Become a Welcomer
One of the very first things we can do as a church is to become wel- comers. Christians can be a big part of welcoming and helping students, immigrants, and refugees acclimate to their new homeland. If you will reach out, you’ll discover a multitude of opportunities to build friendships, meet needs, and minister to people God has brought to their doorsteps.
Welcome International Students
• Contact your local university to see about becoming a host family to an international student. Usually, this is arranged through a program in the international student office; but call the universi- ty in your area to find out for sure. Programs may differ, but generally you will receive a form to fill out that matches your family and a participating student. Typically, you’ll be asked to entertain your assigned student throughout the school year. My family is currently hosting two students; and we make a point of including them in holiday festivities and meals, as well as family birthdays, shopping excur- sions, and worship opportunities at our church.
• Pick up international students and help them get settled into dorms or apartments.
• Provide household goods and furniture for international stu- dents as they settle into their new place of residence. Some churches and associations have a ministry and can help provide these items. International students could secure
average of 28 percent over the last decade. These states are Alabama (92 percent), South Carolina (88 percent), Tennessee (82 percent), Arkansas (79 percent), Ken- tucky (75 percent), North Carolina (67 percent), South Dakota (65 percent), Georgia (63 percent), Indiana (61 percent), Nevada (61 percent), Delaware (60 percent), Virginia (60 percent), and Oklahoma (57 percent). Twenty-five percent of children in the United States
have at least one immigrant parent with populations growing from eight mil- lion in 1990 to 17 million in 2012. When you start adding up the numbers, it doesn’t take long to realize that God desires His people groups to hear the gospel so much He’s sending them to us! You have the opportunity to touch the
“From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’ ” (Acts 17:26-28, HCSB).
world because the world is coming to you. The nations are moving in next door! Most refugees arriving today in the United States
are from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, Somalia, Cuba, Congo Democratic Republic, Iran, Eritrea, Sudan, and Ethi- opia. In fact, almost two-thirds of refugees arriving in 2012 were Bhutanese, Iraqi, and Burmese. Also, the nations are arriving as International
students. Enrollment from the nations is up to a re- cord-breaking 819,644. They are coming from China,
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