Building and nurturing a team of students and families from local churches is really important. The local churches can support the IS in a way that students can’t, e.g. during the holidays. It also gives the IS a chance to meet families as well as students. For some cultures this is really important as they respect the older generation. It is important to ensure that each team member has a strong biblical foundation to their faith.

Here are some ideas of how to recruit more helpers:

• Personal invite - ask your CU friends to come.
• Do an advert in a CU meeting.
• Use a video clip from the FI resource CD.
• Get a Bible study group to provide the entertainment for the café one week
• Get a slot in your local church to talk about a friendship you have with an IS, then advertise the host scheme.

Working with churches and Friends International – Quote from FI video about IS never going into a British home.

Friends International is an organisation that works specifically with International students and local churches. If you aren’t in contact with your local FI worker then contact their head office via www.friendsinternational.org.uk

International student work is really enhanced if CUs work alongside local churches or families within the churches. Local families can provide help in many ways, e.g. co-leading Bible studies, providing a home over the Christmas period - many IS will be missing their families and will appreciate being welcomed into someone else’s home.