New Volunteer Application Form

International Friendships

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(Husbands and wives may fill out a joint application, including comments for each in answer to the questions)

Section 1 General Information

First Name:		Last Name:	Sex:
Home Phone:		Work Phone:
Daytime Phone:		Cell Phone:
Birthday(mm/dd/yy):
Address:		City:	Zip:
E-mail address:
Please contact me by:phone email		May we contact you at work? Yes No
Marital Status: Spouse's Name:	Married Divorced Widowed Single	Please list children and ages:
Have you and your spouse discussed your involvement with IFI, and are you agreed on this? Yes No
Occupation: Current Employer:
Church you attend:
How did you hear about International Friendships?
Hobbies and Interests

Section 2 Area of Volunteer Interest

(Please see below for descriptions)

Airport Pickup	Food for Potlucks & Picnics	Office Volunteer - clerical
Bike Ride Help	Friendship Partner	Public Relations Assistant, Church Rep.
Building maintenance & improvement	Fund Raising Events	Short-term Temporary Housing
Children's Ministry	Garage Sale Shopping	Thanksgiving Host
Christmas Day Host	Having a student live with me	Tour of Columbus
Involve My Small Group	Intercessory Prayer Team	Truck Availability
English Conversation Partner	Int'l American Fellowship (Bible Study)	Volunteer for Trip Ministry
ESL Teacher/Assistant	International Mom's Group

Other Volunteer interests. Please explain.
Are there any cultural or religious backgrounds for which you have a particular interest?

Section 3 Training Dates

Please fill in a training date. Available training dates can be seen here.

Section 4 Please Tell Us More About Yourself

If additional space is needed, please send us an email at .

1. How have you come to be interested in working with international students? What do you see as your primary goal in this ministry?

2. Please describe any involvement you have had with other cultures (travel outside USA, friendships, etc.)

3. Please briefly describe how you became a Christian and your current walk with the Lord:

4. Please describe your involvement in your church, including how long you have been a part of the church:

5. Please comment on any other ministry experience you have had, including any experience discipling others. What other ministries are you currently involved in, and how much time per week are you involved?

6. If you speak any other languages, please list

7. Will transportation to campus and transportation of students who do not have cars be a problem for you?
Yes No

8. Number and type of pets?

Section 5 References

Pastor / Spiritual Leader (who knows you well spiritually):
Name:	Phone:
Address:	City:	Zip:
Relationship:
Email:

Please list 2 other references (not family) who have known you for more than 3 years. Please list International Friendships staff or team members if applicable.
Name:	Phone:
Address:	City:	Zip:
Relationship:
Email:

Name:	Phone:
Address:	City:	Zip:
Relationship:
Email:

I understand that as a volunteer of International Friendships (IFI), I am representing a Christian ministry and thus the Lord Jesus Christ, and I will seek to conduct myself in a manner consistent with a Biblical lifestyle. I am in agreement with the statement of faith. I give permission for IFI to contact the pastor of my church as a reference if needed. I understand that because volunteers will represent IFI to the students, IFI reserves the right to make decisions regarding placement.

Checklist for Applicants

q	Completed Application & signed agreement with IFI's Statement of Faith
q	Reference from pastor / small group leader
q	Evidence of personal relationship with Jesus. The volunteer must demonstrate faith in and followership of Jesus consistent with Biblical teaching and be able to communicate a statement of their faith.
q	Active in a Biblical local church. Because living in Christian community is essential to a healthy spiritual life, volunteers must maintain involvement in their local church for fellowship, accountability, and Biblical teaching.
q	Biblical Lifestyle. Because our single goal is to assist internationals to know Jesus and experience Christian love, volunteers must exhibit a lifestyle consistent with Biblical teaching including maturity, emotional stability, healthy relationships, and a stable living situation.
q	Teachable spirit. Working with other cultures requires that the volunteer take the role of a learner exhibited both in a willingness to understand and accept cultural differences and in a willingness to learn how to effectively and sensitively share their faith cross-culturally.
q	Participation in General Training session

International Friendships Incorporated

Statement of Faith

We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as inspired by God, and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned, and thereby incurred, not only physical death, but also Spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all that believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.
We believe in "that blessed hope," the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost.

Volunteer Activity Descriptions

Airport pickup: Be the first welcoming face a newly arriving international student sees when he/she arrives in Columbus. Transport them either to campus or a temporary housing home.

Building Maintenance and Improvement: needs include cleaning, painting, and remodeling as new office staff are added. Help is also needed to be on call to move furniture when donated or when students move.

Children's Ministry*: special programming for children nursery and older during our Friday night Bible study. Volunteers are needed to assist with the children.

English Conversation Partners*: Meet with one international student for 1 hour each week simply practicing conversation, and building a friendship as well!

Food for potlucks & picnics: Use your kitchen skills to assist with food for our fall welcome picnic or various potlucks. Sign up, and we will call you as needs arise.

Friendship Partner: Individuals and families meet with an international student once a month for a meal or other activity. Invite then to join you in an activity you are already doing or plan something special to do together.

Having a student live with me*: Offer a room in your home to a student for a quarter or longer. You may offer this free of charge or ask for a rental payment.

International American Fellowship*: Visit our Friday night Bible study and consider becoming involved in a small group, building friendships with international students and sharing your faith.

Mailing List: Receive regular prayer letters from one or more of our staff members or announcements of our activities where volunteers are needed.

Office Volunteer - clerical: Help is needed to answer phones, enter data into the computer, help with mailings, etc. Come weekly, monthly, or for a specific task - we can work with you for the perfect fit! You will receive "on the job instruction."

Short Term (or Long Term) Temporary Housing*: Welcome an international student into your home for 3-5 days upon their initial arrival to Columbus while they look for more permanent housing. It would be considered long term after 5 days and up to a month. Predominantly needed in August and September. Transportation to and from campus certain days is necessary.

Thanksgiving Host*: Invite 1 or more students to join your Thanksgiving celebration and share your family’s joy and Christian hospitality. You will be given names of students to contact. In most cases, transportation to and from OSU campus will be needed.

Christmas Host*: Share the warmth of your Christmas table, and you may have an opportunity to share the Christmas story with an international student. Transportation to and from campus is usually needed.

Volunteer for Trip Ministry*: Travel as a member of the leadership team on one of our ministry trips. Help drive, share your life and faith with the students traveling with you - a short term mission trip!

Public Relations: Help promote IFI needs at your church through bulletin inserts, display tables, or possibly through a presentation in a small group or during church service. Also possible participation with IFI fundraisers.
Garage Sales: This popular service is offered to students on two Saturdays in late August or early September. Drive students to designated garage sales, and help them select furnishings for their apartments.
Trucks: We need several trucks and some strong folks who are able to pick up furniture (see garage sales, above!) and deliver it to students during the weeks following the garage sales.
ESL Teacher or Assistant: Assist or teach at IFI’s English as a Second Language classes on consecutive Saturdays during the school year. Assistants need not be experts in ESL – just willing helpers with a decent knowledge of English.
International Moms Groups (IMG): Befriend an international mom once a month at our morning group. Also help with children, Bible study, English conversation, or crafts.

*Requires a minimum one-time training and orientation prior to participation. This will be a basic orientation addressing common questions, fears, and skills related to cross-cultural relationships and ministry. Orientation for specific activities will follow accordingly. We will contact you regarding specific dates.

International Friendships, Inc.

195 Chittenden Ave., Columbus, OH 43201

Tel: 614.294.2434