One of the key foreign mission fields in the world today lies right on our doorstep here in the U.S. God is bringing increasing numbers of international students to study at American universities. These students are either wealthy enough to come here for education, or they are the "cream of the crop" academically, selected and sponsored by their governments. In either case, they will nearly all be returning to positions of key leadership in government, business and education in their home countries.

Many of the countries from which they have come (Arab lands in particular) are closed to Christian mission work. In nearly all countries that allow missionary activity, the missionaries have been directed toward the lower classes who need the medical and technical skills they provide. Students studying in the United States, on the other hand, commonly come from the most privileged and least evangelized segment of their society and the segment that makes the decisions and directs their country's future.

At Bear Trap Ranch and Cedar Campus, international students find a truly Christian community. Many of them think of the U.S. in general and American students in particular as being Christian. Some of them may have attended a church, but often without hearing much about Jesus or experiencing any warmth or friendship.

At the Houseparty they see genuine Christian community and have opportunity to hear and discuss the Christian gospel. Many who react with the most hostility to that gospel are the most eager to come again the following winter or to get to know Christians on their own campus. Even if they never become Christians, their new respect and appreciation for Christ and for Christians will be influential in their attitudes toward the church and missionaries in their own countries.

Dates for the next Bear Trap Ranch houseparty in Colorado Springs, Colorado can be found at: http://www.intervarsity.org/beartrap/calendar.php

Dates for the next Cedar Campus houseparty in Cedarville, Michigan can be found at: http://www.intervarsity.org/cedar/calendar.php Practical information about the houseparty can be found at: http://www.intervarsity.org/ism/article_item.php?article_id=237 Also, advance registration for the Cedar Campus houseparty in December is possible on-line at: http://www.ivcf.org/ism/cc-registration.php

Similar "International Christmas Conferences" are held throughout Canada. See the Canadian Inter Varsity website for more information international student ministries in Canada at: http://www.ivcf.ca/content/view/full/307

Please pray for our work with international students and please support the vital role the International Houseparty plays in this ministry.