Put Yourself in Their Shoes
Kyle Austin • February 18, 2019
Imagine leaving the comfort of friends and family...
Imagine leaving the comfort of home and family to fly 5,000 miles away to a completely new place and culture. You get off the plane and are greeted by a stranger who drives you to the new university and drops you off. You find yourself all alone on this new campus and town. You slowly find your way around and navigate the slight language barrier of those who speak English so fluently. You are far away from home, family, and friends. It is scary and lonely but you are in America to get your education that you have dreamed about.
Who are you? One of 1,094,782 international students who come to America to study. Place yourself in their shoes. How wold you be feeling right now? What would be going through your mind? How would you want those around you to respond and treat you?
The international student population has increased to a record high for the 12th straight year in a row. There are students from all parts of the world walking around next to you on campus from every imaginable background. Do not ignore or overlook these students! Take the time to introduce yourself and be friendly. Offer to help the student with any questions or navigate the campus or town. Ask questions to learn about their family, culture, faith, likes, dislikes, etc. In return share about your family, American culture, idioms, your faith, etc.
We have been told that a very common complaint of students who come to America to study and return back home is they never had the opportunity to be in an American home. Many of these young people really want to discover Americans and what life is all about here. Take the time to invest into these students to make them feel at home while they are so far away from home.
How should you treat these students? The same way you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes?
New Bible Study Series Available For Free
Life in the secret place is the place to be.
The truth that God abides in believers produces the greatest promise in the world...that God will never let us go!
Life is often so busy and fast that it feels like we cannot catch our breath.
Collegians for Christ is offering the opportunity for currently enrolled ECU or Pitt CC students to earn a one year CFC Bible Certificate or a two year CFC Advanced Bible Certificate. Classes meet in the fall and spring semesters. Three classes will be offered each semester with each class meeting for four weeks. Students will receive a notebook with all the covered content. Each class will only have two short homework assignments to complete. The goal is to help you grow in your biblical knowledge and faith, equip you to know what you believe and why you believe it, and learn how to make an impact as a believer in our culture and your vocation. To earn the CFC Bible certificate, a student must complete six classes and to earn the Advanced Bible Certificate the student must complete all twelve classes. Students can enroll in the certificate program at the beginning of any semester. Classes are held each Thursday 3:45-4:45pm at the CFC Campus House Beginning Sept. 5th, 2024 You can get more info on class offerings and how to register here .
I am so moved to remember the value of life, both the first breath of infants, and the life we receive from Christ. It is in the first life where so much beauty is unraveled from the caring intimate creation of the Father. It is in the second life that we witness such grace and mercy. Grace and mercy which has no greater example than that of the Jesus Christ on the cross. After all, there is no greater love than that which He so faithfully displayed on the cross. Now because of these two lives, we are never individual nor alone. We have such a duty to connect with others. Our greatest call as Christians is to go and reach the world! We have no need for loneliness, for in Christ we have a great Friend, in the body of believers we have an established family, and in the world we have souls which must be reached! My prayer for all God’s children is that we never devalue the precious lives around us, and that we are prepared to give all for them… even unto death.
The CFC Campus House Opens back up at ECU & Pitt Community College
Winter College & Career Retreat in Feb. 9-10, 2024
Weekly Bible Study at Clemson University
Weekly Bible Study each Thursday at 6:30pm
Reaching the World
One Student and One Campus at a Time
