People Group Grows By 1400%: Still Unnoticed by Church Planters

picture credit to http://www.sacm.org/AcademicSupervision/TrasferAcad.aspx

This is guest post is by someone who oversees international student ministry and has a vision to see every American fellowship in her organization engage with international students. She chooses to remain anonymous as she is writing about a highly sensitive population.

Do you know who some of the most unreached people are? Do you know who’ve been most overlooked by missionaries and evangelists? And, did you know that this group is right here in the US?

I’ve known for a while that a lot of Saudi Arabian students study in the US. However, it had little to do with me. Yes, I oversee Int’l student ministry for my organization, and yes, Saudis are one of the largest int’l student groups in the US. But,we were quite busy—and content—reaching the students (mostly East Asians) who were already coming to our events. Then something happened a few months ago. I began praying for the Saudis, and God began to challenge me personally to do something about this need.

LESSON 1: What I learned about the Great Commission

If we’re even half as serious about the Great Commission as God is, He will call us to partner with Him to go to the ends of the earth (which could mean right in our own backyard!)

Opportune People Group, Opportune Time

Saudi Arabia is the center of Islam. 100 million Muslims pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, each year. What impacts the Saudis will impact the whole Islamic world. Saudi Arabia is also one of the most politically and economically powerful nations. However, it is one of the most restricted countries. Unlike my neighborhood where there’s a church on every corner, Saudi Arabia does not have a single visible church. It is illegal to become a Christian or to own a Bible.

The number of Saudi students in the US grew by 1400% in the last 8 years, making Saudi Arabia the 4th largest int’l student group in the US with 75,000+ currently here. However, a generous government education grant that had brought them here is only renewed through 2020. After 2020, Saudis may never come to the US in mass numbers.

Why would such a conservative Muslim nation send their students to the “evil west” in such significant numbers? Acts 17: 26-27a is the best explanation I’ve seen:

“From one man he made all the people of the world. Now they live all over the earth. He decided exactly when they should live. And he decided exactly where they should live. 27 God did this so that people would seek him. Then perhaps they would reach out for him and find him.”

Ultimately, it is God who has placed them here! Can a ministry get more strategic than this?! Have I been missing this amazing opportunity God has placed before me?

God-Size Opportunity, God-Size Provision

To my surprise, I began telling others about this amazing opportunity, and they became excited with me. Two others and myself decided to launch a ministry for Saudis. We set a date for our first meeting and began inviting—all in our “spare time”. Word got out. People we didn’t know came to our first meeting because they had heard about it from someone else. By our second gathering, less than 3 months from our first conversation, over 40 people from ~20 organizations/churches had expressed interest and were somehow connected to this new network. A core group of 15 was forming!

Towards the end of the first meeting, we divided into small groups to pray and explore next steps. I was bummed because my group was the smallest with only four of us. I felt insecure and inadequate. After all, I’ve never really worked with Saudis before. But God’s response to me was: “Have faith over doubt” and “it’s about My kingdom, not yours.”

The first pastor shared, “It’s great to meet and your vision for a summer outreach (which I had pitched earlier) is exciting…but, I just don’t think we have people in our church who have time and who can champion this.” The other pastor nodded in agreement.

God reminded me, “Faith over doubt.” Then, the conversation shifted. I muttered something about prioritizing in our busyness, and how this is a God-sized ministry. A few minutes later (I have no idea how!), I proposed that each of us took on one area of responsibility, to which they enthusiastically agreed. A simple summer outreach with weekly English conversation club and soccer games was birthed, addressing two of Saudi students’ top interests. After the second meeting, a weekly prayer meeting, a facebook group, trainings and various other plans were in place. My co-leader commented, “It’s as if God handpicked every person in this group.”

LESSON 2: What I learned about God’s provision

When God calls us into something He is already doing, He will always provide. In fact, He has already paved the way and “handpicked” each person on the team. God is not limited by our inadequacies. My job is simply to obey in faith.

Summary

God loves the world—the whole world. Does your heart for the world reflect God’s?

Is your ministry about good news for the world, or good news for an elite few?

I’m reminded of what Bono once said: Don’t ask God to bless what you’re doing but join in what He is already doing because it’s already blessed. Where is God already at work and how can you join in what He is already doing?

A few next steps:

Begin praying for Saudis. Go to www.LoveSaudis.com for prayer prompts.
Ask God what your role is in reaching Saudis in your city.
Pray for partners who have a passion for the unreached.

The good news is not just for a select few. Don’t hoard it. Extend it to the edge of your neighborhood or campus, and don’t stop until the whole world is reached!