International Friendship Ministries โ Organization Profile
International Friendship Ministries, also known as IFM, is a Christian ministry based in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1981 by Dr. Raj Aluri, the ministry began after his own experience as an international student from India studying at the University of South Carolina. IFM seeks to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to international students through sincere friendship, service, hospitality, practical help, and connections with local Christians.
The organizationโs core focus is serving international students, scholars, their families, and foreign-born people by connecting them with Christian friendship, practical assistance, English practice, Bible study opportunities, and local church relationships. IFMโs giving site describes its goal as educating, encouraging, training, helping, and involving local churches in ministry to internationals, with the aim of spreading the gospel among international students, scholars, families, and foreign-born people in local communities.
IFM serves from Columbia, South Carolina, especially near the University of South Carolina campus, while its history also includes outreach to international students and scholars across a much wider geographic scope. The ministry reports that since 1981 it has reached international students and scholars from more than 150 countries who studied on more than 750 college and university campuses in 48 contiguous states and Hawaii. Its history page also notes branch ministry activity in Orlando, Florida, and Bloomington, Indiana.
The ministry operates through weekly dinners, English conversation and lessons, programs, tours, holiday events, practical help, friendship connections, and volunteer service. IFM hosts Friday night dinners during the school year, followed by classes where international students can interact with Americans and practice English. It also offers special events such as welcome banquets, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentineโs, and Easter gatherings, along with hospitality tours to places in South Carolina and other U.S. destinations.
A distinctive part of International Friendship Ministriesโ work is using Christian hospitality and local church relationships to help internationals adjust to American life while encountering the love of Christ. IFM provides practical help such as rides to stores, help moving furniture, conversational English support, and access to Bible studies or international classes in local churches for those who want to learn more about the Bible and Christianity. The ministryโs office at 610 Pickens Street is located near the University of South Carolina campus and provides a space for students and scholars to study, meet, and connect.
People can engage with IFM by giving financially, volunteering, teaching or helping with English classes, supporting weekly meals and events, serving through local churches, joining friendship and hospitality efforts, or contacting the ministry directly. Supporters can give through IFMโs online giving site, contact the office, or participate in the ministryโs ongoing work of welcoming internationals with friendship, practical service, and Christian witness.
Key Links
- Website: https://www.ifmonline.org/
- Online Giving: https://www.ifmonline.org/giving.html
- Current IFM Website: https://www.ifmusa.org/
- About: https://www.ifmusa.org/about
- Programs for Internationals: https://www.ifmusa.org/local-events
- American Friendship Partner Program: https://www.ifmusa.org/american-friendship-partner
- IFM President: https://www.ifmusa.org/our-president
- IFM History: https://www.ifmusa.org/our-history
- Contact: https://www.ifmusa.org/contact-us
Contact Information
- Email: in**@****sa.org
- Phone: 803-799-3452
- Fax: 803-252-5500
- Mailing address: 610 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29201
Socials
- Not publicly listed.
Leadership
- Dr. Raj Aluri โ Founder and President
