1.1 million international students are in America right now. Most will never be invited into an American home. Your congregation can change that by offering meals, friendship, rides, and practical help.
The pastor champions it. A volunteer leader drives it. IFI provides the framework, training, and coaching. Start on your own, launch with guidance, or build with monthly coaching as the ministry grows.
Pair students with local families for cultural exchange, friendship, and a home away from home.
Host regular shared meals that build community and belonging. A seat at your table changes everything.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the 4th of July are often the loneliest times for students far from home.
Airport pickups, DMV runs, doctor appointments, furniture moves. Practical love is the foundation of trust.
Optional, student-led spiritual exploration. No pressure. A safe place for honest questions, with IFI's proven DBS curriculum.
Cooking nights, campus tours, local field trips. Build bridges of understanding that last a lifetime.
English conversation partners and academic support. Language is the door to community. Open it together.
Help graduating students navigate Optional Practical Training: mock interviews, resume reviews, LinkedIn coaching, and connections to local employers.
Commission students before they leave. Connect them to faith communities at home. This is where local ministry becomes global mission.
Select your state to see the top universities with international students nearby.
Every thriving church ISM program walks this path. Your volunteer leader sets the pace, IFI provides the map.
Ask God who in your congregation already has a heart for the nations. They are usually already there, waiting to be invited. Your volunteer leader starts here.
Discover how many students are near your church, where they come from, and what their actual needs are. Most churches are closer to a university than they think.
Show up where students already are, including welcome events, campus offices, and student clubs. The first touchpoint sets the tone for everything that follows.
A seat at your table during Thanksgiving can change someone's entire view of faith, family, and America. Hospitality is a biblical command and one of your most powerful tools.
Create space for honest questions without pressure. Students are often more spiritually open than you would expect, and many encounter Christianity meaningfully for the first time.
Commission them. Connect them to faith communities at home. Stay in their lives. This is where local ministry becomes global mission, and it is often the most overlooked phase.
International Friendships, Inc. is a national nonprofit that has been equipping churches and volunteers to welcome international students for over 40 years. IFI provides the framework so your church doesn't have to build from scratch.
The most cost-effective global mission strategy available to the local church: no passport, no plane ticket, no fundraising campaign.
Every student welcomed is a seed planted. Your volunteer team leads. IFI equips. The nations are waiting, right next door.