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Presenter:Rebecca SermonCampus Staff with International Friendships, Inc. at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio

Reaching Wives of

International Students

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2. Who are we talking about ?Wives of International students and scholars

-With kids = “moms”

-Without kids = “wives”

+3. What is the opportunity?

A. Their Availability -Often have a lot of time, unlike students -Not allowed to work due to visa regulations -Not currently students

Some are studying to take grad school entrance exams

-Home all day with children

-Many are highly educated and have valuable work experience with time on their hands. They could become volunteers for your organization or with churches.

+3. What is the opportunity?

B. They have many felt needs we can help to meet.

C. They are often left out of international student ministry.

+4. What are their unique needs?

A. Friendship! Many ladies have a hard time getting out and meeting

people Many experience a loss of identity, belonging, and value

since they have no job, studies, or connection. Many fall into depression

B. Language Help ESL for those with little or no English Conversation practice for those who speak some English Preparing to take TOEFL exam or other entrance exams

+4. What are their unique needs?

C. Culture Guides -Someone to help them learn about how to function in the

American/Canadian culture.

D. Something To Do-Wives without kids are often pressured to “do something productive”

-Prepare for graduate school entrance exams

-Work illegally

-Have a baby

-Find some creative outlet or learn a new skill

+4. What are their unique needs?

E. For Moms

-Other moms to talk to

-Things for kids to do

-Chance to get out of the apartment

-Possibly help with how to raise kids

-Often come from a background where parents help with kids

-Address the needs of their children

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1. Monthly Meeting modeled after MOPS Held at campus married student housing community center Volunteers give rides to those who don’t live there Meetings have included:

English conversation practice Crafts Exercise class Topics of help

-Dentist talks about oral hygiene for kids -Pediatrician talks about developmental milestones Librarian talks about reading to kids in 2 languages English lessons on talking to the doctor

5. What we’ve been doing at OSU A. International Mom’s Group

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1. Monthly Meeting modeled after MOPS Meetings have included:

Seasonal activities tying in the holidays Discussion of Christmas symbols Decorating Christmas cookies Decorating Easter eggs with discussion of Easter

origins Etc.

5. What we’ve been doing at OSU A. International Mom’s Group

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2. Now Meets twice a month-First meeting of the month continues to be topical

-Second meeting of the month is now a Bible study

3. Weekly Bible study was added last year because so many ladies wanted it more often than once a month!

4. Volunteers are encouraged to meet with ladies outside of group.

5. What we’ve been doing at OSU A. International Mom’s Group

+5. What we’ve been doing at OSU B. International Wives’ Group

Vision Statement: The International wives’ group exists to clearly communicate the message of the Bible in an understandable way, and to provide friendship and support to the wives of international students and visiting scholars.

Our goal is to share the love of Christ with them by creating a place where they feel comfortable sharing their lives with us and asking spiritual questions. We want them to see God is active today in our lives and theirs.

-Weekly Bible study meets in a church near campus

- Rides provided by volunteers and wives who can drive.

+5. What we’ve been doing at OSU B. International Wives’ Group How do we do this?

1. English Conversation Icebreaker

2. Potluck Lunch and sharing time while eating

-Answer the questions: “What are you thankful for this week ?” and “What has been stressful or difficult for you this week?”

3. Bible Study (about 1 ½ hours)

4. Fun and Seasonal Activities

5. Service projects

+5. What we’ve been doing at OSU

C. ESL Class for Beginners

+6. Things to consider when starting a ministry to wives of students or evaluating an existing one

+A. Define your focus, vision statement and goals

1. Who exactly are you trying to reach? Immigrants? Only wives of students and visiting scholars? Only moms? Only those without children ? Or a mix?

2. Think of the way you want to go about reaching your goals. When planning, think of what will help you fulfill your vision statement.

3. Do you want it to have broad appeal to wives by covering a variety of topics or have more of a focus on the Bible?

4. Re-evaluate this every year and make changes as needed.

+B. Facility

1.Location and proximity to the ladies you are trying to reach

2.Does it have room to do all that you might want to do? A kitchen for cooking demonstrations or meal preparation? Rooms for childcare? How close are they to where the

moms will be? Enough room for the size of group you may have?

3. Expense Do you have to pay to use it? Are there costs for parking?

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C. Transportation-Can the ladies walk there?--Do you have enough volunteers to provide rides for those who can not walk there?-Children’s car seats when transporting children

+D. Volunteers

1. Where to find them -Area churches women’s groups -Local MOPS groups -From your organization’s volunteer pool

Have they already been screened, or do you need to do that?

2. How many? -Enough to provide for childcare, transportation, and a good

ratio of volunteers to wives.

3. How involved?-Some want to help with planning, some just show up

-Encourage them to meet with ladies outside of group

+D. Volunteers

4. What qualities to look for-Flexibility! This is especially important whenever

children are involved.

-Love – Be open and show love & compassion towards the ladies

-Background checks? Are they required and how will you get them if your ministry doesn’t already do this.

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E. Childcare-Will it be provided?-Who will provide it?-Where will it be provided?-Will there be a cost for it? Who pays?

+F. Finances

1. What expenses will there be? -Facility use and/or parking -Childcare -Disposable items such as name tags, napkins, plates, cups, etc. -Photocopies -Craft items -Food items

2. Who pays for it?-Expense account from the ministry?

-Volunteers who see it as part of their ministry?

-The leader of the group?

-Charge for the meetings or childcare?

+G. How can the group help meet their practical needs?

ESL

Conversation practice

Test preparation

Child raising/ child care topics

Friendship

Meet other Moms

Something to do

Marriage topics

Activities and outings

Learn a new skill

Crafts

Learn about culture

How to shop: Read price & food labels Coupons Discount stores Garage Sales, etc.

+H. How can the group help meet their Spiritual needs?-Bible discussion group-Discipleship group -Seekers group-Have fun with Christians and maybe become interested in knowing more

+7. Challenges Often Faced in Ministry to Wives of Students A. Language limitations

Some speak little or no English Some speak English very well Many are somewhere in between

How have we tried to overcome this challenge? Beginners ESL class just for wives Use easiest English Bible translation Have Bibles in main languages spoken available during study Discuss the meanings of words they don’t know Sometimes act out a passage Sometimes show pictures from a Children’s Bible

+7. Challenges Often Faced in Ministry to Wives of Students B. Publicity – Getting the word out about your

group How do you let people know about your group and recruit new

ladies?

How have we tried to overcome this challenge

Link on ministry web site with sign up form Groups for wives listed on new student information IFI gives out

listing all activities Sign up booths at all IFI welcome week activities for new students Ladies invite their friends Signs posted in campus married student housing Personal invitations from staff/volunteers

+C. Attendance Fluctuation or Turnover

Often moms won’t come in rainy, cold, or snowy weather

Sickness, especially with children

Depression – Ladies withdraw from everyone

Don’t feel they will be missed

Embarrassed about language skills

Preparing for entrance exams

Begin working

Attitudes of family members

+C. Attendance Fluctuation or Turnover

How have we tried to overcome these challenges?

Make the group fun, interesting, and enjoyable

Foster close relationships

Make the group feel like a home for them

Meet with them outside of the group

Email, call or text every week to remind them about meeting

Follow up with an email or phone call when ladies have missed to let them know they are missed and cared for

+C. Attendance Fluctuation or Turnover

How have we tried to overcome these challenges?

Be encouraging whenever they try to speak English and work hard to understand what they mean.

Point out what great English practice they are getting at the group and how it helps prepare them for TOEFL exam

If they are studying, drop by with cookies or a meal

Show love in any way you can think of

If her husband objects to her coming, invite the couple/family over for dinner.

+D. Childcare

Getting enough helpers to provide it

Having a good space for the children

Having appropriate things for older and younger kids to do

Talking over the noise and distraction if kids are present

Moms & kids are often together all the time and may not be used to the idea of putting a child in childcare Kids & moms often go back and forth between the meeting

and childcare rooms.

How have we tried to overcome this challenge?It remains a constant challenge

+E. Facility

-Finding a location that is free and close to where many of the ladies live and that has adequate space can be difficult.

-Transportation, especially of children, can be difficult, since car seats are needed.

How have we tried to overcome all of these challenges? Pray! Re-evaluate often Pray more! Recruit a prayer team to pray for the ladies and the group

+8. Share Your Experiences

A. What has your group done that may be different than something I’ve shared?

B. What challenges have you faced in reaching the wives of students?

C. What ideas do you have that might help overcome the challenges I or someone else shared or ones you have faced?