This article is based on our latest podcast episode of “The World from Home”. You can check it out on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WUGB2YcK5c
Moving to a new country for college is exciting… and overwhelming. New language, new culture, new expectations. With so much change, it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone.
That’s why community matters — maybe more than ever during your time as an international student.
We’re Designed for Connection 🧡
Whether you’re timid or outgoing, everyone needs people who see them, support them, and walk with them through life.
In the Bible, specifically the book of Genesis, God says it this way:
“It is not good for people to be alone.”
Community isn’t just a nice idea; it’s something we’re created for. Everyone needs a place to belong, to grow, and to share life.
Community Helps You Thrive 🤝
So what does having good community look like?
A good community provides:
• Support: friends to help you adjust, study, and face challenges.
• Encouragement: people who remind you of your strengths and cheer you on.
• Joy: shared meals, deep conversations, and fun memories.
• Growth: opportunities to learn from others’ cultures, values, and experiences.
When you’re far from home, these things become a foundation for emotional, academic, and spiritual strength.
Community Feels Like Home 🏠
One of the hardest parts of studying abroad is missing the comfort of home– the familiar faces, traditions, and routines.
Healthy community can become a second home, a place where you:
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don’t have to explain yourself,
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feel welcomed just as you are,
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receive care when life gets heavy,
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can rest, laugh, and be honest.
Many students say that finding community changed their entire experience in the U.S.!
A Community of Love ✨
In Christian community, people aim to follow the example of Jesus, showing radical love, hospitality, and humility.
That means:
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welcoming strangers as friends,
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sharing life together,
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listening without judgment,
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walking through challenges as a team,
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caring for one another in practical ways,
- and even praying for your enemies!
An important reminder: you don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate or experience this kind of community! It’s offered freely, with no pressure, just genuine friendship.
You Weren’t Meant to Do This Alone 🌱
College is full of growth, questions, and transitions. Doing it alone is hard. Doing it with community makes it meaningful and way easier!
So whether you’re here for one semester or four years, we invite you to step into community– to belong, to contribute, and to discover friendships that may last a lifetime.
Because life is better when we share it.
And you don’t have to walk this journey by yourself.
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