“That’s when I saw the potential in Canada instead of going overseas.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

One third of the world has never heard the Gospel message, according to some estimates. “Going into all the world” might seem impossible for most Ottawa families, but living on mission has never been easier.

“We can go to these other countries, but these countries are already coming to us,” says Bev Frankish. “There are thousands of unreached people groups just in India. These international students come and we have opportunities. It’s such an easy thing to have someone in your home.”

For years, Frankish had a heart to do mission work. However, her paradigm for missions changed when Friends for Dinner started, and later when she took the Perspectives Course. Friends for Dinner is a ministry that partners international students with Christian families to experience a Canadian Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter meal. The opportunity naturally opens doors for believers to share their faith.

Many of the students the family invite to church attend at least once. Photo courtesy of Bev Frankish.

“The first six students we had at Thanksgiving, almost 10 years ago, it was a real eye opener for me. One student was a Christian and the other five weren’t. By February two of them had become Christians. That’s when I saw the potential in Canada instead of going overseas.”

Since that day, the Frankish family have welcomed more than 100 internationals, from 15 countries, into their home for a meal. At least 65 of those guests later attended at least one service at Chapel Ridge Free Methodist Church.

“I have a picture of a Sunday where there were 18 people at one time who came to Chapel Ridge,” Frankish states.

Friends for Dinner requires minimal commitment. However, beyond the initial meal, the Frankish family maintained connections with the students, helping them move and sometimes even giving them driving lessons. They have also brought dozens of students to their cottage in the summers.

Bev Frankish stands with international students at the shore, near their cottage. Photo courtesy of Bev Frankish.

Frankish’s daughter and son-in-law (Alison and Matthew Ja Eue) met on the mission field. Now back in Ottawa, they accelerated the pace of making these connections.

“Matthew started at Algonquin because he wanted to interact with the students. He asked if we could have people in our home, and he started inviting more and more people.”

“It is easy for me to talk to international students because I am not Canadian,” Ja Eue explains. “I would sit in the food court and talk to people. I start to share a little bit about Jesus and then I invite them to my house to have some Thai food.”

Ja Eue uses any number of questions to prompt conversations about the Gospel. After talking to a new friend for several minutes, he askes about their background or what they believe. Later in the conversation, they often ask the same questions to him.

“The response is extremely open. It is so easy to talk with them and build relationships.” Photo courtesy of Bev Frankish.

“My wife is Canadian, so sometimes they ask me how I met my wife. I tell them I prayed for one year before I met my wife. I wanted to be a missionary and serve the Lord and I wanted to marry someone who wants to be a missionary.”

Most international students are lonely, so Ja Eue invites them to experience a Canadian home. Together, with his in-laws, they ask the students if they would like to come to church and meet more friends. A lot of students say yes.

They have many stories of people who kept coming back to church because of the friendly environment and out of curiosity. Students from communist or Muslim backgrounds are especially curious, because they are not allowed to ask questions or learn about Jesus in their home country.

“Friends for Dinner is such an easy vehicle to have people in your home,” Frankish says. “The response is extremely open. They ask questions and want to know what Christmas and Easter are about. It is so easy to talk with them and build relationships.”