Monika Edith Terpstra is on staff with Friends International.
When did you trust Christ?
I believed in God from early childhood and grew up in a Christian environment where people believed in what had been passed on to them by previous generations. At 15, I started reading the Bible more closely and thinking more about what I believed about God. By God's grace, I realised Jesus saved me and didn't have to try to earn His favour. I got baptised when I was 19.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
The most defining moment is being a part of a community of authentic Christians from whom I can learn, share my life and experience, and be accountable. I have also grown through studying the Bible, attending seminars, and leading small groups.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I look forward to returning because ELF is a great way to step back and see God at work in Europe. It allows me to explore new areas of ministry when meeting new people, reflect on the work God has been doing within my ministry, and reconnect with (now) good old friends to encourage each other.
What is your ministry?
As an international student worker, I support local churches and Christian Unions in reaching out to international students by running regular and one-off events where they can befriend foreigners, provide hospitality, and allow them to hear and respond to the Gospel. My responsibilities are to raise awareness, train volunteers, help volunteers start and run events, supervise the team of leaders, and welcome internationals. I am also a part of the Word Alive International Track planning team. At this Easter-time conference, international students can connect with Christians from their home countries, hear the Gospel, and think about challenges they might face back home. Lastly, I give evangelistic talks at Christian Union event weeks, one-off outreach events, and lead seminars at the Philip Project.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I coordinated Christian summer kids' camps for four years, facilitated a small group at church in 2017, and was a student leader of the IFES international group in Vienna, Austria, for a year. In 2018, I was the Bible study coordinator at Friends International Edinburgh International Outreach, and in 2019, I was the junior outreach leader at FI Cambridge International Outreach.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
One of my responsibilities is to train church leaders and volunteers to reach out to international students in the UK. Meeting with other Christians to learn how they think, learn, teach, and serve is helpful.
