Editor’s Note: SOLA Network is excited to present a 4-part series focused on connecting international students with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This series is written by Karisa You, a volunteer at Bridges International—a branch of Cru committed to serving and engaging international students. We hope you are encouraged by her stories to support and connect with ministries geared toward international students.1
“3…2…1! Happy New Year!”
The ballroom erupted with cheers in every language as 600 international students danced in celebration. We were in Denver, attending Bridges International Vision Conference, where international students joined American volunteers to participate in cultural activities while learning about God’s love. But even amidst the streamers and party hats, our little group of conferencegoers from Irvine, California, sensed someone was missing. Where was Yohan?
So Trey, UC Irvine’s Bridges director, texted him: If you get lonely reading, come upstairs and join the party!
I envision Yohan’s wide grin as he texted back: The Book of John is much more entertaining. It’s like every line was written for me—John speaks words written on my heart. John would be my best friend if he were here. And I’m not alone—God is with me.
In the past few days, Yohan had read the Book of John four times. But just one week ago, he considered the Bible to be fantasy.
A Cry for Help
Yohan, a Ph.D. student at USC, first stumbled into a Bridges meeting four years ago when his friend dragged him to his campus’ chapter. Priding himself as an intellectual scholar, Yohan was closed off to God and attended Bridges solely for community.
But upon joining a Bridges trip to Yosemite, Yohan was amazed by the local church hosting them. While the church seemed composed of ordinary people, Yohan sensed something noble about them. When these Christians stood in the room, Yohan felt a peace unlike anything he’d ever encountered before. “It had to be something great—this was the presence of God,” Yohan later admitted to me.
After the trip, Yohan experienced a falling out with a professor and realized he had to leave the school. On top of this pain, Yohan recently witnessed several deaths which left him heartbroken. Though he never believed in God, he found himself crying out for the first time: “I don’t know who you are—Buddha or Jesus or someone. But please help me get out of here!”
Within an hour, a random professor from UC Irvine emailed Yohan, asking if he would like to transfer to come work under him. After transferring, Yohan quickly became immersed in UCI’s Bridges, even inviting international friends searching for God. But despite bringing others to Christ, Yohan never recognized his own need for God. That is, not until God reached out His hand and spoke to Yohan.
In the winter of 2019, Yohan signed up for Bridges Vision Conference without a clue of what he was about to experience. All week, our Bridges team had prayed for God to move Yohan’s heart, sensing he was close. On the second day of Vision, I found myself next to Yohan on the bus. “God is good!” I exclaimed.
“Yes,” he responded. “That is why I decided to become a Christian.” My heart slammed the brakes. “Wait, Yohan—you became a Christian?” He nodded, his story spilling out:
“I am stubborn—if people try to persuade me, I lean the opposite way. But this month, I randomly met a Chinese pastor after my friend dragged me to a meeting. She left, so it was just me with this pastor. I wasn’t interested until I discovered he understood Chinese philosophy and revealed how it pointed to God. I always trusted Chinese philosophy but never believed in God because I couldn’t picture the two cooperating. I needed someone to merge them together—and here was this man.
After talking to him, I prayed—all December, God answered my impossible prayers, one by one. Yesterday, He told me it’s time to come bow down and submit. I cannot resist after all He’s done. I didn’t choose Him—He chose me. God is the only one who could convince me, as He’s more powerful.”
Yohan looked at me, eyes glistening. “He is so kind to me. So many times I rejected Him but He went after me and forgave my sin. I used to think I was a good person because I didn’t dishonor people. Now I see how much of a sinner I am because I ignored God so many times, thinking things were coincidences or crediting myself. I am the last person I ever expected to become a Christian. But now I will go wherever He wants, even China.”
The Power to Change Hearts
Through Yohan, I see God’s sovereignty. In response to my fears about China cracking down on Christianity, Yohan urged me: “Don’t be afraid. His disciples will follow Him no matter what. We are chosen by Him and should have faith so strong that while we suffer in this world, we know we gain more up there. We don’t need to worry about what’s happening down here. We should be concerned about what’s up there.”
I wish I could capture Yohan’s passion—he shakes the table with his excitement for Jesus, evangelizing for hours to whoever will listen. By August, Yohan started a Bible Study for international students. He carries a bag of New Testaments in case the Lord wants him to run into anyone and share His word. One time, I showed Yohan my Chinese “Book of John.” That week, he ordered hundreds and distributed them to anyone willing to receive one.
God calls us to play a beautiful role—teaching others about Christ and being His hands and feet to a world where He seems invisible. We share about Jesus and love people through generosity and sacrifice, but God alone has the power to change hearts.
Sometimes, I picture people as succulents, spikey and yellow or tall and green. In 1 Corinthians 3:4-11, Paul remarks how we’re given the incredible privilege of planting and watering, but even in this, we’re not really “anything,” as only God makes things grow at unique rates. Jesus commands us to pray earnestly, as our Heavenly Father hears and loves to respond to our prayers. Yet even when it seems like God is moving in milliseconds, He is sovereign over every detail.
JoAnn Doyle, missionary and author of Women Who Risk: Secret Agents for Jesus in the Muslim World, analogizes prayer to a rocking chair: “Sitting in [the chair], you rock back and forth as you talk to the Father about the concerns of your heart. First, you rock forward, gazing right to left, asking…God, “Is this the day You answer?” You’re watching for His divine provision. When you don’t see the answer coming, you rock back, waiting for His perfect timing. Your hope is firmly established on His promise that He hears you. You continue rocking forward and backward, you’re continually renewed in His presence, as you watch expectantly for His answer, then rest again, waiting while He works. And one day, as you watch in hope, Jesus will fulfill the desire of your heart in ways that your mind cannot conceive (1 Corinthians 2:9).”
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” –John 15:16
For more information about volunteering with Bridges International, please contact Karisa You at karisayou@g.ucla.edu.
- Author’s Note: Bridges International is a branch of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) focused on reaching international students with God’s love. The student club is run by volunteers who desire to see the nations transformed by the Gospel, as an overwhelming majority of international students in the U.S. are from closed nations with less than 1% Christianity. Although many of these students will become world leaders and are extremely open to the Gospel during their travels in the U.S., 80% are never invited to an American home and 60% never make close friends.