When we love and serve international visitors we are reflecting the character of God. In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to love the aliens in their midst (Deuteronomy 10:17-l9, Leviticus 19:33, etc.) Jesus also spoke of the importance of welcoming the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Most foreign students experience culture shock, loneliness and difficulties with English. Having at least one good American friend can help them get adjusted more easily. Christian students involved in such friendships can show Christ's love in many tangible ways.

Relationships with internationals will often progress to a point where we can share the Lord Jesus with our friends. When this happens, we are following a pattern of evangelism established on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2). Reaching out to persons temporarily away from home is a strategic part of world missions.

Steps to take in Mobilizing Your Campus Group

1. Inform yourselves about the I-student population (% of grads and undergrads, marrieds and singles, areas of world most represented, etc.) Your Dean or Foreign Student Advisor's office can help you here.
   
   
2. Identify existing programs your group members can participate in and needs you or other Christians can help meet (e.g. host family and campus friends programs, I-student association, international dorms, needs for airport welcoming service, English tutoring, etc.). Inform the foreign student advisor of your interest and cooperation.
   
   
3. Pray for and look for workers for the harvest who can participate in these programs and begin to meet these needs. Key people are Christian internationals, graduate students, mission minded undergrads and young alumni. Provide the necessary information to help these people become involved.
   
   
4. Train and Support workers. Students and possibly alumni can start an international outreach action group composed of Christian internationals and interested Americans. Bible studies, prayer and socials of the group will center around international outreach. Each group member should have at least one international friend, and group members can encourage other chapter members in international outreach by sharing in chapter meetings and inviting them to group socials. The group can get the fellowship to sponsor a social with international students; a picnic, dinner discussion on Christianity, square dance, etc.
   
   
5. Organize inexpensive and fun evangelistic weekends for smaller groups of Americans and internationals. Find a friend with a mountain or beach home and/or raise some money to subsidize the weekend. Always include at least one evangelistic Bible study.
   
   
6. Announce evangelistic Bible studies at all socials. Our international action group became an evangelistic Bible study when members started bringing their friends and when we announced it at socials. Christians should be allowed to share parts of their testimony in the course of Bible studies and they must be made to explain difficult vocabulary. Some people may need a one-to-one setting for Bible study.
   
   
7. Move Christian internationals into leadership of the ministry as quickly as possible. If the group grows large enough, you may become a separate international Christian fellowship or international witnessing community.