I started college three years ago at the University of North Alabama (UNA). The indescribable love God has given me for international students started at the Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) Halloween party my freshman year. I met a Chinese girl who would later celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. Praise the Lord that she was able to be among a family who loves Jesus. During the drive back to her dorm, God led me to share the gospel with her. Her response left me absolutely speechless. She had never heard of the name of Jesus. I was absolutely broken and the thought struck me that if she had never heard the name of Jesus, another student at UNA might not have either. I had to reach out to the international students; I had to tell them about Jesus.
That Christmas I held a party at my house for international students with the intentions of sharing the reason why Christians celebrate Christmas. A friend and I went to the BCM to pick up students expecting around 10 or 15 to show up. To my surprise, there were 50 students waiting on us. Tears flowed from my eyes because there was no other explanation besides Jesus. The whole night was a display of God’s glory. My parents and I felt like we experienced the feeding the 5,000. When the time came for the birth of Jesus to be shared I was overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our house. The result of that night was a Chinese girl making the decision to follow Jesus and later follow in believer’s baptism. Many, many prayers have been sent up from my room and my biggest request — salvation — was answered in the same place. I knew from that moment that God was up to something in my life and at UNA.
‘No one’s told them’
Months later I went to the movies with the girl who had spent Thanksgiving with my family. As we were driving back to campus listening to our local Christian radio station, she turned my radio off and said out of nowhere, “Carley, the reason people in China don’t believe is because no one’s told them … they need you over there.” I was speechless and shocked to hear this coming from an unbeliever. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t blink. Staring at her, I slowly nodded my head in agreement. God spoke to me after I dropped her off and said, “Carley, they first need you here.”
Blank check
I was desperate for God to show up and show out. My blank check was on the table and I was ready for God to spend the days He gives me however He saw fit. Last semester God led me to start a weekly international girls Bible study called “Discovery.” The purpose of Discovery is to have a few international girls grouped with one American girl who simply helps them discover for themselves what Christianity is and who Jesus is by walking through God’s Word. Through Discovery last semester, we saw two of the girls — one Vietnamese and one Chinese — come to faith and follow through in believer’s baptism. God has been faithful to not only bring girls who are hungry to us but to ultimately save them. What I learned through last semester was how to truly live like Jesus did. He loved people unconditionally and met them where they were at in life.
After serving my Father this past summer in Southeast Asia for two months through Nehemiah Teams, I came back to UNA with unbelievable opportunities presented before me to serve international students even more. I am one of 10 students who serve as a Navigator, or student ambassador, for the Office of International Affairs (OIA). The Lord provided me with a job at the OIA as well as the awesome privilege to teach an international Sunday School class at my church. The opportunities became endless once I came to the end of myself. God has done nothing short of working out every single detail for my life to be spent reaching the nations right where He has me. To God be the glory.
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