Friends International

There are more than 2000 international students in Northern Ireland at any one time.  Many come from countries where Christians are not allowed to openly share the gospel: Malaysia, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia and China.  Others are from countries with less than 1% of the population are evangelical Christians: Japan, Spain, Taiwan and Russia.  Still others come from countries where the church is growing rapidly: Uganda, Brazil, Nigeria and South Korea.  What do we need to do to reach and grow disciples of the 2000+ international students on our doorstep?   

We need to begin by welcoming the stranger, showing hospitality to the foreigner as scripture has commanded.  In practice that means we need to meet the international students and begin to build friendships.  It is through these friendships that Christian internationals can be integrated into church families, grow in faith and our churches can be enriched as they serve.  And it is through these friendships that those who do not know the good news can hear it in relevant ways and come to know Christ.     

Our ultimate prayer is that international students would be equipped to serve Christ in the future, whether in their home countries or elsewhere in the world.  If we can equip them to serve Christ effectively in their work places, families and churches, we can truly make a difference to the church worldwide.  For if we disciple them well, they can become effective missionaries to their own people!     

Friends International exists to encourage and equip local churches to reach and disciple international students.  To see how this has worked out in Northern Ireland visit our local website: www.friendsinternationalni.org.uk.     

Our Vision... is that every international student in the UK has a Christian friend, giving them the opportunity to respond to the message of Jesus Christ and return home with the desire and skills to spread the Gospel in their own country, and throughout the world.    

M's Story... M came to the Northern Ireland to study business management.  Her family, who live in southern China, had high expectations for their daughter.  During M’s time here she met a Christian Malaysian student who invited her to a café run for international students.  In time, she got to know many Christians and began to ask what made them so different. She decided to join a Christianity Explored group for international students, and it was not long before she gave her life to Christ.  She stayed in the UK for another three years during which she grew in her faith, learnt to lead Bible studies and help younger Christians to grow.  It was a hard decision to return home because her parents were furious that she had become a Christian.  They regularly told her she had wasted their money and shamed the family.  Life has not been easy since returning home, living with her parents and adapting to a small church, meeting in a home, with very few older Christians.  But praise God she has started a Bible study group for new Christians at her church and she continues to be a witness to her family.  It is amazing to see how God has worked in her life.     

Partnership... To find out how you and your church could get involved in reaching and discipling international students or support our ministry, contact our local staff worker, Kerry Fee (kerry.fee@friendsinternational.org.uk). 

Mrs Kerry Fee 
Friends International Staff Worker
Belfast
125 Malone Avenue
Belfast 
BT9 6 EQ
028 90 683691
kerryfee@btinternet.com