Lausanne World Pulse – Perspectives Articles – The Gospel & International Studies: Can We Make the Connection?

By Douglas Shaw
May 2010

Missions Right Outside Our Front Door
No longer is it necessary to fly groups around the world to have an international impact for Christ. The emerging trend for church missions is to step into mission opportunities in your own backyard. Founded in 1953, the vision at International Students, Inc. (ISI) has remained simple: share the love and the gospel of Jesus Christ, along with Christian family values, with future world leaders during one of the most receptive periods of their lives—during their studies abroad.

By speaking the truth in love and trusting God for the response, we can make great strides in today’s pluralistic world. Most people sense love, or the lack of it, before they process the apologetics involved. Today, the acquisition of information is no longer a challenge. The Web alone has forever made that a thing of the past. But people continue to starve for acceptance, love, and an appreciation of their unique, spiritual journey.

Friendship Evangelism & International Students
When international students come to the United States, most are excited to learn about America. They’re eager to hear about our culture and make American friends. Many are desperately searching for real answers to real issues in life. Deep down, many of them worry about what’s ahead for them in eternity.

The core of ISI’s mission strategy is cross-cultural outreach, or friendship evangelism. This means being a friend to someone from another culture. It’s being real with your faith and showing international students the kindness and love God has shown us. We allow the Holy Spirit to do his work to open the door to Jesus.

To develop a meaningful cross-cultural friendship, we want to get to know the other person for who he or she truly is. The best way to do that is to ask questions about life in their country; their culture; and their interests, perspectives, and beliefs. You’ll find most international students are much more open and interested in dialoguing about these issues than we are, and in turn, will often ask you about your values and beliefs.

How can you show you really care about your international student friend? Ask him or her about things that are important to him or her. As your international friend shares about his or her life and challenges, listen to what’s going on below the surface. Just asking and listening to their words is not enough—listen to their heart.

Do what you can to help them meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, or direct them to the right resources to help them.

Impacting Lives for Eternity
As you reach out to an international student, remember you’re touching him or her for eternity. And it’s very possible you could eventually touch thousands or millions of people. When somebody steps out to help influence the worldview, it is actually possible to impact the whole destiny of that country through that student.

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Indian-born, Dr. Douglas Shaw, once an international student himself, is the president/CEO of International Students, Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After receiving his initial education in Calcutta, Shaw came to the United States and earned both an M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. His professional experience includes ongoing work as a consultant, producer, and guest in various media endeavors, including television, radio, and multimedia. He travels extensively in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Far East and serves as a scholar in residence and guest lecturer on topics related to emerging world religions, the new world order, and systematic adaptations for the expanding dimensions of globalization.