One church in in Southern Indiana is intentionally reaching international students. At the university near their church, young adults from 140 different countries come to study everything under the sun. The congregation maintains a strong impact, utilizing, among other things, an international Sunday School class and a furniture give-away. To pull off the latter, when international students arrive in the fall, university officials share all kinds of resources with them, including info from the programs that the church has to offer. Students can visit the church gym to choose furniture, then it’s transported to their apartment same-day service by church volunteers. They follow up with an annual Thanksgiving dinner. This past November, they welcome 460 students from 70 countries. The goal? That international students would experience the love of Christ, giving them a viable chance to learn first-hand what Christianity is all about. There’s no coercion, no pressure, nor any “sales pitch.” But a LOT of students walk away with a much more positive view of the Good News.
If we could make more ministries happen like this one, perhaps we’d be a lot farther along in reaching international students among us.
What does YOUR church or agency do for international students? How’s it working? Just click “Jump to Comment” below to leave your thoughts or questions at the web version of this item. And thanks a bunch for your help in understanding the challenge of reaching international students.
I am starting to use the church planting movement principles (like described in the book Miraculous Movements) with international students at the U of Michigan.
Good to see your example of a church-based ISM. I have sent the Brigada issue to the US/Canadian network of ISM workers (staff and volunteers of churches, campus ministries, mission agencies, denominations, and others involved in ISM), called ACMI (Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals). You may be receiving more comments.