Ibrahim Gardner
Ministering to international students is a unique opportunity for local churches and their members to share the gospel and build meaningful relationships with students from around the world. It involves creating a sincere and authentic community, being respectful of different cultures and beliefs, and offering practical support to students adjusting to a new environment. This can include helping with airport pickups, orientation, and teaching English. By investing in the lives of international students and being open about one's faith, individuals can effectively minister and share the love of Christ with those from other nations.
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What You'll Learn
Building relationships and friendships
Hospitality and Invitations
A great way to build relationships is by opening up your homes and lives to international students. A simple invitation to your home for a meal or a cup of tea can go a long way. It is a wonderful opportunity to share a meal, exchange stories, and create lasting memories. Many international students appreciate such invitations, and it helps them feel welcomed and valued. It also provides an excellent opportunity to share your faith and beliefs in a comfortable setting.
Conversation and Shared Activities
Engaging in conversations is a powerful tool for building friendships. Be curious about their culture, language, and experiences. Ask them about their home country, their family, and their traditions. Show genuine interest in their lives, and be respectful of their beliefs. Learning about each other's cultures can be enriching for both parties.
Additionally, participating in shared activities can foster deeper connections. Invite international students to join you for activities they enjoy, such as cooking a meal together, watching movies, playing sports, or exploring your city or town. These shared experiences create lasting memories and strengthen the bond of friendship.
Practical Support and Mentorship
Offering practical support can be incredibly valuable to international students navigating a new environment. Help them familiarize themselves with their surroundings, such as showing them around the city, assisting with grocery shopping, or even teaching them how to use public transportation. Many international students also appreciate guidance in practical life skills, such as cooking, doing laundry, or studying for a driver's license exam.
Mentorship is another aspect of practical support. This involves more than just casual meetings; it is about investing time and energy into their personal growth. Mentors can guide students in various aspects of life, such as budgeting, exercising, or even helping with taxes. This type of practical care can lead to lifelong relationships and create a sense of family away from home.
Collaboration with Campus Ministries and Groups
Collaborating with campus ministries, international student offices, and campus groups can be an effective way to build relationships with international students. These groups often organize events, orientation weeks, and social activities specifically designed to bring international students together. By volunteering or participating in these groups, you can meet students and create a supportive community.
Friendship Partners
Encourage members of your church or community to voluntarily connect with one or two international students. This involves investing time in their lives, sharing meals, and helping with everyday tasks. It provides an opportunity for deeper connections and cross-cultural exchange, allowing both parties to learn from each other and create meaningful friendships.
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Hospitality and hosting
One effective way to show hospitality is to open up your home and invite international students for meals. This simple act of inviting them into your personal space is often very normal for them and can lead to the development of meaningful relationships. It provides an opportunity to share a meal, engage in conversations, and create a comfortable environment for them to ask questions and express their curiosity about Christianity.
In addition to individual efforts, local churches can play a significant role in hospitality by providing weekly meals for international students. These meals serve as a platform for churches to connect with students and share the gospel. It is also beneficial to encourage church members to host international students in their homes, fostering a sense of community and cultural exchange.
Another aspect of hospitality is providing practical support. This can include assisting students with familiarizing themselves with their new environment, helping them find accommodation and furniture, showing them around town, and even guiding them to supermarkets that stock familiar foods. Additionally, mentorship opportunities can arise naturally through these practical interactions, allowing for conversations about faith and gospel while also equipping students with practical life skills.
By embracing hospitality and creating a welcoming environment, ministers can effectively engage with international students, build meaningful relationships, and create opportunities to share their faith.
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Teaching English
Conversation Clubs
Conversation clubs provide an excellent opportunity for international students to improve their English skills by interacting with native speakers or proficient volunteers. These clubs are usually organised by local Baptist Collegiate Ministries or similar organisations. As a volunteer, you can help international students practice their English conversation skills. Instructions and brief training will be provided to prepare you for this role. Remember, international students are often eager to repeat themselves as long as you're listening attentively. This is a great way to build relationships and learn how to communicate effectively with international students.
English Teaching Groups
Many campuses offer English teaching groups for international students. However, you can also start your own group, which gives you the freedom to decide the content and structure of the lessons. This approach allows for more flexibility and the opportunity to explore deeper conversations and topics beyond basic language instruction. By initiating your own group, you can cater to the specific needs and interests of the international students you are ministering to.
Practical English Instruction
In addition to conversational English and formal language instruction, international students often appreciate assistance with practical aspects of living in a new country. This can include teaching them how to navigate public spaces, such as shopping malls or restaurants. You can also help them with everyday tasks like cooking, using appliances, doing laundry, or even preparing for a driving test. These practical lessons can be integrated into your English teaching curriculum or offered as additional support outside of formal lessons.
Cultural Exchange and Language Learning
Language learning is a two-way street, and you can encourage cultural exchange by expressing interest in your students' native languages and cultures. This can create a mutually beneficial learning environment. Encourage your students to teach you basic phrases in their languages and share their cultural traditions and customs. This not only helps you learn but also makes them feel valued and respected. Additionally, consider incorporating cultural elements into your English lessons, such as watching movies or reading books that reflect their cultures. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of their backgrounds and promotes a more inclusive learning environment.
Online Resources and Workbooks
If you're not comfortable with formal teaching, consider utilising online resources and workbooks specifically designed for teaching English to international students. For example, GoodSeed offers video lessons taught by John Cross, along with workbooks that students can use for review and reinforcement. Providing students with access to such resources can complement your teaching efforts and give them additional tools for self-study.
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Sharing the gospel
Hospitality and Invitations
Offering hospitality and extending invitations to your home is a powerful way to connect with international students. Many international students are open to such invitations, and it provides an excellent opportunity to share a meal, engage in conversation, and introduce them to your beliefs in a comfortable setting. This approach has led to lasting relationships and gospel-sharing opportunities.
Friendship and Community
International students highly value sincere and authentic community. Building genuine friendships and creating a supportive environment are essential for effective ministry. Be open about your faith while also respecting theirs. Invite them into your community, offer practical help, and spend time together. This might include helping them navigate their new environment, teaching them everyday skills, or simply enjoying social activities together, like watching movies or sharing a meal.
Conversation and Mentorship
Engaging in conversations with international students is a great way to build relationships and share the gospel. Consider joining or starting a Conversation Club, where you can help students improve their English skills and simultaneously discuss deeper questions about life and faith. Additionally, serving as a mentor can provide valuable guidance and practical care, leading to lifelong relationships and gospel conversations.
Orientation and Integration
International student orientation is a prime opportunity to meet new students and offer assistance. Volunteering during orientation week allows you to welcome students, address their initial needs, and introduce them to your ministry or church group. Additionally, helping students integrate into their new environment, such as by showing them around town or assisting with accommodation, can make a positive first impression and open doors for further connection.
Bible Study and Courses
Many international students are curious about Christianity but approach it from a distance. Offering Bible studies or courses specifically tailored to international students, such as Acts2 International's "Life Bible Study," can help them understand the Bible's relevance to their lives. For those more interested in Christianity, courses on the core principles and teachings of the faith, like Course 101, can be a great next step.
By following these strategies, you can effectively share the gospel with international students, fostering meaningful connections and providing them with spiritual guidance during their time abroad.
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Practical help and mentorship
Orientation and Familiarization
During orientation week, volunteers can help international students familiarize themselves with their new environment. This includes assisting with airport pickups, temporary accommodation, and tours of the campus and the surrounding area. Volunteers can also introduce themselves and ask students about their home countries and their experiences so far.
Daily Life Skills
Mentors can assist international students with daily life skills that may be specific to their host country. This could include teaching them how to shop for groceries, cook using local appliances, do laundry, navigate public transportation, or prepare for a driver's license exam. Mentors can also offer guidance on more complex tasks, such as budgeting, taxes, or car maintenance.
Academic Support
Volunteers can support international students in their academic pursuits. This may involve helping them improve their English language skills through conversation clubs or informal conversations. Additionally, mentors can guide students through the academic and administrative aspects of university life, such as understanding course requirements or navigating university bureaucracy.
Social Integration
Mentors can facilitate social integration by inviting international students into their homes for meals or social events. This provides an opportunity for cultural exchange, where students can cook and share meals from their home countries. Mentors can also encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities, clubs, or social events organized by the university or local churches.
Spiritual Guidance
For those seeking to share their Christian faith, mentorship can involve open and respectful conversations about spirituality. This may include discussing biblical topics relevant to students' lives, such as friendship and loneliness, or exploring the core principles of Christianity. Mentors can also invite international students to attend local churches or campus ministries, fostering a sense of community and spiritual support.
By providing practical help and mentorship, ministers can build strong relationships with international students, creating a supportive environment for personal growth and spiritual exploration.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by checking with the international office at the college or university to learn more about the international student situation on campus. Find out what their needs are and how you can help. You can also volunteer to help with international student orientation, which is a great opportunity to meet new students.
Be open about your faith but respectful of theirs. Invite them into your home for a meal and spend time with them outside of your home, such as going shopping together or running errands. Offer to help them familiarize themselves with their new environment, such as showing them around town or helping them find supermarkets that stock familiar foods.
Many international students are learning about the Bible for the first time. You can create a curriculum that covers what the Bible says about important life topics such as friendship and loneliness, and how it relates to their lives. You can also invite them to church events and introduce them to other believers so they can see the unity of Christians.
