International students in Nelson have long enjoyed the blessing of Jonathan and Meredith bring through their leadership and coordination of the Nelson volunteer team. Jonathan and Meredith met at university in Christchurch, both having been a part of the Navigator campus ministry. Living and travelling in numerous Asian countries has fostered their passion to love and serve internationals who come to our land.

In 2005 on return from a year spent in Kyrgyzstan, Jonathan and Meredith started helping with Operation Friendship in Nelson, a ministry which provides friendship and Christian outreach to international students.

As their involvement increased, Jonathan finally left his Engineering work in 2010 to become a full time worker in Nelson with ISMNZ. 

Jonathan's desire is to be available to serve in ways that help others prosper and grow in their journey while they are here in New Zealand.

Jonathan loves working with others to create spaces and opportunities where international students and workers can feel welcomed, loved, connected and call home while they are in New Zealand. These spaces and opportunities include providing:

• homestay, and hostel/flat accommodation

• one-off events sharing our people, culture and beautiful land through food and hospitality (Operation Friendship)

• weekly friendship and English language events (United International)

• mentoring, Bible discovery and discipleship study groups (for those who want this)

If you would like to financially support Jonathan and Meredith Thorpe, please visit our donate page.