Over the past few years, immigration has increased significantly worldwide. Many global communities have experienced a substantial shift in demographics. Immigrants bring distinct cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds with them. This diversity contributes social and cultural richness to their new communities, introducing new traditions, languages, and cuisines. However, it also creates cultural integration and assimilation challenges. These challenges produce gospel opportunities. As people who believe in the power of the gospel, we must acknowledge the need to reach our immigrant neighbors.
Tyler Penn and Bradley Mercer, who engage with international students on public college campuses, offer insight on building relationships and spreading the gospel with your international neighbors.
Tyler Penn, University of Illinois, Champaign
The world really has come to our neighborhoods in the United States. How do we meet immigrants in a way that builds an avenue of trust to exchange the knowledge of Jesus? How do we connect?
Our students really desire two things. They want to know what community life is like in America. And they want to practice the English language. It just so happens we can easily meet both these needs.
An international student from Japan was asked, “If you could tell a room full of Americans something about being an international student, what would you share?” She responded, “I would let them know I want to know what American community life is like. I understand life on campus, but I really want to know about life in the community.”
Providing events based on American culture is a good way to connect with internationals looking to understand more about life in the States. Events your church routinely holds may be interesting to internationals. These events can be anything from a fish fry to Easter celebrations or a fall festival. They just need to know they are welcome.
Individuals can invite students to experience life with them in their homes for holidays. International students will gladly experience the holidays of Thanksgiving, Easter, or even the Super Bowl with you. Or encourage students to join in your hobbies. Invitations to experience American life may include putt-putt, camping, or fishing. Students just want to know what the American experience is like. We have a great opportunity to show them and connect with them.
Second, connecting through the English language is one of the most common tools used to meet and befriend internationals. English programs often look for volunteers in communities with international populations. A weekly meetup to practice the English language can systematically build a friendship with an international. This is also a great way to guide conversations of faith into the discussion. Many students are not afraid to have these conversations. They are interested in talking about faith in America because it’s something they are curious about, even if it just begins on an informational level.
The world truly has come next door to us. We just need to step out with a little courage to begin the first step of relationship building with our international neighbors.
Bradley Mercer, University of Missouri, Columbia
The number of international students and refugees in the States is growing. Yet the number of people who have thought about this unique field or are willing to serve this segment of the population is scarce. Make no mistake, these truly are unreached people groups — closer and more accessible to us than ever before. These people are waiting for us to help them. All we need is the boldness to ask!
How do you reach the nations next door? The prevailing need among international students and refugees is to improve their English conversational and comprehension skills. Make a trip to your local public university’s international student affairs office. Ask about programs they have, or local nonprofit organizations they partner with, which need volunteers. Explore the resources available.
You are not the only one trying to help international students or refugees. Someone has already “invented the wheel,” to help students succeed during their tenure in the States. If I can speak from personal experience at the University of Missouri, helping international students meet their English conversational needs fast tracks the trusting relationship needed to connect with them in a deeper way.
Of course, many other opportunities are available to meet the needs of these unreached people groups beyond English conversational skills. Cook a homemade meal for them. Take them grocery shopping. Walk them through the process of getting a job or becoming a licensed driver. Simply be a friend to someone far from home.
What if you do not have these people groups around you? What if the closest university isn’t close? Do not read this article and think it’s not for you. It is. I challenge you to bring this unique mission field out of the shadows. Take the first step toward reaching the world next door, to look up and see the fields white for harvest, as Jesus said in John 4. This harvest is in our backyard, and we are to gather it!
This denomination has made tremendous steps forward in partnering with existing ministries on our college campuses (with missionaries like my wife Madison and me, Tyler and Kellie Penn, Darren and Dana Portell, and others) to reach internationals from around the globe for the gospel.
Please support this important work! These ministries cannot exist and be effective for the Kingdom without your support in prayer and through financial partnership.
Tyler and Bradley provide valuable guidance on how to spread the gospel to immigrants. To effectively connect with them, we need to understand their unique circumstances, build genuine relationships, use contextualized communication methods, and show love, compassion, and humility. Believers can form meaningful relationships with their immigrant communities and successfully convey the message of hope and love.
Sharing the gospel with your international neighbors can be both challenging and rewarding. It is essential to approach this subject with sensitivity and respect. Consider their cultural differences and religious beliefs. Remember, the goal is to share the love of Jesus, not to impose your own culture, thoughts, and political beliefs on them.
According to research, the most effective means of evangelism among internationals is by building a relationship that grants permission to talk about the gospel.
So where do you start? A simple conversation or an act of kindness goes a long way.
About the Writer: Don Matchett is director of development at IM, Inc.
