It can be scary to establish an IFI location from scratch. “Where does one even begin?”
That’s what Kasey Smith, now IFI Lancaster Ministry Leader, was asking himself once he moved from Guatemala to Pennsylvania in January of 2023. Launching the location was little more than a dream– a hopeful prayer for a community that would welcome and walk alongside international students, no matter where they were in their journeys. 
Thankfully, he wasn’t completely alone. Rita Dong, now IFI Lancaster Ministry Coordinator, joined the team later that summer, as well as Mike McKeever a year later, filling in the Campus Minister role. Together, they began reaching out, sometimes with more questions than answers.
What will it look like to serve international college students in a place like Lancaster?
What would the “IFI thing to do” be?
And so the trial-and-error season began. They faced many frustrating moments, especially since they knew few students.
“I remember organizing our first official activity,” Kasey said. “Only one student came.”
Nonetheless, Kasey and Rita kept showing up. And what do you know? That one student turned into 11 at their Fall Harvest Party. Then came Thanksgiving hosting, and more international students attended; they weren’t just hungry for the classic American feast, but for authentic connection. Fast forward to today, the Lancaster team draws over 50 international students to their programs.
“We were just really ready for students,” Kasey mentioned. “Now we have deeper relationships with them; more students come to our Bible discussions and seek mentorship.”
Something key to IFI Lan
caster’s growth was the leveraging of partnerships. Both universities they’re involved with– Millersville and Franklin & Marshall– have been great at making connections on their behalf. In addition, other Christian organizations, like Navigators, Intervarsity, and FCA, have been a huge help in bridging the gap between IFI and the schools.
“We’ve been well-received by others,” Rita said. “I was also already a volunteer at Franklin & Marshall, so it was easie
r to access certain resources. Mike also met the president of Millersville, who used to be an international student himself– that was another God moment.”
Little by little, barriers were being broken and relationships were building trust. While Bible discussion groups and mentorship are at the core of IFI Lancaster, the team meets students where they are, whether helping with grocery shopping, offering transportation, or teaching them how to drive. They’ve also had the opportunity to take them to cultural events famous in their city, such as the Sight and Sound Theatre.
“You wouldn’t know, but this area is very culturally rich,” Rita said. “Students want to learn and explore.”
In addition, volunteers have played a crucial role in serving international students, especially during the holiday seaso
n, opening their homes during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. One of them even donated pumpkins from their pumpkin farm for the Fall Fest and pumpkin carving, which turned out to be one of the year’s most popular events.
“We want to continue empowering volunteers because the three of us can only do so much,” Kasey said. “An ‘impact team’ is what we’re looking for– people who can commit to building real friendships and be in it for the long haul.”
Despite their share of challenges, IFI Lancaster refuses to give up. The team continues to be open to establishing new ways to serve students, whether through creating small groups, internships, or bigger trips out of state. The location’s steady growth in this humble Pennsylvania city makes the future feel full of promise.
“We were struggling with where we belonged, but now it feels like we’re finally settling in,” Mike explained. “We’re also trusting in God with the seeds we plant, letting Him do the rest.”