by Robby Wigington The Transformative Potential of International Relationships3 years ago, after coming home from a year-long term as a missionary in the Middle East, I had a chip on my shoulder towards Christian ministry. I had worked so, so hard as a missionary and hadn't seen nearly the results I had hoped for. Nobody had come to faith during my year, I had lost contact with many of my American friends, and I had no idea what the LORD wanted from me upon returning to Lubbock. I got a mundane part-time job and I tried to get reacquainted with my church community.A couple months after I came home, an old college buddy contacted me and asked me to pick up one of his friends who was coming to study at Texas Tech and show him around Lubbock. One of the places I decided to take him was to the Wesley Foundation's cookout on the first week of school. There we met Hanna Lee, the Wesley's Director for International Student Ministry, who invited us to Great Commission Fellowship (GCF), the Wesley's International Outreach. I decided to go check it out and on my first week, I met students from China, Korea, and other nations who were all interested in learning about the Bible for the first time! In small groups that night, a non-Christian Chinese woman asked me to give my testimony. That healed the broken place in my heart towards Christian ministry like nothing else could and I realized that God was calling me to help minister to international students!Currently going on 3 years of partnering and volunteering with GCF's ministry, I have had the pleasure of seeing the LORD reach several people with the Gospel message and bring them into the Kingdom! Hallelujah! However, I am not writing this blog post to talk about the people who have come to faith, but about those who haven't yet. There is a phenomenon found within international student ministry with the potential ramifications to transform the future culture, legislation, and state of the church in nations all over the world. This phenomenon is unspoken, under the surface, effectively hidden except from all who decide to take up their cross for international student ministry. This phenomenon is found within one of the most basic forms of Christian ministry to internationals: relationship.How International Relationships Can Transform the WorldHave you ever fed a person who was truly hungry? Not just a twinge of hunger from missing a meal, but the deep ache of sorrow, mourning, and hopelessness because of the consistent shortage of food? Imagine the joy and loyalty that would given by a starving person to the person who goes out of their way to fulfill that need.The truth is, international students are starving, but it is not food that they need, it is friends. 80% of international students who come to America never enter an American's house. Most of the international students I have talked with say that people do not really pay much attention to them. These students come to American practice English and connect with Americans, but neither of these goals can be accomplished when Americans are hesitant to speak with, let alone build a relationship with, internationals.As a result of this deep need for relationship, God has used GCF to change the worldview of every person who comes through our door, not just those who become believers while they are here. I have had friends in GCF who have said "I am no more a Christian today than when I first began coming, but you have been family to me and these meetings were my favorite part of living in America." How many people do you know that are not Christian, who do not want to be Christian, who say that a weekly Bible Study is their favorite aspect of life here?!Here is the radical phenomenon of international student ministry: people whose hearts toward God are not changed by our efforts still undergo a transformation in how they see Christian people. I have seen it happen like this at least 100 times. So how does this phenomenon have the potential to transform nations? It has this potential because the internationals who come to America for education are the future professors, government officials, and business leaders of their nations. The next generation of world leadership is sitting in Bible Studies and outreach events all over America touched by the love shown them by Christian people, especially in stark contrast to how the average American treats foreigners.Even if they did not become Christian while they are here, how likely is it that a government official who experienced deep love from Christian people will support legislation that persecutes believers in their nation? Not likely. What about college professors who mentor students not only in their fields, but also about life in general? Will they support their students looking into Christianity or going to church? Yes they will! When revival comes to these nations that are currently closed to the Gospel, the relationships we build today in international student ministries all over America will bear fruit in the lives in which we have invested.Please participate in the Father's work that He is doing around us. Please pray for GCF and other ministries for foreigners in our country. And please build deep relationships with any internationals the LORD brings into your life. God will do amazing things with them!
