Strangers to Friends: Build Real Connections With Internationals In Your Community Or Your College Campus
Helping churches, campus ministries, and Christians build deep relationships across cultures—without needing a program, playbook, or years of experience in cross-cultural ministry.
Decades of experience across churches and major universities
Connecting Cross-Culturally Is Hard
You want to engage Internationals around you, but…
Let’s be honest, getting started seems hard.
At CCMD, we help people just like you go from unsure to engaged—with confidence and humility.
Let’s be honest, getting started seems hard.
- You assume “they’re different” and wouldn’t be interested.
- You’re unsure how to even start the conversation.
- You don’t want to come off as awkward or offensive.
- You’re already busy, and building cross-cultural friendships feels…a world apart.
At CCMD, we help people just like you go from unsure to engaged—with confidence and humility.
Introducing CCMD – A Relational, Real-Life Way Forward
CCMD stands for Crossing Cultures Making Disciples. But here’s what that really means:
- RelationalWe help Christians build sincere relationships across cultures—not through a script or a system, but through listening, learning, and showing up as a genuine friend.
- No FormulasNo pre-packaged formulas. No treating ‘people as projects.’
- FlexibleDiscover a flexible, real-life approach shaped by decades of experience on campuses and in communities.
You don’t need a title, a ministry degree, or permission from your church. You just need to care—and be willing to take a small next step. We’ll help you from there.
Three Kinds of People We Work With
Church Leaders & Influential Lay Members
You want your church to engage internationals—but aren’t sure how to start. We’ll help you put together a realistic first step you can take to begin that change.
Campus Ministry Workers
You’re working hard to reach students—but internationals still feel out of reach. We’ll give you training, coaching, and tools to help them feel seen and welcome.
Everyday Christians
You’ve noticed internationals in your life—but beyond being polite, you’re not sure what else to do. We’ll help you start with care and confidence.
Meet Steve & Sharon Bortner – The Guides You’ll Be Glad You Called
Founders
Steve and Sharon have been building real relationships with internationals for over 30 years—on campuses, in communities, in churches, and around dinner tables. Their home has hosted more meals, deep conversations, and laughs with internationals than they can count.
Steve’s background includes serving with Chi Alpha for 30 years, leading teams across multiple campuses, and training hundreds of campus leaders. After retiring from that formal role, he launched CCMD to help individuals and churches do what he’s seen work—build cross-cultural friendships that reflect Jesus, one real-life relationship at a time.
Steve’s background includes serving with Chi Alpha for 30 years, leading teams across multiple campuses, and training hundreds of campus leaders. After retiring from that formal role, he launched CCMD to help individuals and churches do what he’s seen work—build cross-cultural friendships that reflect Jesus, one real-life relationship at a time.
What Others Are Saying
Real People, Real Stories
- Christian Lay LeaderLocal ChurchWe cared about the internationals who were living and working in our city, but didn’t know how to engage them. Steve helped us take one small step, and it’s completely changed our church’s perspective on the peoples among us.
- Campus StaffSoutheast U.S.I always wanted to do more to represent and present Jesus to international students on our campus—but it felt overwhelming. CCMD gave our team practical ideas that fit right into what we were already doing, as well as new outreach.
- Former International StudentRaleigh NCSteve and his friends welcomed me into their community. These Americans and other internationals befriended me, encouraged me, and helped me see how I could follow Jesus, too. Now I make disciples in my workplace and family.
What’s Coming
Resources in Progress (and Worth the Wait)
Explore helpful blog posts, listen to our podcast, and access a curated resource page—all designed to help you take simple, meaningful steps toward internationals around you.
We’re building it now—and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s live.
We’re building it now—and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s live.
Your Next Step – Let’s Start With a Simple Conversation
You don’t need a new program. You don’t need to convince your pastor. You just need someone who understands what you’re trying to do—and can help you figure out what’s next.
Let’s talk. No pressure. No pitch. Just a helpful conversation about where you are and how you can take the next small step.
Want to Support This Work?
If you believe in helping internationals feel seen, served, and welcomed in Jesus name—we’d be honored by your support. Your giving helps us offer coaching, training, and resources to churches, campus ministries, and individuals across the U.S.