Ministry with Internationals: The World At Our Door

Ministry with internationals is a ministry to temporary guests from the international community staying in North America for a short period of time. They are high school and college students, tourists, seafarers, business and professional people.

Internationals are away from family, friends, and homeland resulting in loneliness and a desire for friendship. They want to communicate, but often we do not understand them. Their culture and religious beliefs tend to isolate them. Their spiritual need, however, is no different than ours--a right relationship with Christ. By being sensitive to their needs, Christians can develop relationships resulting in evangelistic opportunities.

Guidelines for developing a ministry with internationals

• Pray for God's leadership
• Make a commitment to reach internationals
• Develop a ministry strategy
• Identify ministry leaders
• Train leaders
• Resource the ministry
• Implement the ministry
• Evaluate the ministry

Some basic ideas for ministry with internationals

International Students

• Pray for international students.
• Encourage students in your church to develop friendships with international students.
• Provide housing for international students during the holidays.
• Provide tutoring services.
• Sponsor special events and invite international students to attend. An example would be an International Dinner.
• Contact your local baptist campus minister for ministry opportunities.

International Tourists

• Pray for international tourists.
• Develop a prayer ministry for internationals.
• Make your church tourist friendly.
• Provide guest information packets at hotels.
• Provide transportation from hotels to special events.
  Provide hotel chaplaincy

International business and professional people

• Pray for international business and professional people.
• Build relationships for evangelistic opportunities.
• Provide an international bible class at your church.
• Have available bibles in many different languages.
• Refer internationals you have met to those in your church for evangelistic relationship building.

International Seafarers

• Pray for international seafarers.
• If you live in a port city, contact your local Port Ministry Director for ministry opportunities.
• If you live in a port city without a Port Ministry, start one.
• Make "ditty bags" and mail to our Southern Baptist Port Missionaries/Chaplains.
• Send bibles and religious tracts to a Port Missioinary/Chaplain.

Can you see yourself ministering to internationals?

Do you sense God's call to reach internationals for Christ? To explore International Ministry opportunities, contact the Special Ministries Unit, North American Mission Board, 4200 North Point Pkwy., Alpharetta, GA 3002-4176, 770.410.6351, or visit www.namb.net. 

Email:

Jeff Wagner, Ministry and Servant Evangelism Manager, North American Mission Board, Jeff Wagner 

Bob Loy, National Consultant with Internationals, Special Ministries Unit, North American Mission Board, bloy@jaxbaptist.org