Discussions about styles of outreach tend to be a waste of time. Many turn into disputes between two opposites. Matt, a supporter of “friendship evangelism,” pushes the idea that “we must earn the right to share the gospel by building a relationship with a non-Christian.” To him, any other approach is insensitive. But his friend […]
Taking the Initiative to Share Christ Read More »
Gather broadly – select carefully It would be a mistake to take the first six people that come along and form a group. You will want to be much in prayer over the important matter of selecting the right members. Notice the example of Jesus as described in Luke 6:12-13: “One of those days Jesus
Small Group Discipleship Read More »
When to Share the Gospel Individually: Some people say we should try and share the gospel with internationals as soon as possible, challenging them to make a faith decision. Others say we should not share the gospel right away–only after building a relationship should we gradually communicate the message of salvation in Christ. We want
If you seek to reach more international students in your area, you will need an increased commitment to unity among ministries. Working hand in hand is easier than making excuses for competitive work. Webster defines synergism as “interaction of discrete agencies, agents, or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of
Partnering in Ministry Read More »
Samuel leads a ministry for internationals at a large university. He does a great job. But if you observe him closely, you will see one odd, little inconsistency. When he’s involved in raising funds or recruiting co-laborers, Samuel always underlines the importance of Christian ministry to “future world leaders.” Yet when he needs additional leadership
Mobilizing Student Leaders Read More »
1. Contend for Their Time There is a balance here. Clearly, we do not want to be insensitive or unconcerned about the other dimensions of a student’s life—academics, family, rest. But the opportunity to know and follow Christ is also not to be minimized. He gave His life for us, and we have been crucified
Effective Follow-Up For New Christians Read More »
Jonathan, a campus minister, had a simple idea. He asked a student from Russia to emcee a weekly gathering for internationals. This small request from Jonathan proved to be a huge development opportunity for a student; an easy task with huge growth dividends. In retrospect, Jonathan’s request might seem small. But, no doubt, we
Challenging To Leadership Read More »
When asked why they became Christians, the number one reason given by international students was the love they received from their Christian friends. Christians know the importance of showing unconditional love, but many have a problem that inhibits their witness. Many are afraid of offending their friends by being too open about their faith in
Unconditional Friendship Read More »
As we were driving to campus one day, Amir asked me, “Why are you serving me and the other internationals on campus? What organization do you work for?” At some point, you will also be asked questions like these. As your relationships deepen with international students, there is a time and a place to explain
Presenting Yourself Read More »
The surest way to build a movement that lasts is to build it God’s way. And if we want to build a movement God’s way, we must begin with a foundation of prayer. Both history and God’s Word make it clear that prayer is more than preparation for the work–it is the work. Unfortunately, we
