International student ministry explained

International Student Ministry (ISM) refers to evangelical Christian ministry among international students within an academic context, often carried out by Protestant college religious organizations, volunteers and churches.[1] It is considered part of the church's mission, within the broader framework of diaspora missions.[2] The first two decades of the 21st century have seen a sharp growth in the number of international students globally[3] with a corresponding development in ISM.[1]

History

ISM traces its modern roots to John R. Mott who established The Committee on Friendly Relations among Foreign Students in 1911, which was the first national ISM in the US.[4] [5] Some international Christian student organizations trace their origins back to the World Student Christian Federation.[6] Since then, and particularly since the 1950s, there has been a growth of organizations doing this mainly in Western contexts.[4] [7] As of 2016 there were at least 57 organizations engaged in ISM in 22 countries.[8]

In 2004, after a century of intermittent ISM growth[1] Leiton Chinn convened a global gathering in Thailand of ISM leaders, and in 2007 he was appointed the Chair of the Lausanne ISM Issue Network.[9] The two Lausanne Issue Groups of Diaspora and International Students then published Diasporas and International Students: The New People Next Door.[10] Recent publications include those by Yaw Perbi,[11] Jack D. Burke[12] and Enoch Wan.[2] The Lausanne 2010 Cape Town Commitment (section II-C-5) refers to reaching out to international students.[13] [14]

In May 2014 the Lausanne ISM Global Leadership Network became a "docked network" with the World Evangelical Alliance's Mission Commission.[1] It operates as WIN (Worldwide ISM Network).[15]

In September 2017 the Lausanne ISM Global Leadership Network hosted a global ISM forum Charlotte '17 which gathered 100 participants from 25 countries and 70 organizations.[9] [16]

It is suggested that ISM is grounded in the Missio Dei and is motivated by biblical precedent and trends in migration.[17] Chinn outlines ten reasons why ISM is strategic in relation to the Great Commission and nine reasons why it benefits local churches.[18]

Networks and organizations

Individual churches, such as Park Street Congregational Church in Boston, have welcoming ministries reaching international students.[1] This modality-based model of ISM is attractive because every church member can be involved in cross-cultural mission at virtually no expense. Miller outlines key qualities leading to successful ISM by local churches.[19] Chinn and Jones point out 6 strategic outcomes for international churches intentionally including international students in their ministry focus.[20] Perbi and Brewster argue that ISM will be strengthened by the intentional involvement of "workplace Christians."[21] Some denominational groups have established an ISM focus such as Anglican (USA),[22] Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), Assemblies of God (USA) and the Presbyterian Church in America.[1]

A 2019 study based in the US concluded that "Chinese international undergraduate students identify the church and its fellowship as (1) a social support community and (2) an informal learning community, one which fills in the gap in counseling services and interpersonal activities that the university fails to offer."[23]

Christian campus organizations, which are sodalities, have historically focused on domestic university students. These have developed campus-based ministries for international students directly linked to universities or colleges.[24]

At a global level, the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization has an ISM issue network[25] which connects groups internationally and interdenominationally. This network now includes a North American network on ISM.[26] The Association for Christians Ministering Among Internationals (ACMI) is another ISM networking body.[27] [26] Networking between European ISMs has been identified as a priority.[28]

Trends

Recent decades have seen a rapid increase in international student populations concurrent with the plateauing of some western markets, most notably the US.[29] [30] [31] [32] Students are turning to non-traditional centers of education, such as Asia.[33] [34] [35] This shift is underpinned by well-formed international education policy of countries like China,[36] [37] Malaysia,[38] Singapore and India.[39]

The areas of diaspora missiology and its subset, international student ministry, have seen a theological and academic maturing.[40] [1] [41] In 2018/2019 three key ISM-specific training resources were launched: the Lausanne Global Classroom,[42] EveryInternational,[43] [26] and Look at the Fields[44] [45] Two ISM training workshops ran at the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) World Assembly in July 2019.[46] While practical ISM training is offered by a number of ISM organisations, the Charlotte '17 conference considered the need for academic training and research in ISM led by seminaries and graduate schools.[9] Columbia International University lists a course called "Mission to International Students" in their 2019-2020 Academic Catalog.[47]

Global mission sending organizations are recognizing the strategic nature and necessity of diaspora missions, and especially ISM.[48] [49] [18] Some have refocused ISM efforts in traditional contexts because of the perceived global impact.[50] Asia has been identified as an emerging region for ISM.[51] [52] It is beginning to take shape there, for example among international churches in China.[53] [54] [55] [56] Regarding the international students in, from and within Asia, Phil Jones has identified 8 challenges and 6 opportunities that Asian ISMs encounter.[57] In tandem with the Indian hospitality concept of Atithi Devo Bhava ("the guest is god"), Emmanuel F. Benjamin describes the impact of welcoming foreign students in Pune, India.[58]

Nascent ISMs exist in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. Bill Dindi of Kenya explores the viability, trends and features of ISM in Africa. Identifying the gaps and opportunities, he seeks to "build a case for a more robust ministry among international students in Africa as well as the approaches and shape this might take."[59] Citing the historical growth of Christianity in Africa and the central role of Christian African international students, Perbi and Ngugi argue that the continent that was a mission field now comprises a mission force.[60] Kwiverr's 2022 research of 116 respondents from 16 African countries revealed that there are many "largely unaware and unprepared African Christian International Students [who are] virtually unseen and unsent by the African Church, the most populous and youngest in the world."[61] Perbi's analysis in the Journal of African Christian Thought argues that international students to and from Africa have unrecognized and untapped ramifications for mission.[62]

A global consultation of ISM leaders in September 2020 was called to assess whether ISM was still meaningful or viable given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.[63]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Agents of Diaspora Missions in and from the Academic World. Leiton Edward . Chinn . Lisa Espineli . Chinn . Tira . Sadiri Joy . Yamamori . Tetsunao . Scattered and Gathered: A Global Compendium of Diaspora Missiology . April 2016 . Wipf & Stock . 978-1498296670 . 228–241 .
  2. Book: Wan , Enoch . Enoch . Wan . Diaspora Missions to International Students . . Diaspora Series . 4 . August 2019 . 10 . 978-1949201178.
  3. Web site: International Students . 16 October 2019 . Migration Data Portal . 17 October 2019.
  4. Book: Chinn , Leiton Edward . Chandler H. . Im . Amos . Yong . Global Diasporas and Mission . Diaspora Missions on Campuses: John R. Mott and a Centennial Overview of the International Student Ministry Movement in North America . Regnum Books International . Edinburgh Centenary Series . 23 . 2014 . 238 . 978-1-908355-48-5.
  5. Book: Thompson , Mary . Unofficial Ambassadors: The Story of International Student Service . 1982 . . New York, NY . 11196897.
  6. Womack . Deanna Ferree . March 2019 . "To Promote the Cause of Christ's Kingdom": International Student Associations and the "Revival" of Middle Eastern Christianity . Church History . en . 88 . 1 . 150–163 . 10.1017/S0009640719000556 . 0009-6407.
  7. Web site: Chinn . Leiton . Historical Development of the International Student Ministry Movement In the USA . Historical Development of the Christian Movement (Ralph Winter) . 21 October 2019 . Winter 1979.
  8. Web site: Chinn . Leiton . International Student Ministry: From 'Blind-spot' to Vision (May 2009, Updated June 2016) . 21 October 2019 . June 2016.
  9. Book: Chinn , Leiton Edward . Enoch . Wan . Diaspora Missions to International Students . The Global ISM Movement Emerging from Diaspora Missions on Campuses: From John R. Mott to "Lausanne" . . Diaspora Series . 4 . August 2019 . 119–138 . 978-1949201178.
  10. Book: Issue Group for Diasporas and International Students . Diasporas and International Students: The New People Next Door . . Lausanne Occasional Paper . 55 . October 2004 . Pattaya, Thailand .
  11. Book: Perbi , Yaw . Thinking Outside the Window . . 30 September 2015 . B01FIXLEJ4.
  12. Book: Burke , Jack D. . Paradigm Shift: Why International Students Are so Strategic to Global Missions . . 15 March 2019 . 978-1973656869.
  13. Web site: The Cape Town Commitment . Lausanne Movement . 21 October 2019 . 25 January 2011.
  14. Book: Bock . Darrell . The Cape Town Commitment: a Confession of Faith, a Call to Action : Bibliographic Resources. . 2013 . Wipf & Stock . 978-1625640031 . 77–78 .
  15. Web site: International Student Ministry . 17 November 2022 . Lausanne Movement.
  16. Web site: Lausanne ISM Global Leadership Forum: Charlotte '17 . Lausanne Movement . 23 February 2020.
  17. Book: Sneller, Christopher D. . Theological Foundation for the Practice of Diaspora Missions Among International Students . 56–63 . Enoch . Wan . Diaspora Missions to International Students . . Diaspora Series . 4 . August 2019 . 978-1949201178.
  18. Chinn . Leiton . International Students: A Strategic Component of Diaspora Missions & The Great Commission . Asia Missions Advance . June 2016 . 52 . 21 October 2019.
  19. DMin (Global Studies) . Miller . S. Beau . June 2018 . Mobilizing Local Churches for International Student Ministry: A Study of How Local Churches Mobilize to Evangelize and Equip Nearby International Students . Columbia International University . 8 March 2020 .
  20. Web site: Chinn . Leiton . Jones . Phil . 8 September 2022 . International Students in ICs: Intentional Inclusion . 17 November 2022 . Missional International Church Network . en-US.
  21. Web site: International Student Ministry and the Workplace . Yaw . Perbi . Emma . Brewster . June 2019 . 4 March 2020 .
  22. Web site: International Student Ministry . New Wineskins Missionary Network . 21 October 2019.
  23. Li . Anke . Nguyen . Chi . Choi . Jinhee . "Because of the Christian Fellowship, I Decided to Stay": How Participating in a Christian Community Shapes the Social Experiences of Chinese International Students . Social Sciences . 7 August 2019 . 8 . 8 . 234 . 10.3390/socsci8080234 . free .
  24. Book: Wang . Chin T. (John) . Green . Sam . International Students and Diaspora Missiology . 43–44 . Enoch . Wan . Diaspora Missions to International Students . . Diaspora Series . 4 . August 2019 . 978-1949201178.
  25. Web site: International Student Ministry (ISM) issue network . 18 February 2020.
  26. Web site: Miller . Beau . Global Outreach Opportunity: Ministry Among International Students . The Exchange: A Blog by Ed Stetzer . Christianity Today . 21 October 2019 . en . 19 October 2019.
  27. Web site: Association for Christians Ministering Among Internationals . 18 February 2020.
  28. de Pater . Francina . Ryan . Clayton . Tower . Alan . International Students in Europe . Lausanne Global Diaspora Network . Liverpool Hope University . 5–8 June 2019 . 14 April 2020.
  29. News: Zong . Jie . Batalova . Jeanne . International Students in the United States . 20 October 2019 . migrationpolicy.org . 9 May 2018 . en.
  30. News: Redden . Elizabeth . With international enrollments slowing or declining in some top destination countries, a look at trends across the globe . 20 October 2019 . www.insidehighered.com . en.
  31. News: Four megatrends that are changing the competitive landscape of international education . 21 October 2019 . ICEF Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment . 1 November 2016.
  32. News: Mapping the trends that will shape international student mobility . 21 October 2019 . ICEF Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment . 18 July 2017.
  33. Web site: Luo . Ning . Global Student Mobility Trends: Focus on Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea . WENR . 20 October 2019 . 16 August 2017.
  34. Web site: China emerges as the No.1 study abroad destination in Asia . Study International . 20 October 2019 . 2 July 2019.
  35. News: Up and down the table: Growth trends across major international study destinations . 19 October 2019 . ICEF Monitor . 29 August 2018.
  36. News: Atack . Patrick . China "opening education to the outside world" - policy document . 20 October 2019 . The PIE News . 12 April 2019 . en.
  37. News: Parr . Chris . A two-way street: why China is not just a student departure lounge anymore . 20 October 2019 . The PIE News . 20 April 2018 . en.
  38. News: Mustafa . Zulita . International students and the Education Malaysia brand . 20 October 2019 . New Straits Times . 27 September 2017 . en.
  39. News: de Wit . Hans . The new dynamics in international student circulation . 19 October 2019 . University World News . 6 July 2018.
  40. Book: Wan . Enoch . Diaspora missiology: theory, methodology, and practice . Nov 2014 . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform . 978-1503095502 . 2nd .
  41. Book: Pocock . Michael . Wan . Enoch . Diaspora Missions: Reflections on Reaching the Scattered Peoples of the World . August 2015 . William Carey Library . 978-0878080458 .
  42. Web site: Lausanne Global Classroom: International Student Ministry . Lausanne Movement . 21 October 2019 . 22 July 2019.
  43. Web site: Every International . 23 February 2020.
  44. Web site: International Student Ministry . IFES Europe . 15 April 2020 . April 2019 .
  45. Web site: Look At The Fields . 15 April 2020 .
  46. Web site: Messengers of Hope, IFES World Assembly 2019, All Seminars . July 2019 . 4 March 2020 .
  47. Web site: Columbia International University, 2019-2020 Academic Catalog . 1 April 2019 . 8 March 2020 . Columbia International University .
  48. Eddie . Arthur . The Future of Mission Agencies . Mission Round Table . January 2017 . 12 . 1 . 4–12 . 21 October 2019.
  49. Web site: Best . Alexander . 10 Reasons Why the Global Campus Is the Future of Mission . The Exchange: A Blog by Ed Stetzer . Christianity Today . 21 October 2019 . en.
  50. Chinn . Leiton . The Mission Field Coming to Our Campuses . Lausanne Global Analysis . January 2018 . 7 . 1 . 21 October 2019.
  51. Chinn . Leiton . Broad Asian Global Mission Opportunity: Increasing Numbers of International Students in Pan-Asia Region . Asia Missions Advance . Jan 2019 . 62 . 21 October 2019.
  52. Chinn . Leiton . International Student Ministry: A Most Strategic Yet Most Inexpensive Global Mission Opportunity Arises in Asia . Asia Missions Advance . January 2014 . 42 . 2–7 . 21 October 2019.
  53. Blair . Mark . Looking for Gospel Laborers? Don't Forget the University! . Asia Missions Advance . January 2019 . 62 . 19 October 2019.
  54. Web site: Momoh . Miatta . Novel Gospel Opportunities: How One International Church in China Is Maximizing New Gospel Opportunities . ChinaSource . 21 February 2020 . 21 February 2020.
  55. Jones . Phil . April 2018 . International Students in China: Who Will Reach This Vast and Strategic Yet Invisible Group? . Evangelical Missions Quarterly . 54 . 2 . 46–57 . 22 February 2020 .
  56. Web site: The Birth of ISM in China: Is This God's Timing? . Jones . Phil . ChinaSource . 25 January 2019 . 22 February 2020 .
  57. Book: Jones, Phil . Reflections of Asian Diaspora: Mapping Theologies and Ministries. . 2022 . . 978-1-5064-8748-9 . George . Sam . 3 . [S.l.] . 1 November 2022 . 245–264 . International Student Diasporas of Asia . 1337971477.
  58. Web site: Benjamin F. . Emmanuel . Strategic Opportunity to Reach the Nations of the World in Pune, India . 17 November 2022 . Asia Missions Association . en-US . January 2019.
  59. MDiv . Dindi . Bill . 20 November 2020 . The Viability of International Student Ministry in Africa . International Leadership University . Nairobi, Kenya.
  60. Book: Perbi, Yaw . Africa to the Rest: From Mission Field to Mission Force (Again) . Ngugi . Sam . 31 March 2022 . . Foreword by Joshua Bogunjoko . 978-1-6628-1213-2 . Maitland, FL . 1348381106.
  61. News: Kwiverr . October 2022 . Not All Who Go Are Sent: A Research Report on the Missionary Preparedness of African Christian International Students, Past and Present, from 16 African Nations . 14 . Accra, Ghana . PDF . 17 November 2022.
  62. Perbi . Yaw . 2 December 2021 . The African International Student Phenomenon: Turning an Unsung Force into a Tour-de-force in Missio Dei . Journal of African Christian Thought . 41–49 . 0855-3262.
  63. Web site: Jones . Phil . Missions in a COVID Crisis: ISM Implications . WEA Mission Commission . 27 November 2020 . 26 November 2020.

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