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The “How to Train” series, describes practical ways in which believers worldwide use our tools to share the message of the gospel.

In this article, we look at how you can use GoodSeed resources to reach into the lives of international students with a clear understanding of the gospel. We have gathered advice and tried-and-tested methods from a spectrum of believers across the world.

These suggestions provide some practical help to better enable you to reach one particular segment that makes up a very large portion of the international community at your doorstep–students who have come to study at a school near you.

We also invite you to share your own experiences with us to benefit others. You can write to us via our contact form.

Brother Andrew, author of the book God's Smuggler, recounted an incident when he sought to remind believers of God's greater plan:

“Ever since Jesus gave the Great Commission, I believe that if we don’t take the gospel to the world, God will bring the world to us. That, I believe, is what we are witnessing here.”

Brother Andrew's observation continues to resonate today. The Great Commission hasn't changed:

Then Jesus came to [the disciples] and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19 NIV).

“And you shall be My witnesses… even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NASB).

We are seeing a massive mixing of cultures and worldviews as people move around the world. The Lord seems to be bringing the world to our doorsteps like never before.

Of the millions who travel to new countries, one particular group emerges, made up of those who are particularly open to reconsidering their worldviews—that is, international students.

Many of these young people come from restricted-access countries. Seeking an experience outside of the familiar, most are curious about the ideas and beliefs of their host country. Beyond the influence of their home country and away from the family and cultural pressures, many are free to explore and learn about “Christianity”—even if they may have some serious misconceptions.

For Ian,* who is involved in student ministries,  the openness of international students at his local university has been revealing. He wrote:

“There are a large number of Chinese students who come to Ireland for a year… at our university. Some of them have shown great interest in finding out what the Bible is about. Most had never held a Bible in their hands before! Since October we have been explaining the story of the Bible to about 20 of them through a book called The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus… The novelty of investigating new things in the Irish culture (the Bible being one of them) has worn off and they are now quite serious about coming every week and learning about whether or not God keeps his promise to send the Rescuer.”

Working with international students is a process. It requires commitment to pursue a relationship over a period of time–often several years. This article will walk you through that process, from making preparations, to making contact with international students, to discovering the particular avenue you can take to develop relationships.

We will give suggestions on how you can deepen your friendships and practical steps you can take to clearly explain the gospel in a way that takes into account the challenge of their heart language and whatever worldview barriers that may be present.

1. Begin with a Clear Vision

Any time we consider outreach into others' lives, our first step must be prayer. Pray for open doors and for hungry, prepared hearts.

At the same time, prepare yourself. Familiarize yourself with tools and resources that clearly explain the Bible’s core message.

GoodSeed has tools specifically designed to explain the central message of the Bible to people from a variety of worldviews. As you become ready, trust God to bring across your path those whom he has prepared.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”

(1 Peter 3:15 NIV).

“Be ready whether it is convenient or not”

(2 Timothy 4:2 NET).

As you take the next steps to reach out, remember you must be willing to make this a long-term commitment. The end goal is not evangelism but discipleship; not conversion but genuine friendship.

There may be many foreign students in your community, but how do you make that initial contact? Here are four main ways.

1. Be part of a campus ministry

It’s easy to make the initial connection through an established campus or student ministry that is geared towards supporting international students. You can volunteer your time with one of these groups. Typically these ministries are eager to welcome volunteers to work alongside their staff.

Often, at the beginning of each school year, the orientation week provides an ideal opportunity for international students to connect with services intended to assist them during their stay in their host country. Campus ministries typically set up booths to make contact with these students.

2. International dinners and orientation tours through church outreach

Some churches make an effort to bring international students into their midst by hosting dinners or by providing orientation tours of the town or city. Volunteering in such ministries is a great way to meet international students.

Lien, a young, atheistic Chinese woman, was one such international student who was first introduced to Christianity in this way. Through the relationships she built by attending those dinners, she eventually put her trust in Christ.

3. Participate in programs that seek housing for international students

The Deans are an older couple who, at any one time, may host up to five international students in their home until the students are able to locate more long-term housing. When the students first step off the plane, the Deans are there to greet them and introduce them to their host country. Often, that first contact of welcome and hospitality translates into a long-term friendship, giving the Deans many opportunities to share the gospel.

4. Take personal initiative

If the above ideas are not workable in your situation, then keep a lookout for international students moving into your apartment block, housing estate or neighbourhood. If you work or volunteer at the local library, community centre or with another local community service, there will be natural opportunities to meet them. Opportunities abound; sometimes becoming engaged with the international student community just requires a little creativity.

Jason, desiring to be involved with reaching international students, took a unique approach: he audited a course in order to gain better access to building relationships with students on the nearby university campus.

Often, it's not enough to just meet students from out of country. In order for the relationship to develop further, it's helpful to have something you can do that naturally brings you and the students together in order to allow a friendship to develop. Below are just a few ideas that many have found effective:

1. Offer to help familiarize students with their new environment

Kevin and Seana were retired, but chose to get involved in a ministry that helped new international students settle into their city. The couple assisted students in finding accommodation and obtaining furniture. They showed the students around town and even helped them find supermarkets that stocked familiar foods.

Keep in mind that when someone is new to a country, it's the basic needs that are the most pressing. Showing sensitivity to these needs is a great first step in building a relationship. For example, in a cold climate, teaching basic winter survival skills and helping students get suitable warm clothing is very helpful.

2. Assist with transportation and driving lessons

Your system of public transit may differ greatly from what the students are accustomed to in their home country. Introduce them to the best alternatives for travelling around your city. Show them how to purchase a pass or ticket, where to meet their bus and how to read bus or train schedules.

In some situations, the students may wish to purchase a vehicle, so you may find yourself giving driving lessons or car-maintenance tips.

3. Provide English tutoring, mentoring or assistance by proofreading assignments

Veronica, who teaches English to international students, shared with us how she uses English as a tool to build relationships: “If they are new to town, they’re looking for help with their English. I express my willingness to help them learn or sometimes they have heard of me through a friend. So, I start by just teaching English. After a time, there is usually a good opportunity to talk about Easter, Christmas or something having to do with the Bible.”

Offering international students a chance to improve their conversational English or helping them with academic writing may be invaluable for them.

If you have expertise in subjects like mathematics, geography or other specialties, offer your time to help students taking these subjects.

As you become better acquainted with the students you spend time with, there will likely come a point where you begin to develop a true friendship, deepening your relationship beyond the practical necessities that initially brought you together. In doing so, it's important to consider the following points:

• As your friendship begins to grow, be patient and don’t force your relationship. Remember that ultimately you are trusting God for greater things.

• Winning a person’s trust is always worth it. Be sincere and honest about your motive in building a relationship. Do so out of a genuine desire of friendship–not because of a short-term interest in winning converts.

• As you begin to reach out, do so with a willingness to take on the role of a learner. Take time to listen to your friends share about how things are done in their countries, about  customs or foods they enjoy, and about how holidays and celebrations take place back home.

With the above list in mind, here are some tips for cultivating a strong friendship with the students you meet:

1. Invite them to your home

Receiving hospitality is a big deal for a student away from home! We can communicate a great deal of love and care to a student simply by having them into our homes. Dr. Tom Philips points out how often this important factor is overlooked: “Statistics prove that among international students who study in the U.S., historically 70% have never been to an American home during their stay. More than 85% …have [never had] any meaningful contact with genuine Christians during an average stay of four years.” Needless to say, there is room for improvement. Below are some ways you can show hospitality:

• Who’s not interested in a meal? An informal picnic or BBQ may be a new experience for them. Frequently, they may enjoy the opportunity to cook or bake. (Spontaneous table conversations often provide a natural opportunity to talk about spiritual things.)

• Share family photos.
• Table games may be a welcome diversion from their weekly routine.
• With the approach of exams, some may appreciate having a quiet corner where they can concentrate on their preparations. Open your home to them even when it is not for a social situation involving a lot of interaction.

2. Include them in your celebration of special occasions:

• Holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving provide a great opportunity to talk about the real meaning of these occasions. Be aware of cultural sensitivities, especially when it comes to food.

When Aaron, a local university student, invited some of his Iranian classmates home for Christmas, special care was taken in the meal preparation so that the dinner would be culturally acceptable.

• An invitation to a birthday or wedding celebration is often eagerly accepted, as it gives the student exposure to your own culture's unique way of celebrating these events. Such outings may naturally reveal to the student aspects of Christian life as well, which may lead to good conversations.

3. Include them in outings, such as:

• Shopping trips
• Sightseeing trips
• Concerts
• Sporting events
• Opportunities to share or learn a hobby or skill, such as photography, tennis, cycling, hiking, skiing, fishing, horseback riding and so forth.
• Retreats and camping experiences
• Something as simple as having a cup of coffee together

4. Allow them to be part of your life

Informal times that aren’t structured or intended to have a specific purpose often allows them to see Christ being lived in and through the experiences of your daily life.

5. Meet their friends and make sure they also feel welcome

6. Attend one of their national cultural events

7. Be sensitive and respectful about the student’s culture

It is always helpful to have a basic understanding of their country of origin. Don’t come across as being ethnocentric—suggesting that your country and your way of doing things is superior.

8. Don’t be put off by preconceived ideas, stereotypes and generalizations

Ask God to help you to see them through his eyes.

9. Don’t assume that male/female interaction and relationships from other cultures are identical to what you are familiar with

What you may consider to be well-intentioned and entirely appropriate may be easily misunderstood.

• Be alert to how those in that culture interact with each other.
• Enjoy group interaction.
• Focus on developing friendships with your own gender.

Partner with Others in Your Outreach:

Don't feel you have to do it on your own

As you move forward in your evangelistic endeavors, you will find it vital to make use of the body of Christ for support and encouragement. Here are some ways you can work together with other believers.

1. Welcome the support and involvement of local churches

This is a great opportunity to both broaden as well as deepen your local church members’ understanding of the global world. There are numerous ways they can be involved:

• Invite key church people to host a table at an international Christmas dinner.

• Ask the congregation to contribute food for an international student group meeting.

• Ask the church if it would give financially. Those involved in reaching out to international students often incur expenses.

• Consider recruiting the help of those who have just returned from a short-term missions trip to join you. Not only will this provide an added opportunity for international students to connect with others who are believers, but it will:

• Provide a continuing opportunity for these short-term missionaries to be involved in cross-cultural ministry.

• Continue to fuel and broaden their vision of a spiritually needy world.

• Perhaps be used by God to move a short-term missionary into full-time ministry.

2. Link up with other campus ministries

Look for ways to link up with other campus ministries in order to strengthen and multiply the effectiveness of their outreach.

GoodSeed produces tools ideal for reaching international students, but often student ministries are unaware that these tools exist. Introduce the tools to them. You can also consider donating some resources to help them get started.

Diving into Discipleship: Move beyond the gospel

After your students have expressed faith in the work of Jesus on the cross, you cross the line from evangelism to discipleship. Your friendship with them is just as vital at this point as it was before they became believers. It's important that you not leave the new believers to fend for themselves, but work to help them develop a deeper walk with the Lord. Here's a few suggestions of next steps you can take:

1. The Bible

Assist the students in obtaining their own copy of the Bible. Two copies would be great: one in English and the other in their heart language. Help them get started in reading it on their own. A great starting point is to read through By This Name, getting them to look up and read each Bible verse they come across in the book for themselves. The students will quickly become familiar with the Bible and will likely find themselves reading beyond the verses prescribed in the book.

2. Prayer

Pray with your new brother or sister in Christ. Emulate for them how one can talk to God.

3. Other mature believers

Bring other mature believers alongside them who can also encourage them in their faith. Fellowshipping and growing with other believers is an important aspect of the Christian walk. You might want to consider inviting them into your small group. Alternatively, you can start a small group with a mix of new and mature believers to model for them what good Christian fellowship is like.

4. Church

Often we wish to invite friends seeking to know more about the Bible to our church. Make sure you give consideration to a few of the following factors as you prepare for this step:

• Consider their level of English comprehension. Even though they may be quite fluent in the conversational English they hear every day, the spiritual vocabulary and idioms often used in church will likely be foreign to them–particularly if they come from a non-churched background. You may need to translate or explain things to them periodically to ensure they are following along. It may also be worthwhile investigating if there is a church in their location with services in their heart language. That may be an option for them to explore as well. If possible, attend that church with them for some time so you became familiar with it. (In those cases, you will have the interesting experience of being the foreigner!)
• The structure and elements of a typical church service will likely be unfamiliar to them. Different churches do have different styles and liturgies. Be sure to explain the key foundations of church-going: (i) prayer, (ii) the teaching of God's Word and (iii) fellowship.

Whether directly teaching international students the gospel message, or by supporting those who do, we can be sure our efforts will reach right around the world.

As we take advantage of the brief windows of opportunity to share the gospel and disciple these students while in our country, we can be sure they will take their new beliefs back to their home countries where they can be the most effective evangelists to their own people.

In the end, it is exciting to be a part of fulfilling God's Great Commission—reaching the uttermost parts of the world, by reaching the world at our doorstep.

(* All names changed as per GoodSeed policy.)