BSM extends welcome to international students

They arrived in the United States from countries around the globe, often with no friends, few belongings and little knowledge of the new land they are entering in search of a better education.

They are the roughly 58,000 international students studying on college campuses throughout Texas, the third-largest group of international students in the United States. They’re primarily from Korea, India and China, but they come from a host of other countries as well, including Latin American nations and the Middle East.

Many excel academically and are seeking postgraduate degrees, said Beth Smith, director of the University of Texas at Dallas Baptist Student Ministry. They hope to gain knowledge and cultural understanding to be business leaders.

But that’s just the beginning. Students and Texas Baptists involved in Baptist Student Ministries statewide are among the first people some international students encounter when they come to Texas, providing a helpful hand and encouraging voice for young people who otherwise would be figuring out Texas on their own.

“They’re looking for community,” Smith said. “They’re looking for friendships. They’re pursuing obviously an academic education, so they’re looking for learning, but it’s not just in the classroom. They’re looking for cultural understanding in order to do business with Americans, with companies that are worldwide or international.”

University of Texas at Arlington Baptist Student Ministry volunteers meet international students coming to the university at the airport, give them a ride to the UTA campus and seek to help them however possible. This fall, BSM volunteers met about 120 new students at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

“That means when a new student comes from another country to Arlington, the first person they met is a believer from a local church who is here to serve them, meet their needs, show hospitality and greet them,” said Gary Stidham, director of the UTA BSM.

Students and volunteers with the UTD BSM attempt to help new international students locate furniture and help them get that furniture delivered. They offer to give the students rides to the store, doctor or anywhere else they seek to go.

The University of Texas at Austin Baptist Student Ministry seeks to build relationships with international students by having “dinner clubs” and conversation partners for students where they can improve their language skills.

No matter the approach, BSMs seek to help students and volunteers begin relationships with international students. Providing furniture, rides or friendship is simply a way Christians can share the hope of Christ to a group of young people who may feel alone and lost at times as they attempt to adjust to life in Texas.

Sean Williams, a University of Texas at Austin student, started a friendship with a visiting professor by becoming his conversation partner. The discussions helped them get to better know each other and gave the professor an opportunity to practice English. They enjoyed talking so much that they became friends.

As that friendship and those conversations developed, Williams and the professor discussed God and the Bible, which Williams used in the conversation sessions to help the professor improve his English skills. The professor, who came to the United States believing there was no God, professed Christ as Lord.

For more information about becoming involved in a BSM’s work with international students, call (888) 244-9400. To join the discussion about reaching out to international students, visit www.facebook.com/texasbaptists or www.texasbaptists.org/blog.