neighbors international staff
Sheri Schmidt, Sonja Yeates (Volunteer Leader)
Using the gift of hospitality, the volunteer Friendship Families of Neighbors International reach out in love to international college students studying locally.
could move in and then helped them with the move. The
family expressed complete amazement that somebody from
a different faith and country, would help them in this way.
Every fall, when students start flooding into Grand Rapids
from around the world, Neighbors International hosts banquet for these students at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. At the banquet the students are introduced to Calvary
Church’s Friendship Family program. The students who sign
up are matched up with a Friendship Family who lives near
them and shares similar interests.
“We found that even with the language barrier, our family
could still enjoy fellowship with them. Moving their family
into a new apartment was a wonderful way for our family
to serve the Lord together right here in Grand Rapids. We
saw God answer our prayers by providing a new place for
them to live, when at times it all seemed hopeless.” — Amy
Snoeyink
The Friendship Families talk with their student at least once When Gary and Linda Rodenburg were asked if they would
a week and meet with them at least
befriend a family of six from Africa they
once a month.
answered with an immediate “YES!”
2013-2014
Almost all of our families are matched
“This African family came into our life
by the numbers
up with single students but this sumduring Ramadan, in early July. We
120 International Students and 90
mer we had the opportunity to behosted them at our home on IndepenVolunteers attended the banquet.
friend two families with children who
dence Day and later brought them to
needed extra care and attention. Here
a Whitecaps game and to the Calvary
48 Friendship Families/Partners
are those stories:
Meijer Gardens event. A practicing
shared God’s love with 115 students
moderate Muslim, the father believes
Steve and Kathy Gibson and Kent and
throughout the year.
in the Jesus of the Koran. I have reAmy Snoeyink partnered together to
minded him that Muhammad said ‘go
44 Bibles were distributed to
befriend a Middle Eastern family of
to the book’ (the Bible) which opens
students in their language.
five. This family had very few English
the door for me to share the words
skills and were having trouble adaptAt least 15 new Friendship Famiof the Jesus he doesn’t know.” — Gary
ing to American culture. Shortly after
lies/Partners are needed this fall
Rodenburg
meeting them, it was discovered that
to meet our growing needs for next
they were losing their apartment and
God’s Love never fails!
year.
needed to move out in the next 72
These students come from 6 local
hours. The families went into help and
colleges and universities and 27
prayer mode, and were able to find
countries around the world.
them a new apartment, move their
belongings into their garage until they
CALVARY CHURCH 2013-2014 ANNUAL REPORT | 17