College Union

By: Wilfred Job

Ministry to SMU International Students.

About 45 years back, a student from my city - Bangalore, India, came to study at SMU. He graduated with a law degree and returned to India. Later, he became the Governor of a state with a population of 96 million people. When I met him a couple of years back in Bangalore, he recalled his time at SMU with great joy. You never know who you are serving when it comes to International Students. Some of the greatest leaders of the world were at one time students here in the US. Whether International Students become world leaders or not, it is important to reach out to them while they are students here in the US.

There are about 500,000 International Students in the US and about 700 students from 94 countries at SMU. SMU Wesley Foundation seeks to actively minister to International Students through the Ministry of Hospitality and Spiritual Formation.

Under the Ministry of Hospitality, there are three programs for International Students this Semester: International Tea Room, Group Mentoring, and Host Family Dinners.

The Tea Room meets every Thursday at Hughes Trigg Student Center. Tea from different country is served every week. The Tea Room serves as a platform for International Students to come together and learn more about each other as well as meet American Students.

Group Mentoring Program seeks to introduce SMU International students to the culture of the United States, the culture of Texas, and to help enhance their skills for experiencing the culture. The program organizes an event every month where the International Student needs are addressed. This program is sponsored by Highland Park United Methodist Church.

The host family dinners have became an effective way of communicating that Christians care about the International Students. The members of First Light (First Light is a Sunday School class at Highland Park United Methodist Church) have opened up their homes for International Students. Several Dinners were organized this Semester and International Students were surprised and excited that they could visit American families.

Under the Ministry of Spiritual Formation, Bible Studies are organized for International Students. Both Christians and non-Christians attend these Bible Studies. On an average there are about 20 to 30 International Students who attend the Bible Studies every week.

Wesley’s International Student Ministry continues to change the lives of International Students at SMU through its Ministry of Hospitality and Spiritual Formation. We are grateful to God for all these opportunities to serve the International Students. Please keep our ministry in your prayers.

Wilfred Job is Associate Pastor of the SMU Wesley Foundation. His email address is wjob@smu.edu

Categories: Missio Dei
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