Diaspora Missiology Part 4-Students 6

 in International Missions / Migration / missiology / North American Missions / research  tagged diaspora missiology / students by

In this fourth post in the series, I want to spend a moment addressing the great migration of students across the globe. 

If you happened to miss the three previous posts, you can find them linked below:

Diaspora Missiology Part 3 – Interview with Sadiri Joy Tira

Diaspora Missiology Part 2 – What in the World is God Doing?

Diaspora Missiology Part 1 – Interview with Enoch Wan

While I could spend a great deal of time addressing the topic of students studying in any given country of the world, I will briefly describe what is happening in the United States. 

Between 2007-2008 the following nations of the world were the top “senders” of students to study in the United States.  The corresponding percentages note the proportion of the overall international student population of that year in the country.

  • India (15.2%)
  • China (13%)
  • South Korea (11.1%)
  • Japan (5.4%)
  • Canada (4.7%)

These five countries represented 49% of all the international students sent to the United States that year.

Now I wish to direct your attention to the following table showing the top 20 places of origin of international students coming to the United States.  This table is comprised of data from the Institute of International Education.

Rank Place of Origin 2006/07 2007/08 2007/08% of Total % Change
  WORLD TOTAL 582,984 623,805 100.0 7.0
1. India 83,833 94, 563 15.2 12.8
2. China 67,723 81,127 13.0 19.8
3. South Korea 62,392 69,124 11.1 10.8
4. Japan 35,282 33,974 5.4 -3.7
5. Canada 28,280 29,051 4.7 2.7
6. Taiwan 29,094 29,001 4.6 -0.3
7. Mexico 13,826 14,837 2.4 7.3
8. Turkey 11,506 12,030 1.9 4.6
9. Saudi Arabia 7,886 9,873 1.6 25.2
10. Thailand 8,886 9,004 1.4 1.3
11. Nepal 7,754 8,936 1.4 15.2
12. Germany 8,656 8,907 1.4 2.9
13. Vietnam 6,036 8,769 1.4 45.3
14. United Kingdom 8,438 8,367 1.3 -0.8
15. Hong Kong 7,722 8,286 1.3 7.3
16. Indonesia 7,338 7,692 1.2 4.8
17. Brazil 7,126 7,578 1.2 6.3
18. France 6,704 7,050 1.1 5.2
19. Colombia 6,750 6,662 1.1 -1.3
20. Nigeria 5,943 6,222 1.0 4.7

 

From this table, we not only observe the top nations, but also the precent increases from the 2006-2007 academic year to 2007-2008 academic year.  I want to draw your attention to the following increases:

  • India (12.8%)
  • China (19.8%)
  • South Korea (10.8%)
  • Saudi Arabia (25.2%)
  • Nepal (15.2%)
  • Vietnam (45.3%)  (If you are interested in more information on the growth of Vietnamese students, you can download my podcast HERE.)

Before concluding this post, I need to challenge you and your missiological thinking.  HERE is the link to the Joshua Project’s search engine.  Let me encourage you to check out this amazing blessing, and search the unreached people group data sets by the countries represented in the tables above. 

Do you believe that maybe, just maybe, one or two of all of the international students studying in the United States represent at least one of the world’s unreached people groups…or maybe, just maybe know someone in their homeland who does?

What do you think the Church’s response should be to this wonderful reality?  How should Evangelicals in the United States, in particular, serve and love the world’s peoples who cross the globe to study in our neighborhoods?  What are the missiological implications?

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 thoughts on “Diaspora Missiology Part 4-Students”

  • Tommy Dyo

    While I appreciate the issue of “international” students, there are many ethnically isolated groups in the US that are also under-reached. My ministry focuses on Asian Americans who were born here but still have strong cultural grids they function within. There are an estimated 1.1 million Asian American college students most who were born in the US and are unreached. I look forward to interacting with your papers!

  • Sammy Joo

    Dr. Payne,
    My name is Sammy Joo and I am alumni from the missions department of the Southern Seminary 2006. Thank you so much for sharing the information. Currently, I am working for the State Convention of North Carolina for reaching international students in the Triangle area. As you’ve said, many students we are reaching are from 10/40 windows and this is very unique opportunity for international church planting. Our vision is to reach, disciple, and send international students to all nations (or to their countries) to plant churches. It is really exciting how the Lord is bringing the nations to our own backyard!

    In Christ,