“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” John 4:35-38 (NIV)
This website has been created to help you to develop international student ministry right where you are and to mobilise God’s church to play their part
Why International Student Ministry?
In today’s global village, God has brought international students from almost every nation to the countries of Europe, giving these students an opportunity to encounter Christians and the life-giving gospel of Jesus.
The passage above is a challenge to make the most of that through International Student Ministry (ISM). God has done the hard work, and we now have the opportunity and privilege of bringing the gospel to the nations without leaving home.
The Bible also provides at least three other themes relating to international students:
God’s care for the stranger (Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Matthew 25)
God’s plan for the nations (Acts 17:26-27)
God’s blueprint for his church (Ephesians 2 & 3)
ISM, then, is about all of God’s church fulfilling its calling to show hospitality to the stranger and to making Jesus Christ known to the nations.
Who can do International Student Ministry?
Whatever your age and stage of life, there are ways for you to be involved…
Students: Obviously, you are in the best position to meet and offer friendship to students from other parts of the world!
Graduates: Now that you’re no longer a student, you may be in a phase of life when you have more time and energy to invest in friendships with a stranger far from home. Your position as a young professional can be of special value to internationals who want to find out about life in the workplace.
Young Families: Having young children in your home is often an advantage as post-graduate international students in particular often have children of their own. Even single international students love to meet local families, and to see the inside of a local home.
People of all ages: Many international students come from cultures that put a high value on older people, and they love to spend time with them. Anyone can offer hospitality, life experience, and even serve as parental figures or adopted aunts & uncles.
Who we are
This website is brought to you in partnership with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) and Friends International.
IFES is a movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. Locally. Nationally. Globally. They shape lives and develop leaders who engage the university and impact the world. IFES connects more than half a million students in over 160 countries.
Friends International is a UK-based ministry seeking to mobilise and equip local churches for international student ministry. They have 30 years experience of developing ISMs in local churches and in partnership with UCCF (the IFES ministry in the UK) and have a wealth of resources on their website.