Mike and Kathy Winfree work in partnership with the City of Myrtle Beach and the Chamber of Commerce to provide support to the J1 community in a variety of ways! They are the “first line of defense” for student issues and problems. Is your employer withholding your paycheck? Call Mike and Kathy. Is your housing overrun by cockroaches? Call Mike and Kathy. Are your roommates being nasty with you and you don’t know how to handle it? Call Mike and Kathy! Pray for energy and stamina, as it is a big job and they are pretty much on call all summer long! They love Jesus with their whole hearts and share that love with each student they interact with, through their actions, words or prayers!
The J1 International exchange program is not cheap! Students have to pay sponsor companies, buy flights, pay for housing and other living expenses, and also hope to travel at the end of their “work and travel program.” Many have to get second jobs in order to make enough money to pay for it all! Before Covid slowed the tourist industry in Myrtle Beach, second jobs were easy to come by and they worked full schedules at their first jobs! But now, with the slowing of the economy, students often only get the minimum numbers of hours guaranteed in their contracts, and struggle to find second jobs. Pray for wisdom for students, that they would know when and where to apply for jobs. Pray that they would be wise with their finances and how they plan their travel at the end of the season. Pray that students would be able to pay off any debts they incurred in trying to get here for the summer
Exchange visitors don’t always get to pick their roommates. They come from a vast array of cultural backgrounds and expectations. Many who come from wealthy families grew up with “house help” that did all the cleaning and cooking and never learned those skills! Pray for roommates to be willing to learn from each other, have patience, and be willing to do their part to contribute to the household! Pray for cultures to connect, learn and grow together in this cultural exchange program.
Conflict with employers or managers is another issue we hear about throughout the summer. Sometimes totally justified, and sometimes as a result of students not being very good employees! (at times, this is their first time ever having to work!) Pray for humble hearts on both sides, and for the J1 students to grow in their ability to work with people they might not get along with! Pray for managers to have patience with employers who are learning new skills and how to navigate communicating in English in the work setting. Pray for wisdom for volunteers as they listen to complaints to discern how to help, when to share words of correction amidst words of encouragement!
For the next few days, we will focus on some of the primary issues we hear about from students as the summer goes on- first up- corrupt landlords. Housing and issues with landlords/property managers is one of the primary ways we see exchange visitors exploited each summer. Overcrowding, over-charging, unsanitary/unsafe conditions, and withholding deposits without cause are common themes. While there are systems in place to try and keep landlords accountable, often students don’t know they can, or are afraid to report these issues. Sometimes the issues are even more severe, as there are those who exploit in more serious ways, including bullying, threatening deportation(though they don’t actually have the power to do that!), and in some cases even physical violence or propositioning them for sexual favors. Please pray for students to speak up to the right people who can help them, for authorities to take action, and for hearts to be turned toward Christ!
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!
30-Days of Prayer for Myrtle Beach Exchange Visitors 