Giving international students a good send off and finding ways to stay connected is so valuable in keeping an ongoing relationship with them. It is encouraging to see God at work in their lives, even beyond the time they spend on your campus. As the semester is ending, here are things to consider as students are graduating or transferring to another college.
- Determine the best way to stay in touch – Signal, Whats App, Instagram, Telegram, etc. Some of these communication tools need to be set up before the student leaves the country.
- They may need help distributing items they are not planning on taking with them, such as household items, bedding, etc. If you have a place to store them, you can offer them to incoming students in the fall. If not, you can help them get the items to a donation spot.
- Plan a recognition service where you can thank them for their time with your ministry. Provide some type of gift. The BCM where I served had a picture of the city of Atlanta with the verse Numbers 6:24-26 imprinted on it.
- Set up time to meet where you can make sure they understand the message of the gospel.
- Connect them with any Christians you know in their home country if they are graduating or at another university if they are transferring. If you need help finding a connection, you can contact me at [email protected].
- Pray that these students will connect with Christian community at their next destination. I had a student from Malaysia who heard the gospel message several times but was not ready to profess faith in Christ. However, after returning home, she connected with a Chinese Christian group who reached out to her. Through involvement with this community and her being aware of the gospel message while in the BCM, she became a follower of Christ.
Teresa Royall is the Campus Expansion Consultant for Georgia.
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