Lela Bolotaeva, current International Student from the Republic of Georgia, graduated from Gordon College this year with her B.S. in International Studies. She will next be serving Frontline in Optional Practical Training as the Coordinator of Outreach, serving the ministry in various outreach tasks. Her first assignment is to coordinate the upcoming missions trip to the Republic of Georgia. Her duties will also include working as a publishing assistant to Dr. Alves toward the translation of his book into Georgian and Portuguese.
Lela thanks all those who helped her accomplish this great milestone in her life and future ministry.
The International Student Program began with David & Marcy's desire to see young people from other nations come to the states to study and return to impact the "small places" in their home country. They first informally hosted a Brazilian student for several years while she completed high school and began college.
From that beginning, Margaret Jeffers and the FMI board, initiated the International Student Mission Fund established to meet the needs of promising Christian young people who have served Frontline personnel, missionairies, and board members on the misison field. This fund connects those who have God's resources with promising international students who desire to complete their education and return to impact their families, churches and nations.
Frontline has established several criteria:
Frontline must be made aware of prospective students through Frontline or New Life missions or Trusted Partners.
Students must have a Frontline approved sponsor while here in the states.
Students must show academic promise, devotion to Christ and indiginous ministry. In order to receive funds, they must also demonstrate financial hardship.
Students must have a pastoral recommendation and relevant permissions (parents, goverment, etc.)
Students must reinvest in their home countries serving Christ and their home church or community following their education.
Someone at Frontline must know the prospective student(s) before they are eligible for assistance.
The intent of the fund is to impact the nations by educating young nationals and helping them further the Gospel in their homelands after they are educated here.
