T. E. Koshy, an Evangelical Christian from Kerala, India, arrived at Syracuse University in 1965, planning to do graduate work in journalism and then return to India to resume his Christian ministries. Within a short time the enthusiastic student became overwhelmed with daily anxieties due to the American way of life.

One day as he was praying, God ministered to Koshy in his own despair and loneliness. "The Lord reminded me of the 1300 international students from 120 countries, studying at SU," Koshy says, "and He urged me to think of them and to do something to show my friendship. I was so lonely myself for someone to talk to about my problems and about spiritual matters that I insisted I could have no influence with the many Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists, and other religions represented at the university. However," Koshy concluded, "as God continued to instruct me, He filled me with Divine love that became a driving force motivating me to service for others."

Koshy began his ministry of Christian love and caring by inviting Internationals to his apartment for meals. He did no preaching but simply shared love and friendship. The students sensed his love and often asked why he cared for them. Occasionally, as he had an opportunity, Koshy shared his Christian testimony.

In 1967 the Indian host married a fine physician on the staff of the SU Hospital by the name of Indira. Indira was also a native of India, and she became Koshy's companion and co-hostess in welcoming students into their home. This loving Christian couple has seen scores of Internationals come to believe in Christ and commit their lives to Him.

As the number of guests grew, the Lord provided a large home on the edge of the university for Koshy's ministry. In 1972 they officially formed INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM on the basis of God's promise found in Isaiah 43:19: "Behold I will do a new thing, and now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? I will make the way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

To cater to the needs of Internationals their home is opened up for special friendship meals and other activities that are scheduled throughout the year. Usually there are 40 - 50 student guests who share a meal of a delicious variety of foods. Sometimes the guests may number as many as 100! The Koshys say, "Yes, it is a lot of work, but we see abundant joy that comes from it." Every Sunday an evangelical message is presented earlier at 10:45 A.M. for those who care to attend. "But," Koshy explains, "the students are not looking for money or housing; they are looking for someone who cares, someone to turn to in times of loneliness and need. I always tell them, "we love you and care for you."

Koshy, who has degrees in philosophy, law, journalism and theology, from his home country, also earned a Ph.D in Mass Communications from SU. He serves in the official capacity of Evangelical Chaplain at the university and is a popular speaker at international missionary conferences and colleges in the U.S. and abroad; he was a participant on the World Evangelism Congress at Lauzanne in 1974. He participates in various outstanding Christian organizations and fellowships; and in January 1982 he became one of the ten selected evangelical delegates to analyse the need and develop teaching guidelines to bring greater theological/Biblical content into mass media communications.

As Director of International Friendship Evangelism, he believes the organization is a unique and effective approach to evangelizing the world through students who are studying in in North America.

Citing the significance of this ministry, Koshy outlines his reasons:

Koshy takes no credit for the Friendship Evangelism Ministry. "It is all God's doing, and it is God who cares and loves the peoples of the world through us," he declares. "International students in the USA are not here by accident--it is God's doing and God's opportunity for us to reach leaders of the world in our generation."

He further asserts, "We must share Christ with them--these future international leaders--before it is too late." And, he points out, they won't all become Christians, but they will experience a ministry of love and friendship which will give them a positive attitude toward Christ and Christianity.

Summing up the unique approach of International Friendship Evangelism, Koshy reminds Evangelicals:

"According to statistics more than two-thirds or over 2.6 billion people of the world are yet to be reached with the Gospel. These fall into three major blocks or categories: Hindu, 520 million; Muslim, 680 million; and Chinese, 840 million. Leaders from these categories are now found in every major college or university in the USA. What a challenging opportunity they present to us!"

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The importance of the ministry from a three-fold perspective

A. Biblical importance

The Bible clearly points out that God's greatest burden is world evangelization. God so loved the peoples of the world (regardless of color, creed, culture, country, size, shape, and sex) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes upon Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

He is not willing for any to perish but will have all people to be saved and come to know the truth. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that the wicked turn from his way and live. We know that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, but the problem is how shall they hear without a preacher? The Lord has entrusted His people with this ministry of reconciliation.

There are now a record number of foreigners in our country: business people, immigrants, refugees, and students. God commands us to love these foreigners as ourselves. "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." (Lev. 19:34) Jesus said: "If you love me keep my commandments." (John 14:15) That obedience involves our ministering to these precious "strangers" who are in our midst.

B. Historical importance

Even after almost 2000 years of evangelistic activities, about 300 million people are still unreached with the good news. While some of these unreached have some notion about Christ, many among them, particularly those from the non-Christian countries of Asia and Africa, have never heard of Christ even once.

The 19th century was known as the "Golden Era" for Western Foreign Missions. With the expansion of Western colonization into Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the gospel also penetrated into many of those colonies. For about 150 years, between 1793--when the father of modern foreign missions, William Carey, travelled to India--and 1949--when the Communists took over China--tens of thousands of Western missionaries spread the glorious gospel across every continent. However, following World War II, many of the former Western colonies gained their political independence. Since the spread of Christianity was in conjunction with the expansion of colonialism, political leaders of these emerging nations associated Christianity with colonialism and imperialism and closed their lands to Western missionaries. Furthermore by the mid-20th century, with the rise of communism, secular humanism, and the revival of Islam, more mission fields were closed to Western missionaries and some even to national Christians. As a consequence, today the bulk of the unreached peoples live in lands closed to the gospel.

Nevertheless, our sovereign God, who is still the Lord of the Harvest, began opening these nations and started bringing the "cream of the crop" to the West, particularly to the USA and Canada, for higher education in science and technology. Today we find the choicest men and women from every nation under the sun on the North American continent as students and exchange scholars. God has brought the nations to our doorstep!

C. Practical importance

While they are here, many of these foreign students experience degrees of culture shock just like any person in transition. They are then open for genuine friendship and relationships. Most of them welcome invitations to our homes where we can minister to their needs, and develop friendship and understanding. History shows that many of these students come to the USA and Canada thinking they are "Christian" countries, but then they are exposed to the immorality and ungodliness which are rampant on our campuses. Unfortunately they equate this immorality with Christianity and are turned off completely from Christ and Christianity, saying: "If this is Christianity, I don't want any part of it." Christians controlled by the love of Christ can destroy these misconceptions by opening their hearts and homes to these internationals whom the Lord has brought to our doorstep. In our homes, they can experience the love of Christ, free from the pressure of their countrymen, government, and families. Just imagine the impact you can have on these future international leaders. Through your ministry of love, word, and prayer they may come to know the Lord and can then return to their respective countries as witnesses to their own people. Even if they don't come to know Him, you and I can help change their misconceptions about Christ and Christianity and be a friend to them.

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