Dr. Doug Shaw - blog
  • Blog
  • Subscribe to Blog

Using the holidays to minister to international students

11/2/2018

1 Comment

 
Special Holidays Blog!  Thanksgiving – Final Exams – Christmas – New Year
 
The holidays are an ideal time to minster to your international student friends (and their friends)!
 
Thanksgiving – Buy a bigger turkey and invite your student friends to bring at least one of their friends with them to your Thanksgiving meal. Go around the table during the meal and have attendees give reasons they are thankful for this year and all the blessings God has given them. Consider reading the current Presidential Proclamation for Thanksgiving (available online; or consider the Abe Lincoln one also online).
 
Final Exams – Students hardly lift their heads out of the books to breathe, but you can bless them with an Exam Care Package! Consider one for their roommate also! Call first and then drop it off at their apartment. Consider including soup, crackers, fruit, and a few sweet treats. Be sure to include a note that you are praying for their success.
 
Christmas – Many students travel after exams, but if your student friends do not, this is a fun time to invite them over to your home to see the decorations and enjoy your holiday traditions. Some students might be able to stay in your home for a few days to get some deep sharing time together. Explain the background behind your traditions. If you are making a quick trip to see Mom in another city, consider inviting you student friend to join you on the drive (and let Mom know ahead of time).
 
New Year – New Year’s Eve and football on New Year’s Day are wonderful times to have student friends join you. Consider board games, party games, and lots of snacks for the Eve, and be prepared to explain the basics of U.S. football on New Year’s Day. Also, if your city has a New Year’s Day Parade, consider going and taking your international friend. Or just watch the ones on television together!
 
(And remember… the Super Bowl is just a month away!)
 
Inviting your student friend to bring one of their school friends along helps them feel at ease.
 
Principles cited in this blog: Holidays are a great time to celebrate together and to enjoy hanging out with friends. Bringing your student friends into your home will make them feel loved and a part of your family.
 
Application for ISI ministry:  Pray ahead, plan ahead, and offer many invitations to maximize the holidays as opportunities for ministry.
 
Next blog topic: Understanding guilt-shame-fear based cultures
 
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson

 
subscribe to blog
1 Comment
Larry
11/2/2018 10:43:22 am

Great ideas! For care packages you can include a photo of your family with names and a phone number so they can call you in a time of need. You can also include a Christmas card with a link to a Christian Christmas/evangelistic website. Students have kept our photos/cards for years because they mean so much to them.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly