Seventeen year old Zhang Ning* who comes from China, writes about the day she, together with 21 other foreign students, met with ten ex-STEPpers from OM Ships, to spend a day at the park cycling and playing games. “That day”, she wrote in her English essay, “was one of the happiest days of my life. I felt like a happy child again. They (STEPpers) made me realise that there was still unselfish love and care in the world. They never lose patience with us and they always say ‘good job’ ”. 

As part of OM China’s Migrant work, an outreach has been initiated to engage Chinese students who are studying in Singapore. OM China seeks to minister to migrants, both those from rural villages who move to the cities in China, and those who leave China to migrate to other countries for work or academic purposes.

For students, the first few months after moving to a new country are the most crucial. Often they feel lonely, confused and homesick. Early this year two foreign students in Singapore committed suicide, something which may have been avoided with the help of a support group. There is a pressing need to provide a warm and accepting environment especially as these students face dietary, racial, social and relational issues, and the pressure to gain good grades. Since the majority of these students are not keen to attend church, creative ways to engage them need to be explored.

Initially the team invited 18 Chinese students studying in Singapore, for a day of fun and games at the park. Together with ten ex-STEPpers sent out by the OM Singapore home office and four other foreign students, activities that fostered bonding and interaction were planned and organised. The students were divided into groups with STEPpers assigned to each group. The STEPpers, living out the Gospel, showed the students the meaning of Christian love, kindness and goodness. One student wrote in her essay “This was the first time I knew what cooperation was.”

After this initial outreach, successive events were organised. The students eagerly invited their friends to join. In a matter of 2 months, the number of students increased to 45! Praise the Lord for bringing these students to our doorstep! A warm, trusting friendship is slowly building and students are starting to call and email to share about their challenges in school as well as other personal issues. Six students living in the same apartment have opened their home for weekly visitations. Meaningful discussions about Jesus Christ are beginning to flow as students become curious about the reason why hands of love and friendship are extended to them. Two have requested bilingual Chinese-English Bibles!

It has been noted that the “..most influential and promising Chinese young people today are getting their education in foreign universities.” These students will one day go back to China and become influential in their sphere of work, possibly holding key leadership positions. They have the potential to be bearers of the Good News to their friends and families. While these students are overseas, it is vital to engage them and share the Good News with them.

It is indeed no accident that these students find themselves in the countries and cities they are currently at. As Paul explained to the people in Athens, God ‘determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live’ so that they would ‘seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him, and find Him’ (Acts 17:26-27)

*not her real name