International Student Ministry

As you walk around the university you soon notice how multicultural the student world is these days. There are people from all over the World who have come here to study. In fact over 500,000 if we include undergraduates, postgraduates and those on part time and short-term courses. China, India, Japan, Europe and Africa are all well represented, but there are also ones from countries traditionally closed to the Christian message such as Libya, Vietnam and Iran.

WHAT A BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY. The nations are on our doorstep! We can be cross-cultural missionaries in our own cities and on our own campuses. We can reach people with the gospel and not have to learn another language, eat strange foods or miss Eastenders. In fact we can serve international students by helping them with English, showing them hospitality and introducing them to our TV programmes and culture. They are usually eager to learn about our country and us.

The Navigators in the UK are aiming to develop their work amongst international students. A key promise and motivation is Isaiah 55 verse 5,

"Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that you do not know will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel".

We want to bring the gospel to the nations. We also want, in the longer term, to see students going back motivated and equipped to pass on what they know of Jesus to others. Continuing to labour and who knows, influencing many in places we will never go. Remember many that come here are the future leaders back home.

Our work is led nationally by Allan Bartlam. Allan and his wife, Cathie, live in Birmingham. They are enjoying befriending and learning to share the gospel with students from a variety of countries. We also have associate representatives in Reading (Bob and Sal Sewell-Alger) and Lincoln (Paul and Jayne Arnold) and London (Ian and Nichola Mair).

However we are praying for more workers to join us. Our hope is to strengthen the work and to expand into new locations.

Does the sound of International Student Ministry interest you? Would you like to know more? Would you like to know how you could be involved? Then contact us.