There are many ways to involve
international students with Americans on campus and in the community.
If American students want to become
friends with individual internationals, the easiest way is to attend an
international social event on campus, (International Student Clubs often
have meetings open to all nationalities.), or take the initiative with the
internationals in their classes. The easiest way for American families is to contact the
foreign student advisor on campus (or the dean of foreign student affairs)
and request his/her help. College
host family programs are often greatly in need of American families in
the community with whom they can match interested foreign students.
Social events should be structured so that people are encouraged to
mix and get acquainted in a relaxed atmosphere.
If an international student
event is to be sponsored by your campus ministry, a student committee should
plan the program which could include time for getting acquainted informally
(a brief get-acquainted game can help here), some time for the foreign
students to share something from their culture or personal experience, and
time for the Americans to do the same. It should be publicized through
school papers, bulletin boards, cultural clubs, etc. Personal invitations to
internationals should be followed by a letter and phone call, with an offer
to pick them up. Encourage each American student attending to find and bring
one or more foreign students.
Such events can also be used
evangelistically, so long as you let internationals know ahead of time in
your publicity that there is going to be a short talk on a spiritual issue
related to Christianity (so they don't feel trapped).
It is essential that there be a discussion
following the presentation where non-Christians can genuinely feel that
differences of opinion are listened to and that they are accepted as
persons. For example, an international tea could be planned for the
beginning of each term. The primary purpose would be for Christian students
to make initial contact with internationals on a social level. The secondary
purpose would be to stimulate interest among American and Christian
international students who would like to pursue our ministry of friendship.
Coffee, tea and refreshments can
be served following the discussion so that individuals can again converse in
a relaxed way. Christian students can then pick up where the discussion left
off, engaging non-Christian students in further dialogue about the Gospel.
The Americans should be carefully instructed to befriend their overseas
companions and to arrange another time to meet, before the function is over.
For example, invite them to Sunday dinner. Instruct them to at least
exchange names, addresses, phone numbers and to tell the international that
they will call. A guest book also helps in follow-up.
If the social event is to be
sponsored by a group of Christians in the community,
a home with a large living room, as close to campus as possible to ease
transportation difficulties, is the best place for it. Students from the
peer ministry team may also participate and are often the best means of
making the initial contacts with the internationals and bringing them to the
event. Or an American faculty member, a Christian international student, or
even non-Christian internationals known through individual friendships may
be the best people to advertise the event and bring other foreign students.
The event itself can be organized and planned by community folk, similar to
the way students would (see above), and a faculty, peer minister or campus
or congregational pastor could lead the program.
Care must be taken to help
students or community people develop personal friendships with foreign
students after such events so that they are not simply isolated experiences
for the foreign student. This
is the basic problem with the well-intended traditional American
Thanksgiving Dinner. American families love to celebrate Thanksgiving in a
social way by inviting members of the family and occasionally non-family
members such as international students into their homes. With such lavish
feasting and social interaction, foreign students' expectations of a
"home away from home" usually soar and, if the American family
does not continue the relationship in the months following Thanksgiving,
unnecessary and unintended disappointment or resentment can build in the
heart of the international.
This principle applies to any
social event for foreign students. It is important that Christians be
oriented to the importance of initiating friendships with internationals
there so that they will continue afterwards. This is part of the "cost
of discipleship" involved in this kind of ministry.
The events are to be a springboard to lifestyle friendship
evangelism. The former without the latter is like a preface without the
book! This main purpose should
be emphasized in the planning, in the publicity among Christians, and by a
meeting for the Christians following the event to decide who will follow
through with which foreign student. A vital part of such meetings should be
extended specific prayer, both for international students and for Christians
who often need as much support and reassurance from the Lord and from each
other in this effort as the foreign students need friends and a home away
from home.
If there is sufficient response,
continue with a series of monthly international teas in the community or
supper-discussions in a home near the campus. A committee to pray for, plan
and evaluate these is essential. A peer minister, an understanding faculty
member or the campus or congregational pastor should lead the studies. These
discussions should be simple, informal and educational. They should be led
by the same person each time in order to establish rapport.
You cannot preach at international students or you will lose them. A
series that has been used very effectively for several years is: "What
is Christianity?" "Who
did Christ claim to be?" "What did He teach?" "What was
His attitude toward others?" "Why did He die?" "Was He a
failure?" and "What is a Christian?" (on how to become a
Christian).
Where social events of this kind
are successful, they are always marked by a spirit of prayer, sincere
commitment to long-term relationships with internationals, and people's
willingness to invest time and energy to include international students in
their lives and activities.