The World at Our Door

This week I have been pondering the importance of international student ministry and how amazing it is to get to be a part of the ongoing ministry to those students here at WKU. Two years ago I had the privilege of serving on the Leadership Council at the BCM (Baptist Campus Ministry) here on campus as the ministry team leader for international students. Looking back, I realize how much I could have done to make that ministry better. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the impact of the ministry and the potential it had to become so much more. That year a dear friend and sister in Christ, Melissa (who was the international student minister at the time) gave me a book called The World at Your Door that really challenged me and encouraged me in the ministry I was given to lead. The book not only increased my heart for the nations, but also ignited a desire within me to truly invest my life in the lives of international students for the glory of Christ. There were certain things the book outlined that I need to share.

First of all, it is imperative to point out that each year over 120,000 new international students and scholars begin a four-year sojourn in American universities and other institutions of higher learning. While these students come to America with specific goals and plans, most of them are unaware of a personal divine plan from God. As caring and committed Christians come across their paths and offer friendship in Him, they can learn about the greatest friend of all – Jesus Christ. Over half a million students come from around the globe to study in the United States, right in our own backyard. As we develop friendships with these future leaders and executives, we have an opportunity to reach our world for Christ. When these students complete their education and return to their homelands, they assume leadership in international corporations and national institutions. Or, they become political leaders, influencing thousands. Unfortunately, during their time in the U.S., most of these students never enter an American home or visit a place of worship. Statistics prove that among the international students who study in the U.S., historically 70 percent have never been invited to an American home during their stay. More than 85 percent are never invited to an American church or have any meaningful contact with genuine Christians during an average stay of four years.

As believers living in America, we have an incredible opportunity to influence the lives of this world’s emerging generation of influencers. International students sent to America are typically the best and the brightest their countries have to offer. In five to twenty-five years, they will be the leaders of their nations. They will return home to make a difference. The question is, “Will they make a difference for Jesus Christ?”

Over 50 percent of international students come from countries that are closed or less than accessible to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet their future leaders and executives are here. In God’s plan, He has brought these leaders to our door. In many cases, it is difficult or impossible for traditional missionaries to enter these nations. We don’t need to be called by God to a foreign land to be used by Him in His plan for reaching the nations. Consider the life of Jesus. He met the needs of the people everywhere. If they were sick, he reached out and touched them and they were healed. If they were bound up with demons, he touched them and freed them. He met people right where they were at the time. The New Testament book of Acts records in its early pages how men and women were gathered together from around the world. In Jerusalem, these people heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, accepted it, and returned to their countries as ambassadors for God. Today history repeats itself in the U.S., where over 500,000 of the world’s best, brightest, and/or privileged students from every nation are within minutes of a local church.

God has brought the mission field to our doorstep. If only one-half of one percent of all Christians who say they know Jesus as Lord and Savior in a personal way became a friend to an international student, we would have a friend for every international student in the nation! What an opportunity to impact the world for Christ!

So, here’s the challenge – Be a pioneer in this most strategic of all mission fields. Be a foreign missionary on your own doorstep! Love an international, a future leader of our world, for Christ’s sake. Touch someone who will impact others – perhaps a nation, perhaps the world. Reach the unreached while they are here in our country. Join the most reproductive mission in the world – the international student outreach of love and hospitality. Each of us can be such a friend and help reach the nations for Christ!

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

control freak

I am a control freak. I always have been. When I am in a group project, I tend to do most of the work just because I have to make sure it’s done right. I have to look at the map (or Mapquest printout!) even if someone says it is the way to go. In the grand scheme of life, however, this tends to get me in trouble. Recently, God has been reminding me about “letting go of the map.” I made Him my Navigator years ago, but the control freak in me keeps trying to peek over His shoulder to find out where we are going. Honestly, that just proves my lacking faith in His plan, even though that is hard to admit.

For many years, I have struggled with where God may be leading me and whether I was fully surrendered to His calling. After getting rid of some selfishness and fear in my heart, I said, “Ok, I’ll go. But where are we going?” I felt much like Abraham when God said, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). The only difference was that Abraham didn’t question God and His plan, where I wanted (and still do at times!) to know His exact plan and how we would get there. But because God is faithful, He continues to reveal things in His timing, whispering, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Letting go of control is always going to be a struggle for me, but His will is perfect. He gives us all a similar call. And, just like Abraham, He simply asks us to trust Him, even when we can’t see the final destination. So, put down the map and just let Him drive!

spiritual discipline

OK…so I’m going to get back into the groove of this whole blogging thing, and honestly I’m not very good at it. But I have come to find that it helps me focus all of my scatter-brained thoughts into one collective unit. Something about seeing my thoughts captured on a sheet of paper (or a computer screen in this case) just makes me feel better. I’m not sure why, but it does. So this is my feeble attempt at re-entry into the world of blogging!

After the amazing, transforming summer I had, it is difficult to maintain such a focus on the homefront. I am trying to be as disciplined now as I was this summer in regards to Bible study and Scripture memory. We were challenged to memorize 26 verses this summer, and I was surprised at how naturally it came for me. I still remember those verses and frequently look over them, but I’m in a slump when it comes to learning new ones. Although I have memorized a few new verses since coming home, the discipline has not been very consistent. So, my aim is to memorize at least one new verse a week, some of which I have memorized in the past and unfortunately forgot due to lack of study. So this week, my focus is on Philippians 4:6-7 and 2 Chronicles 7:14. As easy as it may sound, I have found it very difficult to be so disciplined with this in the past. But after seeing how Scripture memory was so beneficial to me this summer, not only personally but for ministry purposes, I am determined to stick with it. I ask that anyone who knows about this endeavor hold me accountable, and join me in the challenge if you desire!

Philippians 4:6-7 --- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 --- “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. --- Jerome, A.D. 340-420

We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy. --- R.C. Sproul