The-Hard-to-Reach are Back-to-School

Last year, over a million students from hard-to-reach countries like India, China, and Saudi Arabia moved to the United States to pursue higher education. Many of them have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Think about it: In our universities, our communities, and maybe even our own neighborhoods, believers have a million opportunities to make Jesus known to people who might never encounter Christ in their own lands. These are places where Christians are persecuted, churches face restrictions, and access to the gospel can be scarce.

But here they are, just in time for our back-to-school routines. It’s an extraordinary opportunity that churches can respond to in ordinary ways: show hospitality, build friendships, and share the gospel with international students.

Involve the Whole Church

Instead of trying to be a lone ranger in international ministry, prioritize bringing other church members along with you. God has given every member of the church gifts and passions for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4–7). Use your zeal for the nations to mobilize your church to participate in the Great Commission.

In my church, we recognized two deacons because of their model service to organize efforts to reach international students with the gospel. Instead of working alone, they mobilized over 50 members of our church to participate in this mission within our city. 

Show Hospitality

Scripture calls us to show hospitality (Romans 12:13) and it reveals God’s heart for the foreigner (Deuteronomy 10:18–19). Consider ways that you and your friends or family can be welcoming to those who have moved from faraway places. Take time to learn their names and cultures. Invite them to go to the grocery store with you or celebrate holidays with your family.

One of the best ways that you can show hospitality to an international student is to invite them into your home. Too many international students in the United States will arrive, study, and leave without ever entering into an American home. For Christians, this represents a real opportunity to show hospitality by inviting the nations to spend time at your dinner table.

Build Friendships

As you invest in international ministry, you’ll eventually build friendships with students. 

It’s really easy to go to one event and check off a box, but friendship requires sacrifice and consistency.

A few months ago, I met an international student from Saudi Arabia at the gym, and we’ve been able to regularly hang out since then. One day, he invited me over for lunch to eat a traditional Saudi meal. I expected this to be about an hour or maybe even a two-hour lunch. Nearly five hours later, we had covered every topic under the sun and entered into great gospel conversations.

Friendship takes time and persistence, but it provides clear opportunities to share the gospel with those from unreached places.

Share the Gospel

It’s important to recognize that many of your international friends have never heard the gospel, and many of them have significant misconceptions about Christianity. As you seek to make the gospel known, you need more than just a good example; you need to be willing to use words to share the good news. Evangelism among international students can be awkward. Sometimes you pour out your heart and receive little to no feedback. Other times, it can be incredibly encouraging when you see an international student understand the gospel for the first time.

Still, we know that the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Therefore, we should not be ashamed of the gospel message. Though it may seem like folly to the world around us, the gospel has the power to transform lives (1 Corinthians 1:18). In my city, I’ve met numerous students who have come to faith through the faithful evangelistic witness of Christians who showed hospitality, built friendships, and shared the gospel with them.

Christian, be encouraged that God is working, even when you don’t see any progress. Remember that some water and some plant, but God is the one who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).