Yesterday was very cool taking some new international students to Wal-Mart. It was a small group but we had three different regions of the world represented. This is a full week as more international students are transitioning to life in Fayetteville AR. Lots of opportunities to make new friends from all over the world. Sharing the Wal-Mart experience and helping students find an apartment has a way of building bridges. Should be a lot more students today.
Posts Tagged ‘students’
NO REALLY! REACH THE UNIVERSITY, REACH THE WORLD!
July 7, 2010It’s more than just a catch phrase…
The reality of reaching international students is beginning to really sink in. Last month at Reach The U training we met a recent Chi Alpha graduate from a university in Kansas. Ly** is from Vietnam. When she first arrived at the university, she became friends with other students who wanted to help international students adjust to the American culture, help them find places to shop, give them rides if necessary, and become genuine friends. These friends were Chi Alpha students who eventually led her to Christ.
After committing her life to God, Ly had a vision of herself working in an international church in Vietnam. Loving her American life, Ly had no plans to go back to Vietnam. After confirming there was no existing international church in Vietnam, she felt relieved…she could stay in the U.S! She kept this vision to herself.
However, God had other plans. At a Chi Alpha World Missions Summit, God’s plan became Ly’s plan. At these summits, students are invited to give a year or give a life to missions. Her campus pastor introduced her to a missionary. A missionary who was going to plant an international church in Vietnam in 2010. (No small miracle itself!) He asked her when was she going to graduate, she replied somewhat sheepishly, “2010.” He also told her they were looking for someone with a business degree. “Ly, what’s your degree in?” Again sheepishly, “Business.”
Ly is going back home this September, now as a Christian. Not only does she want to reach Vietnam through this new church, but her unreached family.
Reach The University, Reach The World.
For The Campus, Daran
**Ly’s name was changed to protect her identity.
Is there a dream trapped under the rubble of your failure?
September 15, 2009I can’t claim that title. The other day I was watching Erwin McManus during a webcast from the Southeastern Leadership Forum. Good stuff. Erwin asked the question:
Is there a dream trapped under the rubble of your failure?
Some of the students I talk with, haven’t lived long enough to experience failure. Yet, there are way too many who feel they are destined for failure. Society, school, peers, teachers, bullies, and yes even parents have told them because they are __(fill in the blank), they will never amount to anything. Of course we know that is a lie of Satan, and these same student may even agree. But, they still feel trapped. I have felt trapped before. It’s not a fun place to be. Sadly too many people live life there.
It’s not enough to have people step into a relationship with Christ just to make it to heaven. In John 10.10, Jesus said:
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (The Message)
Maybe this is a poor baseball analogy, but I’ll try it anyway. Most followers of Christ are content to let Jesus pinch hit so they can sit on the bench, but Jesus already demonstrated how to hit it out, now it’s our turn to go yard and really live out His purpose for us.
We are in the process of starting small groups on the OTC campus. As these students develop friendships and grow in their relationship with God – I pray to see them to dig their dreams out of the rubble of their past and hit one out. Will you pray that prayer with me?
International Students
August 19, 2009There are over 22,000 students heading to Missouri State this fall. Heard a fellow Chi Alpha leader say today that of the over 800 Missouri State students 150 are from China. What a tremendous opportunity to reach students. Imagine reaching some of these students with life changing truth of the Gospel. We may not be able to send missionaries to China but after some of these students experience Christ working in their lives, they will return. OneMoreFriend.org encourages students to add one more friend in their life by reaching out to someone from another part of their world. This is not done to persuade or manipulate anyone from their beliefs or way of life. Make a friend, share your life and experiences and see how God speaks. Many international students are looking to experience America, what better way than to have some American friends. As leaders we are always encouraging students to be to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Get involved in leadership in Chi Alpha, your church, a missions trip, service project. Reaching out to international students really does provide the opportunity to reach and change the world!
