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Bible distributed
Each year the N4C team organizes unique outreach events to present the Gospel to International students from all over the world. Please watch this short 7 minute video report of the 63 events.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20.
After ministering for 19 years in Russia, the Kochan family was called to the USA and started Nations4Christ, a ministry to reach international exchange students that come under the J1 visa program. For the last 12 years thousands of young people have been impacted for Christ since the inception of this ministry. The hub of where we reach out to students is from the building we’ve named, World Harvest Embassy, which is strategically located on 206 Valley Drive in Pigeon Forge. Because is it close to the Parkway and where the students live, they can easily visit our daily WHE outreach events and activities. WH Embassy completed its 1st phase of renovation, which provides a welcoming coffee shop with a Christ-centered atmosphere.
This facility is extremely popular with the students. We are hosting up to 90 young people for each event, and so we are already in need of expanding our space to accommodate the increasing number of students who desire to participate. This will take a miracle, but we desperately need to build a fellowship hall to complete the 2nd phase of renovation. Each year about 1500 students come to Sevier County from literally all over the world. Most come from countries closed to the Gospel, particularly those that are Communist or Muslim nations. Over 700 students have visited the WHE each year. These internationals work and live in various locations throughout the county so the WHE is a safe place where they can connect with each other and with Christians who are there to assist them. Here lifelong friendships are made, and students are exposed nonstop to the Gospel message.
Over 10 million people visit the Smoky Mountain National Park each year. With its close proximity, Pigeon Forge has become the most popular family vacation destination in the state.
The Ministry House – World Harvest Embassy is easily accessed from the main parkway, which runs through the entire county. Students from various locations come here by foot, bike or trolley to find a safe place to spend their free time and to get assistance during their transition. It is here that they make friends from all around the world.
A Work and Travel Program is a government program for students from top universities from around the world that allows them to experience the American culture. The students are provided a job and a place to live for four months. After their work commitment, the students are free to travel throughout the United States before returning home.
The key connections that make the WH Embassy a home away from home for so many students is language and culture. Even though there are students from many different countries, the majority come from the former USSR. Because the Kochan family come from Russia, they have the ability to communicate directly with the students in their own cultural context.
Over 2000 students from 27 different countries come to Sevier County to work in the cities of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville. Because this is the first visit to the United States for many of the young people, feelings of isolation and uncertainty are common experiences among the international students.
By networking together, volunteers and churches share the love of Jesus and the message of the Good News with the confidence that students’ hearts will be drawn to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
