- [Narrator] The Annual International Friends Retreat
was first held back in 2013.
When Alabama WMU
and the Collegiate and Student Ministries Office
of the State Board of Missions joined forces
to host the event
at Worldsong Missions Place.
The retreat is designed
to bring American
and international students together
in a fun and relaxing environment.
Where friendships can be started
and relationships fostered.
- I couldn't think of a more perfect setting
for our international students
to find a place of peace
and our American students
to find that place as well,
where they can naturally create relationship
as they go about doing life on the camps of Worldsong
- [Narrator] Each year,
the international students
are given gift bags
that have been lovingly assembled by Alabama Baptists
of all ages from across the state.
This year,
these gift bags will take on more significance.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
the 2020 International Friends Retreat won't take place.
But churches again, have the opportunity
to donate gift bags,
which will be delivered
to international students through all
of our Baptist campus ministries.
The retreat and the gift bags are both a means
to a greater end.
To facilitate relationships
between American students
and international students,
leading to gospel conversations.
- Who is American students get to know
these international students,
then often they'll come back from the retreat
and they'll invite them to church,
and the international students
are more than willing to get a church.
And then they're interested in learning more
about the Bible.
So they begin studying the Bible together,
but it just develops into friendships
that can last even a lifetime.
- Thank you so much for the gifts that you gave
to the Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering,
which provides us a significant portion
of the budget for Alabama WMU
and allows us
to continue ministries like the
International Friends Retreat
at Worldsong Missions Place.
(soft music)