In InterVarsity, we often think of evangelism in terms of the five thresholds. In the world of international student ministry, we’ve found that many internationals cross the first and second thresholds (‘trusting a Christian” and “becoming curious about Jesus”). Fewer internationals cross the third threshold – from closed to open to change.
What practices can we include to encourage internationals in our chapters to become open to change?
A couple years ago, the grad student fellowship I staffed initiated a GIG for international students. The group met weekly for dinner and Bible study. One evening, I led the group in a study of Luke 4:31-44, a story of Jesus teaching and performing an exorcism, and then healing Simon’s mother-in-law and a large group of others. For this study, I decided to include an exercise in contemplative prayer. After we read the passage together and made some observations, I invited the group to close their eyes and listen to me read the story again, and to picture in their imaginations being in the story. We would then share what we saw, where we were in relation to Jesus, which character we imagined being, etc. As everyone closed their eyes, I silently prayed that God would use this exercise to bring the non-Christians in the room closer to Jesus. I was surprised to see how God answered my prayer.
When I finished reading the story, I invited the students to share what they saw. The first student to speak was a Chinese student, “Jerry” (not his real name). Jerry said that he didn’t see the events of the story, but instead saw that he was in an art gallery, looking at beautiful paintings that depicted the story I was reading. I asked Jerry if he thought this vision was indicative of how he relates to Jesus and the Bible. He replied, “Yes. I think the stories of the Bible are beautiful, but I can’t say for certain if they actually happened.” Out of curiosity, I then asked Jerry, “What ethnicity were the people in the paintings.” He said, “They were White people. The paintings were very European in style.”
Jerry’s vision opened up two important conversations about the two biggest roadblocks that are keeping him from believing in Jesus. First, is Jesus real? Second, if I believe in Jesus, can I still be Chinese? Jerry had been curious about Jesus for several months, but never stated what kept him from being open to change. This exercise in gospel contemplation brought his roadblocks to the surface.
That night with Jerry convinced me that classic spiritual exercises like lectio divina, gospel contemplation, and prayer ministry can be some of our greatest resources in encouraging our international students to move from closed to open.
International students are often some of the most spiritually curious on campus. Investigative Bible studies are great ways to provoke their curiosity. Including classic spiritual exercises can help move them to openness.
