The All Nations Cafe team puts on a big “Christmas in July” event every summer as an outreach event. Students are excited about the chance to experience an “American Christmas” and have a great time! The ANC team uses this as an opportunity to explicitly share the gospel in a large group setting with the students, creating a meaningful experience as well as sharing the true meaning of Christmas. Pray that this would be more than just a fun experience for them, but a revelation of Christ’s love for them! Pray that this event would lead students to ask more questions about Jesus and what it means to believe in Him.
Exchange visitors come here with a wide range of religious backgrounds- from atheists from the former Soviet bloc to devout Muslims from Central Asia, Buddhists from Thailand to Roman Catholics from Spain. Each student is on their own unique journey, and many are curious about Christianity and the Bible. Some have never even seen a Bible in person before, let alone read one! This curiosity serves as an opportunity for believers to invite them to attend church with them, or to participate in Discovery Bible Studies (DBS). The DBS method has been very effective with J1 students because it gives students the chance to ready and explore what the Bible says. It allows the Holy Spirit to bring revelation and understanding about who Jesus is and how much he loves them! Pray for a boldness for believers to invite students to join them, and for a courage for students to attend!
Imagine you are in a foreign country with no family or close friends, and you break your leg and become immobile? What would you do? Who would you call? With limited resources and connections, students who are in emergency situations are in very vulnerable positions. Believers in the city regularly step in to help, providing housing, rides, care, and love to students in crisis. This often leads to opportunities to share the reason behind their care and concern- Christ’s command to love our neighbors! This year, the city has created an official position of “Emergency Medical Liaison” that will be filled by Angie and Mike Moncrief. Pray for the Moncriefs as they help in an official capacity, for all the volunteers that step in to help in a variety of situations, and for students to feel the nearness of Jesus during their time of crisis.
Day 15- All Nations Cafe (ANC) – For the next few days, we will focus on some of the ways local believers attempt to connect with J1 Students in a meaningful way for the sake of the Gospel. First up- All Nations Cafe!All Nations Cafe is a ministry that serves exchange visitors in a variety of ways, but primarily through Cafe’ nights. Twice a week throughout the summer, ANC, through the help of local churches and volunteers, serves a meal to students and provides a place for them to connect with each other and believers from the city. It is a great place for fun and fellowship, but also to get to know students and share the love of Jesus with them! There are two locations that host cafe nights, in both Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle. Pray for great connections to be made! Pray for boldness and sensitivity for the volunteers to know when and how to share about their own faith and the love of Christ.
Day 16- Dinners- Though the J1 program is in part about employment and making money, it is also about cultural exchange! One of the greatest things students can experience is a meal around the table with an American family! Dinners create a sense of family and intimacy, and often lead to great conversations about faith. When believers invite students into their homes for a meal, it creates an opportunity for deeper connection and lasting friendships! Pray for the ANC volunteers who connect with students at the Cafe nights to be bold in inviting students into their homes! Pray that students would be impacted by intentional hospitality that expresses God’s love for them.
So sorry for the delay in posting yesterday! We were experiencing some technical difficulties! We will post two topics tomorrow to get back on track!
Jobs as servers in restaurants are coveted among J1s because of the potential for tips. But the hours are sometimes inconsistent and tips are not guaranteed. Pray for students to receive fair compensation for their work as servers, busboys and dishwashers!
Places like water parks, go kart tracks and Broadway at the Beach rely on international students to fill their employment rosters each summer. Long hours, oftentimes in the heat, dealing with (not always pleasant) tourists can make for a tough working environment! Pray for these students to have fun at their jobs, even if the conditions aren’t always ideal. Pray that they have opportunities to work with believers who represent Jesus well.
Many J1 workers are employed ashousekeepers in the local hotels and resorts. Cleaning and resetting rooms is hard work! Oftentimes, J1 students are the top of their class at their universities, so spending the summer making beds and cleaning toilets might not be the most fulfilling work for them! Pray for these students to feel a sense of satisfaction in a job well done, and that they would make good friendships with their co-workers who they spend a lot of time with!
For the next few days, we will focus on the primary types of employment the J1 Students have and specific concerns for those fields. First up- Lifeguards!
Lifeguards provide an important service to the community. They receive special training and work LONG hours in the heat and sun! Pray for safety and health for these young people who serve our community in such a vital role. Pray that in the midst of their full work schedules and long days, they would have the opportunity to encounter Jesus.
A large number of students come from Central Asia each summer, primarily from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Their religious background is predominantly Muslim, but some are atheist or Orthodox Christian. The Muslim students tend to be either very committed to their religious identity or defy it outright while living in America. However, they do like to have conversations about beliefs and spirituality. They are genuinely curious about the Bible and Jesus and share a similar desire as Christians to live a moral and righteous life. Pray for good conversations with believers that cause them to know God in a different way, to know Him as the loving Father that He is. Pray that they would have a divine encounter with Jesus and worship Him as the Son of God.
South and East Asia are represented with students from Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and China. The majority of these students are eager and excited to experience American culture in all its forms, good and bad. Their excitement is contagious and makes them fun to be around! Many have had little or no exposure to Christianity, but are open to learning and experiencing it despite the fact that they identify as Buddhist. They rarely turn down an invitation to a home or church service. The Chinese students are especially curious about the Bible and Jesus since these subjects are taboo in their country. Pray for protection from the evil aspects of American culture. Pray that they would encounter Jesus, not just as a part of the Christian culture of America, but as something personal and real for them. Pray that many of them would read and explore the Bible for the first time.
30-Days of Prayer for Myrtle Beach Exchange Visitors 