Life Change on Campus: Ryuuto's Story

Ryuuto is an international student from Japan, attending community college in the Seattle area. When he came to campus last year, he connected with the international ministry but his involvement decreased as the months went on. Soon, he stopped coming completely and would only run into the collegiate ministry team at outreach events.

However, God was still at work in Ryuuto’s life. As the school year continued in the spring, he reconnected at a Bible study gathering, asking some leaders if they would go out to lunch. Brad Schneeflock, leader of the Seattle Metro ministry, along with a mission team from Texas, went to lunch with Ryuuto. Ryuuto asked everyone to share their testimonies - so Brad asked him to share his as well. Ryuuto said that he didn’t think he had a testimony, despite being raised with some Christian family influence, and the ministry team was able to share the Gospel. Ryuuto accepted Christ that day in the middle of the restaurant.

Through the work of NW Collegiate Ministries (NCM), thirty-five students have accepted Christ over the past school year, including twelve international students from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Japan, and Kenya. The Seattle branch of this ministry launched in the Pacific Northwest only two years ago on two college campuses. Over the past year, they expanded to ten campuses and are continuing to grow, with teams planning to be present on at least twenty-three campuses across Oregon and Washington this fall. 

As NCM Director Ken Harmon shared, their teams are seeing an openness to the Gospel in students like never before. In the past, students would shut down conversations about anything spiritual, but now they’ll engage. This could be due to the isolation these students experienced during the pandemic quarantine, or it could be some other cause. But whatever the reason, Ken and his team are praising God for the work He is doing in students’ lives. 

Many young adults in the Pacific Northwest have never been to a church, owned a Bible, or been exposed to Biblical teachings. There are many cases where students show up on campus unchurched and underreached, yet open to hearing the Good News. NCM staff and missionaries may be the first Christians these students ever know. 

Would you join us in prayer for these students? First, pray for Ryuuto and other students who have accepted Christ - that they would continue to grow in their faith. Pray also for the students who will be reached this upcoming school year and new campuses that will see ministry happen. Finally, pray for more laborers, that NCM would be able to expand to every college and university campus in the area. The NCM team is growing by three new staff members this year and many more volunteers, which is worth celebrating. God is at work through this ministry, reaching students like Ryuuto and changing lives eternally. 

To learn more about Northwest Collegiate Ministries visit http://ncmlife.org.