I get a lot of emails from friends and colleagues telling me about people who have an idea on how to “reach the world” in some new way. Often those ideas are just that– ideas, the sorts of things that get talked about over coffee and we all agree how cool it is and then get back to the reality. Further, the ones with ideas are often students who have more idealism than common sense. So it was with a bit of skepticism that I sat down over coffee with just– graduated Francesca and Malisha to hear about their “idea.”

Almost immediately, I realized that they were far more serious than most. They had really thought about this, I said to myself. They laid out their vision for a marketing/reinvestment arrangement to promote economic development in developing countries. They had already visited Ecuador and established contacts, indeed their vision was hatched by an Ecuadorian. They had prayed and searched the Scriptures as serious Christians. They were committed to making it happen, evidenced by their fund raising approach- get the phone book out and start calling all the entries under “Churches!” Perhaps this was a little naïve, but is was most definitely commitment.

As I have watched them struggle through the early stages of birthing a nonprofit organization– not only funding, but publicity, government red tape, networking, working our of closets and basements, speaking at every opportunity they can get– I am very impressed with their dogged conviction that God is behind and ahead of all their efforts. A crowning moment for me was to see them standing in front of 19, 000 students at Urbana Missions Convention on New Year’s Eve, sharing their hope– and indirectly their crazy courage– for putting their beliefs about justice into actual practice.

It has been a privilege and a joy in this sometimes wild ride with Malisha and Francesca. It would be great if you would too!

Marc Papai, Intervarsity Staff Director
Ohio Valley Division

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From "Notes from the journey"- a column written by one of INTO's founders each issue.
By Malisha Richardson.

“So it’s funny when you decide to say ‘yes’ to Jesus ...” Those were the first words spoken by us at the Urbana conference this past December. Amazingly, we found ourselves speaking in front of 20,000 people about our non– profit that we founded less than a year ago. It was at this event that we began to really see the whole mission that God has purposed us to complete and the lives that we can inspire through our testimony.

The Urbana Conference is an InterVarsity event that occurs every three years. The focus of the conference is missions and the message is geared toward college students. The five day event is full of seminars, workshops, and worship services– complete with great opportunities to learn more about one’s personal mission.

The conference was a wonderful experience as both a participant and a contributor. There were many powerful speakers that addressed the crowd about the mission they have responded to as well inspiring others to go forth and fulfill the mission that God has placed in every individual. Francesca and I were very encouraged and affirmed in those four days about what God has told us in regards to INTO.

We were increasingly humbled each day that God had for some reason chosen US to speak in front of so many people although we had just recently begun this journey ourselves. We were humbled to be in the midst of such great people who had chosen to follow God and had themselves embarked upon great missions. We were humbled to be able to stand in front of a group of students, some our peers and others younger than us, and encourage and compel them to “take God out of the box” in their own lives. Lastly, we were humbled to know that God’s hand is truly upon NTO’s mission.

Through this experience I have been made a believer in the notion that we are all called to be missionaries. The scope of mission work is so broad that there is room for us all. The mission that God has place in myself and Francesca’s lives has and will include travel around the world but I’ve found that there is mission work in our own towns and communities...not just abroad.

As you read this newsletter I pray that you are encouraged to find your place in the mission to help others. (Matthew 25:35-40)

-Malisha Richardson, Co– founder of INTO