Danny's Story

Danny Poon is the campus minister of the Asian American InterVarsity chapter at the University of Missouri––Columbia (Mizzou), where he decided to take his faith seriously and became a follower of Jesus as a student.

"I joined InterVarsity staff because I wanted to see students thrive on campus,” Danny said, “especially Asian American students.”

God gave Danny a heart to help Asian American students and faculty be fully themselves, understand how they are a gift to the larger Church body, and explore who Jesus is in a community where they feel seen and heard. Each large group, Danny and his team cook Asian dishes that represent the different communities and cultures of students they serve.

But, because Danny didn’t grow up in a Christian family, he has a limited network of those he can ask to partner with his ministry financially. In fact, even his mother disagreed with his choice to join InterVarsity staff.

“In the past, I felt a lot of shame around fundraising, especially in my family. But the past couple of years, by depending on God, I’ve seen how fundraising is a part of ministry to my students and to my mother,” Danny said.

Last year, Danny was chosen to receive a Strategic Staff Grant to help him stay on campus, and when he told his mother, she was positively surprised by the generous donors believing in the work he does. At his baptism, she said, “I told God that I was giving up my son to Him. Even though I don’t trust God, I am trusting that he will care for you.”, which was reassured through the generous donations of the larger Church.

Danny is grateful for the grant that not only allowed him to continue ministering to students and faculty at Mizzou, but also helped his mother see how God is moving in and through his life.