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

2. 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

3. 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 6

4. 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.”

5. 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.

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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!

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.”

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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