genuine Christians during an average stay of four years. Barely 6% have been presented with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

We have committed to make a significant change in those statistics, beginning at ISU and IWU. In April 2003, we were accepted as new staff with ISI. Linda will serve as campus staff and John will serve as city mobilizer. We will provide friendship, outreach, and relational Bible studies to international students; encourage and equip American students to reach out to the internationals that God places in their path; and recruit/equip local, evangelical churches to reach out to international students.

God has ignited a passion in us for international students. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 has become our life verse. "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." We need the financial, prayer, and personal partnership of the local church to befriend the students and to introduce each student into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

That every tribe, language, people, and nation would worship HIM,

John & Linda Berger