Equipping for Eternal Conversations in Okoboji

While many know Lake Okoboji as a beloved summer vacation spot, there’s something much deeper happening behind the scenes this season. Each year, around 200 international students come to Okoboji to work summer jobs while on break from U.S. universities. It’s a unique moment of opportunity—one that the Omaha-based ministry Global Friends is stepping into with intention.

Earlier this month, Step Up to Life Executive Director Lincoln Murdoch spent two days in Okoboji training and equipping the Global Friends team. This group of seven committed volunteers is preparing to engage students from across the globe in Gospel conversations that are honest, relational, and rooted in truth.

During the training, Lincoln walked the team through the five-step method Step Up to Life is known for, helping them recognize where someone might be in their spiritual journey—from unconcern to saving faith—and how to lovingly guide them toward Christ. Practical tools, stories from past interactions, and focused prayer were all part of the two-day experience.

The training was also opened up to the primary local church involved in this summer outreach, along with other area churches interested in evangelism. Together, this collaborative effort is sowing seeds of faith that we pray will bear lasting fruit.

A few summers ago, two Chinese students came to faith through a conversation and a Step Up to Life booklet. Our prayer is that this summer, many more would come to know Jesus in a real and personal way.

Thank you for praying for the Global Friends team and the international students they’re ministering to this summer. The harvest is plentiful!