International Student Ministry

Developing the Vision in Our Students and Congregation In today’s fast-paced world, the need for clarity and engagement in our communities has never been more important. Whether we are speaking to our students or our congregation, establishing a strong vision is paramount for fostering genuine participation and growth.  The Importance of Developing the Vision To […]

I’m sure you know that the nations come to the United States to study on our campuses every semester. They are excited to pursue a higher education abroad, and experience American culture close up. Students have all kinds of expectations of making new American friends, visiting American places, and trying American food! However, because it

Acts 17:26-27 – “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not

Recently, an Iranian friend contacted me years after we had last talked. It would become a life-altering experience for both of us that the Lord orchestrated! Let me give you a bit of the backstory. My friend grew up in a mostly devout Shia Muslim home. Many of his extended family were very devoted. Once

International students are on our campuses this fall and in large numbers – one million studying in the U.S.  These students represent countries from all over the world, many of which are from countries where we could not openly share the Gospel.  As fall approaches, it is good to develop a plan to reach out

As we befriend international students, inevitably they will graduate or transfer on to another college. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare them as they leave: 1.) Prepare them to be alert for facing culture shock as they leave their current college. If they go back home, they will have experienced change and it

There are thousands of Indian students coming to campuses in the United States. Most of these students are not Christians and come from a Hindu background. Our International Student Ministry team had Andy Pearce, with ISI, give some valuable insights on engaging Indian students at a recent zoom gathering. Here are some insights he shared:

As international students step onto college campuses, they are taking in all the sights and sounds of a new place. They are figuring out where to hang out, where they belong, and learning different customs. International students anticipate learning new things about a new place and culture. They want to learn and connect with others.

When you think of holidays, one of the words that may come to mind is family. Holidays tend to give us more time to connect with family for food, recreation, and celebration. International students also think of family during the holidays. Yet many cannot be with family during the holiday time. Most schools shut down

“Tell me, where do you find your joy?” smiled the graduate student from China. At first, my wife Mary and I were caught off guard with her question. But why? We ask the Lord to open doors for gospel conversations when we are with international students, especially when they come to our house for dinner.