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THE BEST FOOTE FORWARD by Ken Sidey Close-up: G.P. Foote, Iowa State University       Breakfast at the G.P. Foote home bears strong resemblance to a scene from the Sunday comic Family Circus. Why? Four reasons--Kirk, Carl, Lisa and Beth, ages 9 to 2 1/2. On this Thursday morning six Footes have surrounded a large, steaming stack of French toast. Happy conversation and maple syrup both flow freely.       There's butter to be spread, toast to be cut, sticky faces to be wiped, homework to be checked--all at once. Mother Nancy keeps the French-toast connection flowing, and George Post Foote III plays ringmaster to the whole performance--eating, passing, listening, caring, correcting.       The action shifts to the hallway and builds in intensity as the three oldest are bundled for the Ames, Iowa, winter. Just when it seems as if the scene could hold no more, three new characters--Chin, Peter and Ween--enter, greeting all the kids by name. The children head out the door to walk to their nearby schools, and the three men, members of G.P.'s discipleship group, settle in the living room. Their presence amid the family circus illustrates well the melding of G.P.'s ministry and family life.       These three are central to G.P.'s Campus Crusade for Christ ministry to international students at Iowa State University, and indeed they form an international group. Ween is from Tanzania, Chin is from Singapore, and Peter is from Cuba, a small town in Illinois.       This morning, G.P. has some bad news for them. For several weeks they have been planning a Thanksgiving break retreat for international students from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin, but calls to staff on the other campuses revealed that the registration for the retreat is 19 short of the 50 needed to make the event feasible. It will have to be canceled.       The three students are obviously disappointed and offer a half dozen "what-if" solutions to the problem.       "God has a better plan," G.P. says, noting that this was the first attempt at organizing such a retreat. "Maybe we can have a Thanksgiving dinner." The suggestion wipes away the disappointment, and soon the group is planning a guest list.       Problems seldom ruffle G.P.'s easygoing personality. His smiling face looks 10 years younger than his actual 39. Sixteen years on staff have added experience that complements his personality and enables him to take "crises" like this one in stride. But his calm exterior reflects only quiet, consistent confidence in the Lord, not a lack of drive. G.P.'s passion to help reach the world led him to Campus Crusade, and he has found his niche in ministering to internationals.       G.P.'s interest in foreign students began about four years ago. While at Campus Crusade's summer Institute of Biblical Studies, he took a course taught by Ralph Winter, head of the Center for World Mission.       "I heard that 2.7 billion people have never heard of Jesus Christ, most of whom are Chinese, Muslims and Hin-dus," G.P, says. "Most of the international students at Iowa State are Chinese and Muslim. They're in this country, speaking English, curious about American technology, culture and religion. And they're looking for American friends. It is much easier to confront them with the gospel here than in their own country."       In G.P. many internationals at ISU have found a friend. Sharing the gospel is a slower process with them than with other student groups. It takes time and patience to build strong relationships--a necessary prelude to the gospel. But G.P. has the patience. He makes the time.       His list of student friends reads like a United Nations directory. He has contact with men and women from Mexico, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Tanzania, and more. With some, a Christian brotherhood exists. With others, G. P.'s role is primarily that of English tutor and friend.       For example, he frequently meets with a group of Middle Eastern students for lunch. Occasionally, spiritual concerns are raised, but usually the conversation centers on phone bills, cars, classes. Yet G.P. is always there, listening patiently as the students sometimes grope for words, correcting faulty pronunciation, answering questions.       Often, his role as friend has meant more than talking. Last year a Middle Eastern student missed registration and had to sit out for a term. G.P. made sure it didn't happen again. On the last day of registration for classes for the next semester, G.P. drove to the student's apartment, woke him up and brought him to campus to register.       Seeing response to the gospel among internationals may sometimes take a while, but when it comes, it is especially heartwarming for G.P. Recently, a graduate student from Iraq placed his faith in Jesus Christ.       "I don't know any other Christians back home," the young man told G.P. shortly after he became a Christian. He would have to return to his country in a few months, he said. "I want to learn all I can from you about being a Christian." The two met often for several months, reading Scripture together literally word by word, listening to tapes and studying the basic concepts of Christian living.       For G.P., ministry to internationals continues year-round. During the summer, he directs the Ames International Project, which he helped start four years ago. Last year, approximately 40 college students invested their vacations in ministering to ISU's internationals and receiving training in discipleship and evangelism from G.P. and other staff members.       G.P. joined Campus Crusade after graduating from Georgia Tech in 1966 and worked at the International Headquarters for two years. He then moved to Minneapolis to work with the High School Ministry and there met Nancy, whom he married in 1970.       About that same time, G.P. became director of the High School Ministry in Minneapolis, and then, in 1972, in Des Moines. Although he enjoyed many of the responsibilities, the jobs held a lot of administrative duties--an admitted dislike and weakness for him. Paperwork replaced people work, and G.P. was out of his element.       Three years later, with two young children, the Footes moved to Ames.       "I remember the first day G.P. came home from campus," Nancy says. "He was so excited. 'I could get appointments 24 hoars a day!' he said. He was thrilled to be with people all the time."       Now G.P. is free to direct nearly his full attention to relationships, both in his family and in his ministry. He has passed up opportunities for other "promotions" or job changes to safeguard that freedom.       "I would be moving away from what I believe God has called me to do and what I can do best," G.P. says. "Comparison creates the pressure to want to move up, and sometimes I feel that.       "But then I ask, 'What has God called me to do?' I answer, 'G.P. is the father of four, and they all are doing great and love the Lord. He is reaching the world by working with internationals at Iowa State.' Those things don't make headlines, but God has given me a joy in doing them."       G.P.'s blending of ministry and family has benefits for all. "Internationals love children," G.P. says. "They love homes and families. But about 60 percent of the international students in this country never enter an American home. Their total impression of America comes from TV, newspapers or life in the dorms. So we're glad to have them in our home."       "G.P. has made his work a family ministry," Nancy says. "The kids really think they are on staff with Campus Crusade, too. Getting to know internationals is an asset for them. They notice international children in their schools and want to be their friends. Lately, Kirk has been playing with a Japanese boy in his school, helping him learn English, hoping to share Jesus with him."       But even a ministry family needs time alone, and G.P. protects that intimacy. There's his standing appointment with Kirk on Mondays at 3 p.m., and Carl gets special time, too, just like G.P.'s other disciples. Wednesday night is reserved as family night, and Thursday night always contains a family-oriented activity.       Life with the family of G.P. Foote is anything but dull and ordinary. No matter where the place, or what the activity or time, the four-ring international circus is always about to begin.