The Great Lakes Conference is primed to launch a new international ministry in the Toledo, Ohio area on August 23rd. Called The Dwelling, the new ministry aims at providing a Christian home for international students in the Northwest Ohio area, with a special emphasis on Indian students who speak Hindi, Telegu, and English. The heart behind The Dwelling is a recognition of how lost and alone international students feel, so far from their homes, without family, support, or other cultural norms. Simeon Joseph, an integral part of The Dwelling, knows this as well as anyone.
Simeon Joseph currently serves as a Project Analyst with Great Lakes Conference of Churches of God but it wasn’t that long ago that Simeon was himself a newly arrived international student at the University of Findlay. As he tells it, it was a church, College First Church of God, that helped him find a place where he belonged. It’s that sense of belonging that Simeon hopes The Dwelling will provide for a new group of international students.
In anticipation of the upcoming launch on August 23rd, we asked Simeon some questions about The Dwelling, how it began, and what he hopes the new ministry will achieve.
If you’re in or near Northwest Ohio, we’d encourage and invite you to stop by Wonder Ministries in Holland, Ohio, on August 23rd at 6:00 P.M. for food, fellowship, and worship. Many thanks are owned to Wonder Ministries for offering up the use of their building, helping to launch this new ministry. Sign up here to let them get a count and prepare food: RSVP Form
What is The Dwelling, and what is the vision behind this ministry?
The Dwelling is an international ministry community created to provide a place where people from different nations and backgrounds can find a sense of belonging, build relationships, and encounter Christ.
The name comes from the idea that God desires to dwell among His people.
The Dwelling is not intended to be just a weekly gathering, but a spiritual family where people can connect beyond cultural boundaries. We hope it becomes a place that serves internationals in practical ways, builds meaningful relationships, develops future leaders, and creates a community where people from different nations can worship together as one family in Christ.
Ultimately, our prayer is that The Dwelling reflects God's heart for all nations and becomes a place where people experience God's love, find belonging, and are encouraged to live out their faith wherever God leads them.
How did the vision for The Dwelling develop, and what needs did you see in the community?
The desire to serve in ministry has been part of my life for many years. I grew up in a Christian home where my father has faithfully served as a pastor, so ministry was something I experienced from childhood. Watching his commitment to serving people shaped my understanding of what it means to love and serve a community.
I came to the United States in August 2023 to pursue my MBA at the University of Findlay. Soon after arriving, I connected with College First Church, where I became involved in worship ministry and the church's International Ministry.
Serving alongside the International Ministry at College First was a significant influence on my understanding of cross-cultural ministry. I had the opportunity to learn from pastors, leaders, and volunteers who demonstrated the importance of intentional hospitality and creating spaces where people from different nations feel welcomed and valued.
Simeon Prayed for at College First Sending
As I built relationships with international students, immigrants, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds, I noticed that many were seeking genuine community, friendship, and a place to belong.
I also became increasingly aware of the need for more intentional Indian and international fellowship opportunities in Northwest Ohio. While there are wonderful ministries in larger cities such as Columbus and Detroit, there was an opportunity to create a closer community for internationals living in and around Toledo.
Through prayer, conversations with ministry leaders, and collaboration with others who shared this vision, The Dwelling began to take shape as an opportunity to serve the international community in Northwest Ohio.
What experiences have prepared you to be involved in this ministry?
God has used many different experiences to prepare me for this season.
Growing up in India, I was involved in ministry through my local church, serving in areas such as worship, youth ministry, leadership, and community outreach. Being part of a ministry-focused family gave me an early understanding of serving people with humility, consistency, and compassion.
My time at College First Church continued shaping my understanding of ministry. Through serving on the worship team and being involved with the International Ministry, I learned the importance of relationships, hospitality, discipleship, and creating environments where people from different cultures can grow together.
Simeon and other international students play worship music at College First
Professionally, my background in project management, operations, and organizational development has also been valuable. Currently, I serve as a Project Analyst with Great Lakes Conference of Churches of God, where I support church planting and ministry development initiatives.
Through this role, I have gained experience in the planning, communication, collaboration, and organizational processes involved in developing ministry efforts. I believe God has used both my ministry experiences and professional background to prepare me to serve in this season.
What has the journey of developing The Dwelling looked like, and what are some future hopes?
Much of this journey has been built through relationships.
Over the past year, there have been opportunities to connect with international students, local churches, university staff, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders throughout Northwest Ohio. Many conversations happened through meetings, meals, community events, and personal connections where the goal was simply to listen, learn, and better understand the needs of the community.
Alongside others who share this vision, we have been working on building relationships, preparing worship gatherings, organizing volunteers, developing ministry resources, and creating partnerships with organizations already serving internationals.
As we move into this next season, we are excited about several opportunities to introduce The Dwelling to the community and build connections with internationals in the area.
On August 23, we plan to launch The Dwelling with our first worship gathering at Wonder Ministries at 6:00 PM. This gathering will be an opportunity to worship together, connect with one another, and begin building a community centered around Christ.
On August 25, during the International Orientation at the University of Toledo, we plan to have a presence on campus where we can connect with new international students, share about The Dwelling, and invite them into a welcoming community.
On September 2, we will participate in the university involvement fair at the University of Toledo, where we plan to host a table, meet students, share our vision, and provide information about upcoming gatherings.
On September 9, we are planning an outdoor worship gathering on campus where we will celebrate different cultures through music, including Indian Christian songs and English worship songs. This event will be an opportunity to introduce students and the broader community to The Dwelling, share our vision, and invite people to our regular Sunday gatherings.
Moving forward, the hope is to continue building a welcoming community through worship gatherings, Bible studies, fellowship meals, prayer gatherings, and opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith.
We also hope to continue partnering with local churches, universities, and community organizations to serve internationals more effectively and create a place where people feel connected, supported, and welcomed.
What have you learned from being part of developing a new ministry community?
One of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust God's timing.
Developing a ministry community requires patience. People come from different cultures, experiences, languages, and backgrounds, so building trust and meaningful relationships takes time.
Simeon and another student pick pumpkins at a fall church event
I have learned that ministry is not only about creating programs or organizing events. At its heart, ministry is about people, listening to their stories, walking alongside them, and creating spaces where relationships can grow.
Another lesson has been understanding the importance of collaboration. Healthy ministry happens when people come together with different gifts, experiences, and perspectives. The Dwelling has been shaped through conversations, encouragement, prayers, and the involvement of many people who share a heart for serving the international community.
What would you hope people experience when they become part of The Dwelling?
The hope is that people experience belonging.
Many internationals move to a new country and face challenges beyond academics or work; they are also navigating new cultures, relationships, and environments. We hope The Dwelling becomes a place where people know they are welcomed, valued, and cared for. If people build meaningful friendships, experience genuine community, ask honest questions about faith, and grow closer to Jesus, that would be a meaningful reflection of what we hope this ministry becomes.
We hope to see people from different nations worship together, share meals together, support one another, and experience what it means to be part of a spiritual family.
Support The Dwelling through prayer as it launches, that God will use this new ministry to reach the lost for Jesus, and that the work already done will gather a rich harvest among the international community.
The Dwelling is an excellent reminder that, in at least some communities, the world has come to us. In these times, we might fulfill Jesus’s commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” by merely walking to our neighbors house.
CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 32
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