When the Rev Thayil John emigrated to Australia from India in 2009, starting a church was the last thing on his mind.

Having spent 30 years in northern India planting, pastoring and building churches, Mr John was grateful for how God had blessed his ministry but he was also weary. He and his wife had moved to Australia planning to focus on the education of their two sons and, moreover, the culture was foreign – he felt he would be unable to contribute much.

But, as is often the case, the Lord had other plans. When Mr John took his son Sam to the University of Wollongong to ask about enrolment, he was astounded at the proportion of foreign students. And as he visited churches in the area, he could see these student numbers were not replicated in local pews.

So, four months after arriving in Australia, Mr John began a Bible study group in the living room of an Indian PhD student couple. Three weeks later, he had started two more Bible studies – and within a few months, three students had accepted Jesus as their Lord.

“I think that the people coming here are very hungry,” Mr John says. “They’re really searching and they want to know more about what real religion in the world is. Many of them come from closed countries for the gospel and when they come here they have the freedom to make the search for it.” 

A number of Wollongong locals, such as university lecturers and former students, had the same vision to reach out to the international student population. So in May 2010, a little over a year after Mr John’s Bible study ministry began, the Keiraville International Church – or KIC – was born as a partnership church-planting ministry of Figtree Anglican Church (where Mr John is a member of staff) and St John’s, Keiraville.

The congregation is based at St John’s, a short walk from the university campus. Initially attendance was between 40 and 60 people each week but, just over two years later, 20 more regulars have been added to their number. 

KIC members come from about 15 countries and fellowship is encouraged through regular social and sporting events, as well as Bible studies – some of which are tailored to those without a solid grasp of English. Students who become Christian are also mentored and trained, and already one has plans to study at Moore College.

While a few students are Christian before they arrive at the university, the vast majority are not and have no idea about the church, the Bible or who Jesus is. Yet Mr John says that since the congregation was planted 39 people have committed their lives to Christ. 

“All the activities of KIC are family- and community-oriented with Christ’s love in action,” he says, adding that the church’s strategy is the same as that of Paul in Acts 19, having “an impact on the world with the love of Jesus by concentrating it on just one particular place”.

“We receive students from various countries and we help them to know Jesus in their lives, and sending them back to their home with this love is our mission and purpose. So far we have sent back over 40 students either fully or partially trained to different parts of the world. Many of them are truly fired up for the Lord.”