Who we are

Who we are

A world of perspectives. A community of belonging. Many backgrounds. One community. ​

Our community brings together international students, local students, faculty, and friends from diverse backgrounds to build meaningful connections and make our campus feel like home.

Our community brings together international students, local students, faculty, and friends from diverse backgrounds to build meaningful connections and make our campus feel like home.

How we got here

Two men standing with Indian and Pakistani flags on a white background symbolizing harmony.

We saw an opportunity

ISF was founded in 2010 when the First Baptist Church, located just 5 minutes from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) became aware  of the large number of international students on the UTEP campus, El Paso Community College, Texas Tech and Fort Bliss (Army Base). The ISF was mainly founded to cater to the needs international students faced and also help them adjust to life in the U.S.

We serviced the need

In 2010, the ISF started with monthly fellowship dinners and occasional trips to many beautiful sceneries in the region. In 2016 the ISF was able to launch a furniture component to the ministry, recieving furniture and household item donations from church and community members and distributing them to incoming international students. In 2010 the ISF began a group open to all international women – mainly F2 wives of students –  that found themselves in El Paso. In these group meetings the women engage in enjoyable conversations, crafts, cooking, English language practice and feild trips to places of interest.

Close-up of small flags marking countries on a colorful world map.
hands, team, united, together, people, unity, teamwork, group, hand in hand, union, support, friendship, cooperation, community, holding, connection, harmony, diversity, cut out, hands, hands, hands, hands, team, team, team, team, team, together, together, people, people, people, people, unity, teamwork, teamwork, group, support, support, friendship, friendship, community, community, community, community, connection, diversity, diversity, diversity, diversity

We built a team to love and care

The vision the organizers of ISF had in founding this organization was to follow the command of Jesus to love our neighbor as ourselves;(Matthew 22:39)- by seeking ways to help students from all countries, all backgrounds and faiths traditions to flourish during their stay in El Paso. A Student Advisory team in conjunction with the ISF team was also created to give advice about activities and execute planned activities.

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