Writing for Christianity Today, Ed Stetzer lists three reasons why reaching internationals for Christ is a significant opportunity for the church in North America:
These students themselves matter.
The nations from which these students are coming matter.
Taking advantage of the opportunities for ministry God gives us matters.
From Stetzer’s article, “Ministering to International Students”
Only a quarter of these 1.8 million international students in North America gets invited to someone’s home. So the impression of America they go home with is often a mosaic of our media and politics. There’s an incredible opportunity for American believers to love these students by having them over for a meal.
Many of them come from places where Christians are very few and have to meet in secret. Missionary activity in many of these countries is illegal or culturally forbidden. Yet they have been brought near to our churches and fellowships.
Engaging in missions and reaching internationals is not an either/or, but a both/and. By sharing the gospel with the top tier students that come to North America, we are influencing the future leaders of countries hostile to or devoid of the Christian faith.