Welcome Booklets for International Students

Providing welcome booklets is a great way to introduce your ministry and the Scripture to new international students. It can also build favor with the international office.
We use a small (4” x 6”) photo album, the kind that some stores provide free when you have photos developed. Check with international student friends or someone in the international office for suggestions about what to include. Our booklet contains:

• Welcome page
• Contents page
• Conversational English information
• How to address an envelope
• Sample envelope
• How to write a check
• Sample check
• How to write a phone number and use phone books
• City bus information
• Measurement conversions (temperature, distance, weight)
• Where to find health care
• Where to buy international foods
• Where to find laundromats
• Where to find parks
• Where to find the public library
• Map of U.S. showing states
• Map of U.S. showing time zones (and explanation of daylight savings time)
• Holidays
• Bible introduction page, which says:
• More than half of the people in the U.S. are not Christians, but American history and culture have been greatly influenced by Christian values.
• The Bible was a textbook in American’s earliest schools, and much of the British and American literature of previous centuries was written with the assumption that readers were familiar with the Bible. BCM would be happy to give you a free Bible, whether in English or in your own language. If you would like to have one, contact….
• The rest of this booklet contains some of the well-known passages from the Bible.
• The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17)
• The First Psalm
• The Twenty-third Psalm
• Prophecy of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:3-6)
• The Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5:3-12)
• Roman Road of Salvation (Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10)
• Advice for Life (Philippians 4:4-8)
• The Love Chapter (I Corinthians 13:1-8)
• BCM information page

Ask God if He wants you to provide these booklets. Pray for favor with the international office to allow you to do this. Pray for BCM students who have a heart for internationals to assemble the booklets. (It is very time-consuming!) Pray for the students who will receive the booklets. Claim God’s promise that his Word never returns void but always accomplishes the purpose that He intends.

Rose Bear
BCM, Indiana State University

Welcome Bags for International Students

Providing welcome bags is a great way to introduce your ministry and the Gospel to new international students. It can also build favor with the international office. We’ve found that churches love to help us collect the gift items through VBS, WMU, and other missions organizations.


We use quart size Zip Loc bags and fill them with:

• BCM pen
• Highlighter
• Post It notes
• Christian bookmark with BCM sticker on the back.
• (We use the Names of Jesus bookmark from www.lifewaystores.com
• ISBN: 0805436693 Product No.: 001148223)
• Small notebook or memo pad with BCM sticker on the back
• Pocket size package of tissues
• Gum
• 2 snack size candy bars
• Gospel tract with a sticker on the front that says:
• Over half of the people in the U.S. are not Christians, but American history and culture have been greatly influenced by Christian values. This pamphlet describes the central message of Christianity.
• (We use a tract called “Knowing God Personally” available at www.isionline.org)
• Small envelope containing four quarters with this sticker on the front:
• It’s a good idea to save your quarters to use in vending machines and other coin- operated machines. Enclosed are four quarters that you can use to do your first load of laundry.
• An insert welcoming the student to Conversational English and other BCM events.

We state that we are a Christian student organization, and that we welcome all people and you don’t have to be a Christian to attend. We also offer to provide a free Bible and arrange a ride to church.

Ask God if He wants you to provide these bags. Pray for favor with the international office to allow you to do this. Pray for the items you need. Pray for BCM students who have a heart for internationals to assemble the bags. Pray for the students who will receive the bags. Pray for God to produce great spiritual fruit that will remain.

Learn how to make a "WELCOME BOOKLET" for International students as well.

Rose Bear
BCM, Indiana State University