The Bible is very clear about two commandments. Love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:30,31). As followers of Jesus, we desire to obey Him in this. Often times, however, we can overlook the neighbors living among us from other countries of the world. Many of these nations represent hundreds of thousands of people who have never heard about Jesus! As a church, we are very focused on reaching the unreached. The beauty of God’s sovereign design is that we do not have to get on a plane and cross the ocean to reach these unreached people groups…they are here, at our universities and colleges, as international students, researchers, and proffesors! God is allowing them to come to us; where we have the freedom to share the Good News! Additionally, many international students return to their country of origin; we can send them back as ambassadors for Christ!
We recognize there may be apprehension and uneasiness in approaching these unfamiliar cultures and people. This is why Church of the Highlands has teamed up with EveryInternational to better prepare our church family to engage in the Great Commission right here in the state of Alabama and Georgia. EveryInternational was created to equip North American Christians to reach the millions of internationals living among us. Below you will find a list of individually selected lessons on significant topics that we pray will equip you to be Christ’s ambassador to the nations. It is our hope that through this course you will grow in your confidence in befriending and sharing the love of Jesus with these precious people who are now our neighbors. For next steps on how to get involved with international students, please reach out to your campus Outreach leader! We are excited to be walking with you on the journey to loving our international neighbors well.
Note: In order to access lessons you must first create an account and then enroll in the course by clicking the "Take This Course" button.
Lisa came to North America with a purpose: to be equipped to better serve her nation, the Philippines. She has done that, and more. Lisa served as executive director of an international student ministry and now travels around the world captivating audiences with her passion for the nations. In this lesson Lisa suggests three reasons we should open our homes, lives, and churches to the internationals in our midst.
One of the most respected international student ministry leaders in North America, Rich has spent four decades reaching internationals in Ohio. He challenges to consider unreached people groups that make up 42% of the world’s population. Rich uses the book of Acts to explain that international student ministry is not new. He then tells stories that capture the exponential impact that international students can make for Jesus.
Kevin has worked with students in Russia and throughout North America. He knows well the challenges and barriers to engaging new cultures. He shares candidly about times when fear or ignorance became barriers to reaching across cultural barriers. Hear how we can overcome these barriers, even if it means being covered in spicy Russian mustard!
Over the past two decades Chris has worked with students in East Asia, North America, and Western Europe. He has experienced that people operate in one of three cultural operating systems: fear/power, guilt/innocence, or honor/shame. Most gospel presentations focus on guilt-innocence but most international students come from honor/shame cultures. In this lesson, Chris introduces Honor Restored, a new digital evangelistic tool for honor-shame cultures.
For over twenty years, Paula has welcomed international students into her home in California. She’s held leadership roles in both church and international student ministry organizations. Paula loves to promote prayer and help churches and individuals grow in loving the internationals in their midst. In her first lesson she provides practical tips for ministry and simple suggestions on using your home to serve internationals. In her second lesson, Paula shares how to grow in prayer and how to encourage prayer among your international friends.
Lea Ann loves to welcome, serve and befriend international students. In this lesson, she contrasts the anxiety she felt on her first trip to Ethiopia with the peace that came through her local guide. How can we be comforting guides as we welcome and befriend international students? Lea Ann provides practical tips on how to meet internationals and build trusting relationships.
Gloria comes from the multicultural country of Malaysia and has always enjoyed working cross-culturally. An experienced ESL instructor, her passion for reaching internationals also comes from her experience as an international student. Gloria knows firsthand what it is like to receive the unconditional love of Christians, and she desires to share that love with other internationals. Gloria and her husband share this love by frequently opening their home to internationals.
Tiffany grew up in East Asia then spent years working with Chinese students in an Ivy League school. She offers a profound historical and contemporary explanation of Chinese students in North America. Her hope is to equip you to understand this “WeChat” generation that they might become world leaders, burdened with the love of Christ.
Davood grew up as a Muslim in Central Asia but later came to Christ. In this talk he suggests that the barriers preventing Muslims from following Jesus are not primarily intellectual but emotional. He explains how to address fundamental heart issues with practical tips on sharing Jesus’ love with your Muslim friends.
Years ago Ryan had a lot of misconceptions about India. But friendships with many South Asian students gave him a deep love for one of the least reach parts of the world. Well informed with unique insights, Ryan challenges us to be intentional and immersive learners of South Asians. Prepare to be stretched in mind and heart as you learn to take intentional steps into this wonderful and diverse culture.
