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The World at My Yard Sale

By Ann DenUyl, USA

Christ’s command is clear: “Make disciples of all nations.” What an impossible-sounding task Christ gave the first disciples and has given to His children who have come behind. How delightful to know that our Lord never gives a command without enabling His children to fulfill it.

“I know the command,” you say, “but the world is so vast and many nations do not allow missionaries to enter and share the Good News. How can this command be fulfilled?” God is providing a way! Universities across the United States welcome international students from around the globe. The University of Iowa alone hosts over 1,000 full-time international students. The world has come to us. It is at our door.

Every year, a fresh influx of international students arrives, each lugging only a suitcase or two. Rarely housed in dormitories, they rent either old university-owned apartments or an apartment in town. Tired and disconcerted by the strangeness of everything around them (a new language, currency, climate, shopping, roommate, and no familiar support system), they open the door of an unfurnished apartment and wonder if they can truly survive here. This is a great opportunity to reach out with Christ’s love and compassion. And so, as part of Faith Baptist Church’s campus ministry, we stretch out our hands to these students through our Giveaway for International Students.

The air quivers in anticipation. Is everything ready? Does everyone know what they are doing? Furniture fills the backyard of the church. The basement is overflowing with all kinds of household items. Refreshments are ready; vans are lined up; bags of literature are packed and ready to hand out. All is set. One car pulls into the lot; a few minutes later another pulls in. Then, rented University of Iowa Cambuses arrive with about 160 students. The Giveaway begins!

Preparations begin months prior to the Giveaway in August. As the weather warms, the clean-out and moving season of Iowa City begins. We collect furniture and household items from garage sales, donations, curbside cast offs, auctions, and “dumpster diving.” Auctions are often a great source of inexpensive furniture: couches and living room chairs can sometimes be bought for $2.00 or a bed for $5.00. 

The excitement level in the church auditorium climbs as students fill out registration forms, listen to a presentation of the gospel, and receive instructions. Then, they go off to the backyard for a choice of two large items of furniture. After labeling their choices, on they go to the church basement. There, each is directed to a room from which they take as many of the household items as they desire. Vans line up to take the students and their lighter items to their homes. While waiting for transportation, they enjoy refreshments, talk with servers, drivers, and general helpers. Each receives a bag containing a few office supplies and information about the ministries of Faith Baptist Church and Campus Bible Fellowship. Each bag also contains tracts and the booklet Ultimate Questions.

Moving trucks and crews load all the large furniture and deliver it to each student. None of this would be possible but for the cheerful help of more than forty people from Faith and three other churches.

Why do you do this? What makes you care about us? I can’t believe there are so many people working together and enjoying it! I have not heard anyone from your church get angry. Are you paid to do this? Comments like these provide tremendous openings to share Christ with some who have never heard the gospel. Van drivers and particularly those at the refreshment tables have the opportunity to speak with students about the Lord.

In 2004, over 160 students came from twenty-nine countries. A full fifty percent of the countries represented are restricted access countries, some not allowing any sharing of the gospel unless specifically asked. Approximately forty percent are from China. Yet, we have continued contact with fifteen percent of these students. Four have been saved, five have come to the International Sunday School class, and others are in Bible studies, conversation English, fellowship gatherings, or simply have continued friendship contact. May our Lord bring more to Himself who will return to their homelands carrying with them the most precious gift anyone could ever have or share.