Welcoming
International Students
Each year, around 15% of students who come to Ireland are international! That means there is an opportunity for CUs to welcome these students from across the nations and share the good news of Jesus with them. Of course, it’s not an easy thing to do! See below for resources to help equip you to do that well!
Tips for reading the Bible with an international students
Reading the Bible with an international non-Christian friend is high up on the list of the best and most significant things you could ever do. There are few things more exciting than watching someone’s heart begin to burn as Jesus, by his Spirit, reveals himself to them through his Word, just as he did 2000 years ago on the road to Emmaus.
If you have an international friend who is starting to show an interest in Christianity, one of the best ways you can help them along their journey is to offer to read the Bible with them. Here are four tips that can help you:
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Your job isn’t to have all the answers; it is to model going to Jesus with your questions. If your friend asks you a question you don’t know the answer to, the best thing you can say is: “I don’t know; let’s go to the Bible and try to find the answer together.”
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If your friend has never read the Bible before, it can be helpful to start by giving them an idea of the big story of the Bible before you dive into one of the gospels.
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Reading the Bible only in English can reinforce the unhelpful idea that Christianity is a western religion. If our friend becomes a follower of Jesus, it will help them to continue in their own country if they are used to reading the Bible in their own language.
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If you’re feeling frustrated at the lack of progress, don’t be! Let God work in his own time. Here’s an encouragement from one of our own Staff Workers: A few years ago I was living abroad and had the joy of reading the Bible with a Chinese friend. After 6 months of meeting, she understood the gospel and I asked her if she wanted to become a Christian. She said not yet. I was disappointed, especially since I was leaving and we wouldn’t be able to continue meeting. I prayed, introduced her to another Christian and promised to keep in touch. 2 years later I received a wonderful email from her saying that she had decided to follow Jesus.
We might only get to walk with someone for part of their journey, but the Lord is walking with them for the whole of it. We can trust him to reveal himself to them in his own time!
Other Resources
Friends International is a partner organisation of CUI and has produced an abundance of free resources to help CUs and churches welcome international students well! Click below to take a look at their resources!
