Over the summer colleges and universities across the country are preparing to open their doors to thousands of Chinese international students arriving for the new school year. About 300,000 Chinese students studied in American institutions last year, and the numbers are expected to continue increasing. Pray with us this week for these students and the American universities they are attending. Pray that Chinese students arriving over the summer will be greeted with Christ’s love and hospitality as practiced by his people in America.
How to pray:
– Pray for students to be well oriented and taken care of in the initial weeks after their arrival. Pray for them not to be overwhelmed by culture shock, but to quickly acclimate, especially linguistically. Pray for school administrations to know how to help these new Chinese students.
– Pray for Chinese international students to have good housing situations. Pray for healthy roommate relationships and for lasting friendships. Pray for Chinese students to know how to make friends with American students, while also maintaining important connections with their fellow Chinese.
– Pray for local churches, campus ministries, students, and professors to befriend and care for Chinese international students on their campuses. Ask God to lay a great burden on his people to boldly pursue friendship with the cultural “outsiders” they come across.
– Pray for students’ families back home in China. Pray for parents and grandparents to have peace while their children are so far away. Praise God for communication tools like Skype and Wechat that enable these families to stay connected despite the distance. Pray that as students have opportunities to hear the gospel here in America, they will share the good news with friends and family back home. Pray also that as those in China hear the gospel, they will share it with their children living abroad.
Articles:
– Why So Many Chinese Students Come to the U.S.
– Why do so many Chinese students choose US universities?
– International Students Stream Into U.S. Colleges
– The Economic Impact of Chinese International Students in the United States
– The Tenuous Relationship Between American Universities and Chinese Students
