International Students, Inc. Mobilizing Your Church To Reach the World Time checkpoint: 9:00 (:00) Welcome to ISI’s Friendship Partner Training

International Students, Inc. Reaches international students through friendship evangelism and discipleship Prepares returning students for ministry in their homeland Partners with churches to reach all international students in a city

How Many People Groups Have Not Heard the Gospel? Look at how many people groups have not heard the Gospel! These nations represent where we get the most international students. Number of People Groups Least Exposed to the Gospel by Country 0 to 5 5 to 25 25-50 50-100 100-318 6

International Students in the US 97% of the “least-evangelized world” lives in the 10/40 Window. 80% of the world is closed to traditional missions. 60% of international students come from the “least-evangelized world.” 97% of the “least-evangelized world” lives in the 10/40 Window. 60% of international students come from the “least-evangelized world.”

International Students in the US It is believed that: 70% of all international students will never enter an American home. 80% will never enter an American church. 70% of all international students will never enter an American home. 80% will never enter an American church.

Leading Countries of Origin Vietnam Taiwan Japan Mexico Brazil China India South Korea Saudi Arabia Canada Source: Open Doors, 2016/1017

Leading Fields of Study Engineering Business Management Math & Computer Sciences Social Sciences Physical & Life Sciences Fine & Applied Arts Health Professions

Strategic Reasons for Reaching International Students Over 1,000,000 are here! Future leaders of nations! “One half of the world’s top positions in politics, business, education and the military will be filled in the next 20 years by foreign students studying in colleges and univeristies in the US today.” (L. Lau) Students are here from restricted access nations. God has given you the privilege of sharing the truth of Christ’s love with the nations--one person at a time.

Not viewed with suspicion and mistrust upon return home Language and culture are not barriers Greater worldwide impact achieved for fewer missions dollars Accessible and desirous of American friends Training ground for prospective missionaries There is nothing more thrilling than leading someone to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ Not regularly sharing your faith is actually the “abnormal” Christian life! Apostle Paul says: “Everywhere we go, we talk about Christ to all who will listen.” He demonstrates this as the normal way to live the Christian life!

ISI exists to share Christ’s love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others. Full-cycle evangelism is our goal. As a student is befriended, hears a verbal witness, trusts Christ, grows, and is trained, he/she produces the same cycle in the lives of others.

Churches started in home country Student befriended Returns home, begins seminary Imad was a student in southern California when befriended Trusted Christ, gained theological training, returned home Established seminary in Middle East for the training of pastors from multiple Middle Eastern nations to plant churches Nations closed to traditional missions are now hearing the Gospel because a student was befriended and returned home to do what no American missionary could have done. Churches started in home country

Former US Senator Bill Armstrong: “When somebody steps out to help influence the worldview and to share the attitudes of a student from another country, in so doing, it is actually possible to impact the whole destiny of that country through that student.”

Friendship Evangelism Friendship--without strings attached Evangelism--communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ ISI’s philosophy of ministry: Evangelism through friendship Friendship: no strings attached--unconditional compassion Evangelism: communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ

Study Among Muslim Converts Reasons for conversion Unexplained answers to prayer Unexplained acts of love by Christians Exposure to multiple Christians & seeing consistency of their love Several years ago a study was conducted among Muslim converts asking about their conversions. These were the most common reasons given for their final decision to follow Christ: Unexplained answers to prayer. Unexplained acts of love by Christians. Being exposed to multiple Christians and seeing the consistency of love. The average was seven years from the time of first introduction to the Gospel before belief.

Stages of Relationship You extend genuine friendship-- serve practical needs Trust builds in an atmosphere of respect-- opening to sharing personal issues Student is willing to learn about Christ from you Three stages of your relationship with your student: 1. You extend genuine friendship by serving practical needs 2. Trust builds in an atmosphere of respect--opening to share personal issues. 3. Student is willing to learn about Christ from you. Most students are eager to talk about spiritual issues.

How Do You Get Involved? Befriend an international student/family Share vision for reaching international students with your local church Develop creative outreach that meets particular student needs Stay connected with ISI resourcing Dr. Timothy Beougher, in Overcoming Walls to Witnessing, gives us five common barriers to witnessing: Fear of rejection Ignorance of what to say Apathy to personal responsibility to witness Introspection about personal walk Busyness with less important things