When I first arrived in the country where I would begin teaching, I had high hopes that the great training IICS had provided me as a new professor would soon pay off. I had learned from other IICS professors’ experiences how to be creative in earning opportunities to share the gospel with my students. Ethically, I knew it was never appropriate to use my lectern as a pulpit, yet I also knew that my presence in any classroom was a chance to demonstrate Christ’s attitude and love toward my students. It was challenging both academically and spiritually.

The country where I served was slowly coming out of more than a generation of communist philosophy and government. The educational system was still greatly influenced by that philosophy. I realized just how much this philosophy had permeated my students’ personalities early in my first semester.

A habit of IICS professors–wherever they are teaching–is to learn the names of their students. They will invest class time and personal time in learning how to pronounce their students’ names correctly and then addressing their students by name in class and outside of class when they see them in the halls or in town. So, my first couple of class periods for each group included taking photos of my students to help me learn their names. My students were amazed that I would do this.

One of my most treasured memories is about the time when Cosmina Iulia, a third-year university student, said to me after class early in the semester, “You’re the first teacher who has ever called me by my name.” Over the coming weeks, other students confirmed that had been their experience as well. I began to understand that under communism, the state is supreme and individuals are only instruments of the state, so there’s no need to make any personal connection with people.

An IICS professor’s philosophy of teaching includes the fact that each and every one of our students is created in the image of God and deserves love and respect for that. I had the privilege of watching several students be literally transformed in the classroom simply by my effort to call them by their names and affirm them as valuable individuals.

When I saw my students in the halls of the university or in the library, I would speak to them and use their names whenever possible. Oftentimes, the response would simply be a nervous little smile or just a quick glance. As that first semester progressed, the students eventually began to have the confidence to speak up in class. One day, a student sheepishly confessed, “I hope you don’t think we don’t want to talk to you when we see you in the halls. It’s just that we’re so surprised that you would speak to us, we don’t know what to say.” By the end of the semester, I had not only learned their names, but they had learned each others’ names and how good it feels to hear your name being called.

So what does all this mean for me as a professor’s wife? It means having to learn patience and initiative: patience with my husband’s long absences, tiredness, and discouragement; patience with our two rambunctious boys; and patience with myself as I struggle to adapt. But I’m also pushed forward to action by our hope in Christ and by our daily, small victories. I’ve needed initiative to encourage and exhort my husband, to seek out friends and activities for myself and the boys, and to work for domestic stability. And there are numerous benefits to being a professor’s wife here, such as material blessings and the natural beauty of this exotic—if hot!—land. I’m thankful for meetings with students through my husband and opportunities to use the library and hear accomplished speakers. Whereas many workers come to this country and leave their families at home, I’m extremely grateful my husband can return to us each night. Finally, I’m thankful for our Father’s promise to complete the good work he started in us, and I’m hopeful that our on-the-job training here will grow into good work for Him and His kingdom.

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” Psalm 62:5

Praise

• “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”  We are grateful for God’s provision and protection for IICS Professors.
• Many students are hearing the Good News for the first time!
• IICS professors’ effectiveness with students and faculty is an answer to prayer!

Professors

• IICS has five professors that live in Nigeria. Pray for safety and peace in Nigeria.
• Pray for two professors in Mexico. Safety is a daily issue.
• Steve, Rebecca Garrett (Lithuania) are plowing the way for a Dept. of Christian Studies. Pray for strength for each day, good friends for their son, and wisdom for all decisions.
• Several IICS professors request prayer that they would manage their time and tasks with excellence and wisdom.
• Pray that each professor would live each day to glorify God.

Administration

• Pray for the IICS leadership team and the office staff.  Here is a reminder of the IICS vision statement:  Someday every university student in the world will have at least one professor who can articulate and demonstrate the love and Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Recruiting

• Pray for the newly appointed professors to find placements. Pray for funds that are still needed for each family.

In my first overseas teaching assignment, had a modest apartment on the top floor of a five-story-with-no-elevator, communist-style apartment building just a few blocks from campus. If you stepped out onto my tiny balcony on a clear day and looked eastward, you could see snow-capped peaks in the Carpathian Mountain range.

Since the university’s video equipment could not play American videos, I got permission to hold my American Studies graduate course in my living room so I could use the videos I had brought from the US for class. Each week, 6-10 young women would come to my home for our two-hour course. The three young women who were most faithful to the class–Amelita, Cristina, and Consuela–began to come early and stay later. This was a special joy for me. I had my Bible and other Christian literature laying out in obvious view on the coffee table when they would arrive. I had told them about my background as a minister and had casually mentioned that if they ever wanted to talk about faith issues, I’d be happy to do that. For the first six weeks of class, they never took my “bait,” and I was getting discouraged.

As the Christmas season approached, I told them that I would be doing a lot of baking to prepare for my Christmas Open House for all my students. They were intrigued that I would be inviting all my students to my home. (That was unheard of in their culture!) They even volunteered to help me with the preparations. I was thrilled!

One snowy day, Cristina was helping me make banana bread, a recipe–and concept–unknown to her. While I was sitting at the small kitchen table preparing the flour mixture of dry ingredients, Cristina was standing at the sink by the window mashing the ripened bananas. We were chatting away and suddenly she said rather seriously, “Laura, can I ask you something?” Her tone made me glad I was already sitting down. I couldn’t imagine what she wanted to talk about. Then, as if she had rehearsed it many times, she said, “Amelita and I were wondering if you’d do a Bible study with us.” WOW!!! When I least expected it, she said the words I had longed to hear! Of course I would do a Bible study with them! When did they want to start? My heart was dancing on the inside while I pretended to be calm on the outside. What began with mashing bananas continued for the next year as I met with these three young women each week to study the book of Luke and help them discover God’s love and message just for them. Today, I can’t mash bananas without thinking about how on one cold, winter day, God’s Spirit entered my little kitchen on the other side of the world.

Dr. Bill Miller, another IICS professor who works with CI, explains that the name “Hidden Seeds” comes from an expression used by Jan Comenius, an innovative and prolific Christian scholar from the seventeenth century who isconsidered to be the father of modern education. Comenius prayed that God would preserve the seeds of truth he had sown through his teaching—seeds that someday would sprout into great trees of righteousness. Though the seeds may be hidden and the work discouraging, with God’s help, they will bear great fruit in the future. Several Christian scholars who have been mentored by IICS professors are now in key positions of leadership and influence in Central Europe.

Dr. Jan Habl, a professor and pastor who was mentored in the Hidden Seeds Program recently published a book on insights from Jan Comenius, Lessons From Humanity. The cover of the book shows Habl reading to his young son. You can learn more about the work of IICS professors and the Comenius Institute at www.komenskyinstitute.com.

Professor in a Muslim Country
“Several Muslim colleagues and I spend time discussing matters of faith. I have been using some ministry strategies gained from attending a small group of Christians here. What I have been doing is using the Quran to lead them to the cross. I have been pushed and challenged in many ways.”

Granville Pillar (PhD, linguistics), Hungary
“Recently, I sang and spoke in a city-wide crusade presenting the Gospel for three nights in our city here in Hungary. More than 600 people attended each night. Praise God! God’s presence was deeply felt.”

Angela DiCostanzo (MA, TESL), Cambodia
“This week I had the opportunity to visit the notorious neighborhood of Svay Pak, once a center of child prostitution. A former brothel has been transformed into a community center called Rahab’s House, and a Cambodian pastor and his family now live and minister there. At the kids club at Rahab’s House, we led over 100 children in praise songs and translated the story of the lost sheep. It was a beautiful sight. Yet the pastor informed us that a few of the little girls at the kids club are being sold for prostitution. Their protection was his only prayer request. I’m also writing the curriculum materials for English classes training young women rescued from the horrors of being trafficked. It is a great joy to see these young women receiving the gifts of education and dignified labor.”

Bill Clark (PhD, forestry), Bulgaria
“I shared my office last year with a new faculty who had received his PhD in the States. As is usual during first meetings, he asked me what brought me to Bulgaria. I told him that part of the reason I was in Bulgaria was to help people who are interested in knowing God better. He told me he had met some Christians when he was in the US and was impressed by their lives. He had never read the Bible and had lots of questions. We started meeting regularly to read and discuss the Bible. We also talked about many other things. By the middle of the spring semester, he was identifying himself as a follower of Christ!”

Roger Conaway (PhD, business communication), Mexico
Recently, I had the opportunity to share the gospel with a business law student and she received Christ. Here’s how it happened. Maria was a student in my international negotiations course. The subject of religion came up in a conversation one day after class and she asked me about “my religion.” To help answer some of her questions, I gave her a copy of Tim Keller’s excellent book, The Reason for God, in English. She connected with it a bit, but about a month later, I gave her Billy Graham’s booklet, Steps to Peace with God in Spanish. We talked about it the next couple of days and I addressed many of her questions. I could tell she was under conviction by the Holy Spirit. Later in my office, after we prayed, Maria received Christ into her heart. We rejoiced, and we now are working on follow-up.

In Mexico, we live in a culture beset with corruption and violence. So we identify with what Dana Cole, a former Christian school teacher who now teaches in the Watts district of Los Angeles, said, “It is so much more fun to be light in the darkness than to be light in the light.”

Praise

• We rejoice that 45 IICS professors are in 22 countries!
• Praise God for the six newly placed professors this academic year. Pray as they make the necessary cross-cultural adjustments.
• IICS is grateful for the faithful friends that provided financial gifts this month!

Professors

• Teri and Daryl McCarthy have moved to Lithuania. Teri will teach at Vilnius Pedagogical University and Daryl will focus on writing and support-raising for IICS.
• Pray for a quick resolution to the visa issues that a number of IICS professors are experiencing.
• IICS professors are feeling the strain and stress of hectic schedules. Pray for balance of their time – personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Recruiting/Deployment

• Pray for the professors seeking placement in the 2012-2013 academic year.
• We are excited about the number of professors applying to teach overseas with IICS. Pray that many applicants will become appointees.

On my early morning walk around campus I met a sophomore student (I will call him “Mike”) who struck up a conversation with me.  He wanted my help with an English speech he was preparing.  That conversation has turned into a close friendship.

On another morning walk together Mike shared with me about his difficult past.  His parents are poor farmers—very poor.  They struggle to afford college for their son, and he is entering a speech contest hoping to win a scholarship (last year he took first place and got the scholarship).  As he described the sacrifices his parents have made for his schooling, he said “I am lucky.”

While I know what he meant, I responded: “I think you are ‘blessed’, not ‘lucky’. “ He didn’t understand my comment at that time, but we have talked about it since: his luck was not “luck” as in accidental but a “blessing”, a gift from his parents.  Mike agreed that he has been blessed.  Now we are talking about other ways that he has been blessed and he is beginning to understand those as well.

Featured photo by kaibara87.

IICS Professor Rob Lillo, who teaches Greek in Nigeria, illustrates the most important goal of an IICS professor.

C. S. Lewis, one of the greatest Christian scholars in the twentieth-century, exemplified the commitment that all Christian academicians should hold. It was widely accepted that one of the major reasons Lewis was never offered a chair at Oxford, despite his preeminent qualifications, was that the other professors thought he was, as one person said, “so committed to what he himself called ‘hot-gospelling,’” that he could not be a good professor.

International Institute for Christian Studies (IICS) is an academic organization with a missional vision. This means we are committed both to the intrinsic value of scholarship—and to fulfilling the Great Commission—since Christ is to be acknowledged as Lord by every person in the world. We seek to find academicians and professionals who love Jesus so much they deeply desire to introduce others to Him and they’re willing to go to another country to live and teach. However—and this is an important distinction—we don’t teach in order to evangelize. Teaching is not a “cover” to get into a country to do our “real” ministry. For IICS, teaching is our real ministry. We teach because that is our calling—teaching physics, literature, philosophy, plant genetics, linguistics, law—the whole range of disciplines. And as we teach, we seek opportunities to introduce others to Christ and to disciple young believers. This is what makes IICS an association of academicians who think and live missionally.

We are not committed to what might be called “mere evangelism” that leads individuals to a quick head-nod to the claims of the Gospel and then rushes off to save the next lost person. Our mission is to see lives transformed by Christ, and to train leaders who think and live Christianly. This mission is fulfilled in the deepest sense by leading students and faculty to know Christ personally (which is where mere evangelism often stops), then discipling them as they grow in the faith, and mentoring them as they learn to live and think with a full-orbed Christian worldview, submitting every detail of their lives to the Lordship of Christ.

The Bible calls us to total evangelism—soul, body, and mind. As John Stott said in his classic, Your Mind Matters, “We must address the whole person (mind, heart and will) with the whole Gospel…Our objective is to win a total man for a total Christ, and this will require the full consent of his mind and heart and will.”

IICS Teaching Fellows do not accept a dichotomy between serious scholarship and fervent evangelism. C. S. Lewis enjoyed quoting General Booth’s remark to Rudyard Kipling, “Young man, if I could win one soul for God by playing the tambourine with my toes, I’d do it.” John Wain, who often heard Lewis make this statement, reflected, “Lewis did plenty of playing the tambourine with his toes, to the distress of some of the refined souls by whom he was surrounded at Oxford.” When he spoke to a group of theology students he warned, “Woe to you if you do not evangelize.”

For more than 23 years, IICS professors have been effectively introducing students and faculty to Christ and then discipling them as they mature in their walk with God. IICS teaching fellows are uniquely able to disciple and follow up with new believers. As professors, they are at a university long-term, usually for several years. As professors, they are respected and they have credibility with students. We are grateful for the countless individuals who have been introduced to Christ and then mentored in their faith by IICS Teaching Fellows.