MISSION Great exchange

Grayville family uses extended student visits for the gospel

BY MONA L. WARRICK

(Editor’s note: This story is excerpted by permission from a southern Illinois publication, (618) Hometown Magazine. The Funkhousers serve in music ministry leadership at First Baptist Church of Grayville.)

Yellow school buses, sports uniforms, snow, and school lockers: What do these have in common? They top the list of things nearly every exchange student hopes to see (or experience) while studying in the United States.

“They don’t have these things in their home countries,” said Randy Funkhouser, who along with his wife, Belinda, has been hosting exchange students in their Grayville home for years.

“In our experience,” said Belinda, “they also love sweets, small schools, and being a part of such a big family.” In 2006, they hosted their first student, Gustavo. While they enjoyed the experience, the organization that placed

Gustavo failed to follow up with them. “We weren’t sure what to do,” said Belinda, “so, we didn’t pursue it.”

Years later, a chance meeting at the ballpark led to a renewed involvement with an exchange program. The couple’s granddaughter, Madi, struck up a conversation with an organizer for an exchange student program. Asked if she knew of anyone who might be interested in hosting an exchange student, Madi replied, “My Memaw and Poppy might.”

“I told (the organizer) we weren’t interested, but by the time we were finished talking with her, we had agreed to host two students,” said Belinda. Having raised three daughters of their own, the couple was excited to open their home, and their hearts, to more kids. Since 2012, they have shared their home with 27 exchange students.

“We’ve always had a special love for teenagers,” said Belinda. “From church youth groups to camp, we’ve always loved teens. This is a way for us to share during those four years by focusing on topics that matter to the students.

“I think a lot of students are rightly concerned about and interested in justice and social issues,” he said. “Students want real answers and real assurance, not cliché phrases.” Navigating students through their own doubts and questions pertaining to their faith in the current culture is vital and necessary, Baggett said.

“We have a challenge to present absolute truth to a generation who doesn’t believe in absolute truth,” said Shelbie Kemnetz, campus multiplier for New City Church in Champaign. “However, when a student becomes convinced of the gospel, they will take it and run with it like never before.”

After a year’s experience in ministry with young adults, Kemnetz says she is a firm believer that students want a relationship with Jesus, even if they don’t know it yet. “They are trying to find their identity in temporary things that can be taken from them. When we present the gospel, we present to them a solid foundation in which they can find their identity.” our family and our love for Christ with these kids. We don’t force it on them, it’s just a way to plant the seed.”

Finding a constant amidst the chaos in this fallen world is exactly what students are seeking, but often don’t know where to start. To this, Kemnetz suggests students give the church a chance to allow them to have a community to pour into them and help them grow in the way God has uniquely gifted them. And if that sounds like too much to start, she says the church should offer food. Students are often hungry.

“It’s very expensive for the students who come here,” said Randy. “We feed them and house them, but they pay for everything else.” came and never left,” said Belinda.

Students stay with their host families for either five or ten months, depending on the educational paths in their home countries.

Currently, the Funkhousers are hosting two girls. Giorgia is from Italy and will return home in January, and Paula from Spain will be here through the end of the school year. In December, they welcomed Niccolo from Italy for the second semester.

“All of our students joke and ask us where they rank as far as being our favorites,” Randy said. “Cauê is quick to let them know he’s our number one favorite and everyone else ranks below him!”

At New City, she is witnessing the power of collegiate ministry and has seen that fruit multiply in just one year. “One student decided to follow Jesus in obedience through baptism and she is now going to be one of our key leaders on campus.” Kemnetz went on to share stories of gospel conversations happening in dorm rooms, and how students were so glad that they are a part of a church that is investing in them.

Covid put some of that ministry on hold. In Jacksonville, Baggett has worked despite some limitations. “We haven’t gotten the chance to have regular large group time with our students, but we have been able to have small group Bible studies, and those have been great.” He has been trying to make the experience for students as normal as possible. “We do a lot of partnering with Christian organizations on campus at Illinois College. We do our best to still support them and what they’re doing on campus.”

For the young adults he encounters, Baggett emphasizes the importance of joining a college ministry. “You were designed to be in community with other Christians who can encourage you and challenge you as you walk with the Lord. Get involved, be committed, and see how God will build on the work he has started in you.”

Grayce Lillpop, from Jacksonville, is a student at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She recently interned with IBSA Communications.

Open doors for the gospel Church is very important to the Funkhousers. “If they share on their profile that they won’t attend church with us, we won’t even consider hosting them,” said Randy. “Half of the kids we’ve hosted had never set foot in a church until coming to stay with us. And about 80% have no background in religion whatsoever. We teach them that church isn’t about religion, it’s about a relationship with Jesus.”

The Funkhousers treat the students as family. “When they arrive, I tell the student, you are my daughter (or son) now,” said Randy. “And that’s how we treat them. They are our children while they are with us.”

One very special student, Cauê Ferreira, came to stay with the Funkhousers in 2013. After reading his profile and seeing his Facebook page, the Funkhousers were excited to welcome him. “He was the first student we took for 10 months,” said Randy. “We saw how active he was in his home church in Brazil. Once he arrived, we soon realized that he was one of a kind.”

After graduating from high school, Cauê returned to Brazil to apply for a visa which would allow him to return to Illinois for college,” said Randy. “He returned and stayed with us while attending Wabash Valley College.”

One day the Funkhouser’s granddaughter Madi mentioned to Belinda that she had a “crush” on Cauê. “I remember thinking that this could cause lots of problems if the crush wasn’t mutual,” said Belinda. It was mutual. Madi and Cauê married in 2017. “He’s the student who

Through their experiences, the Funkhousers have learned much about other countries and cultures. “We’ve learned that the Italian students are very familyoriented and are happy staying at home,” said Randy. “Japanese students are very thankful for everything and easily excited. It seems to take more to impress the Europeans.” Belinda added the Asian students are “very respectful of adults.” She said that all of the students, regardless of their home country, are “fascinated by how friendly people are here.”

The exchange students look forward to holidays. “Christmas in our home is very special,” said Belinda. “I’m known as ‘the keeper of the snowmen.’ Last year, our Italian student counted my collection of snowmen and found that I have more than 500!”

The Funkhousers keep in touch with many of their former students. “They love to be here, and we enjoy keeping in touch,” said Belinda. “We’ve also taken several trips to visit our kids in their home countries. It’s great to see where they live and visit with their families.”

Plans are in the works for a family reunion with their former students in November 2024, around the time the Funkhousers will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. “We’d like to think they want to come see us,” said Randy, “but this time frame coincides with the World Cup (soccer’s World Series) which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and St. Louis!”

“Our exchange students love being part of our big family,” said Belinda, “and we love sharing our family with them.” The Funkhousers say the main reason they host students is summed up in the words of their friend, Leon Talley. “Leon hit the nail on the head. You don’t go on the mission field, you bring the mission field to your home.”