Building bridges: TCU International Christian Fellowship fosters long-lasting friendships between international and domestic students
TCU ICF hosts a cultural dinner every other Friday evening, each one featuring cuisine from a different country around the world - from Chinese and Vietnamese dishes to Japanese, Indian, Thai and classic American comfort foods. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
TCU ICF hosts a cultural dinner every other Friday evening, each one featuring cuisine from a different country around the world - from Chinese and Vietnamese dishes to Japanese, Indian, Thai and classic American comfort foods. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
The aroma of steaming rice and spicy curry greets Yash Tyagi, a senior computer science major from India, as he enters the cozy house located at 2713 Wabash Ave. At the International Christian Fellowship dinner table every other Friday evening, Tyagi discovers a community he’s come to cherish as a home away from home.
Over 500 international students like Tyagi currently attend TCU, making up about 5% of the total student population. These students usually face immense challenges being so far from familiar support systems.
“It’s really difficult finding community or belonging,” Tyagi explained. “You feel pretty invisible as an international student sometimes.”
Navigating visa regulations, homesickness and culture shock is not easy for international students studying far from home. Yet support exists - if one knows where to look.
Founded approximately 30 years ago, the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) aims to unite TCU’s international students, promoting cross-cultural friendships and spiritual growth for members from all backgrounds and beliefs.
Here, students celebrate holidays and festivals from different cultures together. ICF hosts Diwali, Lunar New Year, Christmas and Thanksgiving meals together with activities like henna, name writing in Hindi, White Elephant gift exchange and panels from student representatives of those cultures.
“We invite students to share their stories, culture, upbringings and their beliefs,” said Lonnie Holbrook, TCU campus minister and campus director of TCU International Students Inc. “It is an opportunity to give domestic students to learn and grow as individuals to appreciate people from different backgrounds and all walks of life… We hope that some connections be made between international and domestic students or international and international students.”
Students take pictures at the photo booth at ICF's Diwali celebration on Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
Students take pictures at the photo booth at ICF's Diwali celebration on Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
Yash Tyagi (middle), a senior computer science major, shares stories about Indian cultures and traditions as an international student from India at the Diwali celebration. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
Yash Tyagi (middle), a senior computer science major, shares stories about Indian cultures and traditions as an international student from India at the Diwali celebration. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
Lonnie Holbrook, TCU campus minister and campus director of TCU International Students Inc., moderates a panel discussion on Indian culture at the ICF's Diwali celebration on Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
Lonnie Holbrook, TCU campus minister and campus director of TCU International Students Inc., moderates a panel discussion on Indian culture at the ICF's Diwali celebration on Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo by Cecilia Le)
As a Christian organization, ICF holds Bible study every Friday; however, Holbrook said they "never pressure anyone to attend but simply invite students to explore faith."
“We’re a Christian group, but most of our students are from Hindu, atheist, Buddhist and Islamic backgrounds,” said Holbrook. “We love every student regardless of color, religion and gender - we don't exclude anybody.”
Holbrook revived ICF in 2018 after recognizing many international students at TCU endured profound isolation, even depression, while navigating social and cultural differences in the United States. By helping students find friends, picking students up from the airports and hosting cultural dinners, Holbrook fostered seeds of community. Attendance grew from around 30 members to over 120 student members and eight board members in Fall 2023.
For ICF President John Nguyen, ICF provides him more than an opportunity to take on a leadership role to challenge himself.
“In the leadership role, it was amazing. I could never think I could do public speaking... Now it’s becoming normal for me to go up on stage to talk, and I’m really proud of myself for that.”
Beyond growth opportunities, John found a family within ICF's close-knit community. He sees Lonnie Holbrook as a guiding, supportive father figure.
“I kind of see Lonnie as a father that I didn’t get to have. He’s watched me grow for the past two years since my sophomore year,” Nguyen said.
For Bennie Moore, who has volunteered for over 30 years to help international students adjust to college life in America, giving them rides and supporting them long before groups like ICF were established, he and his wife Patti have built close, lasting relationships with many students. Moore said they even attended several former members' weddings in London, China and Brazil over the years.
Tram Mai, a senior fashion merchandising major from Vietnam, said not only ICF has allowed her to “make more friends and connections,” but also helped her throughout college life. “When I was struggling to find a car, Lonnie was the one who was very dedicated and helped me every step to find it,” Mai said. “I met some new international friends that I don’t think I would have had a chance to know if I had not come to ICF [events].”
Holbrook dreams of deepening ICF bonds beyond surface-level culture sharing into enduring friendships.
“My hope is to see ICF go deeper in fellowship and relationships, shifting from just cultural dinner to actually building relationships,” he shared. "I hope members carry this spirit of inclusion out into the world."
Other ICF leaders like Nguyen aim to carry the ministry's mission forward for generations to come. Nguyen shared he hopes to set a solid foundation for future ICF communities, leaving a meaningful legacy of inclusion. He plans to target bigger participation from TCU's growing international population in events that make all students, regardless of background, feel welcomed.
Inside the house, sparks of this vision already shine. Laughter bridges divide as board members plan upcoming retreats and events for the spring semester under John's leadership. In ICF's fertile soil, seeds of goodwill continue blossoming, said Holbrook.
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