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Undergrads from China growing on US Campuses
Photo by Jacob Hannah for USA TODAY
For years we have seen mostly graduate students pour in from China but we’re witnessing a surge in undergrad enrollment as USAToday confirms. Campus/Student ministries in Chinese churches are fairly new developments. It’s wonderful to see these missional efforts from the Chinese church side and I see that they’re getting a taste of what English speaking ministries experience in a Chinese church context. Leaders of these ministries are much more contextual and intentional in their ministry approach. They have to deal with turnover more frequently than traditional Chinese pastors. How will Chinese churches respond to the surge in undergrads? Generally grad students are older and may be single or married. It’s a different stage of life. Undergrad attitudes and outlook will be different.
Is this a moment of opportunity for English-speaking ministries and not just Chinese congregations? Perhaps this development can provide a bridging ministry between the Chinese and English speaking ministries of Chinese churches.
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Glennis said...
1Good question. I know for our church, we’re dealing with the issue of having young Chinese immigrant students funneled to the English speaking congregation, rather than providing a place for them within the Chinese congregation (which is mostly an older generation). Although these students can speak English, it is obviously not their heart language. My thought is, shouldn’t the Chinese congregation develop a young adults ministry within their congregation, rather than forcing Chinese-speaking young people to be a part of the English ministry? Although the EM may be closer in age, we are not closer in culture. What are your thoughts on this?
12/9/09 2:40 PM | Comment Link
LT said...
2Thanks Glennis! Age tends to be this default factor for many Chinese churches to funnel younger people to English speaking ministries regardless of the culture or language. As I mentioned in the post I am seeing that there are some Chinese ministries that have started their own young adult and student ministries. That’s a good sign and I think it is dependent on how far along the church is in their growth (number of ministries, services, offerings) and heart for mission/outreach. The majority of Chinese churches are small families, especially in our region, so the heart and ability to reach students is still immature similar to their approach to developing an English congregation. Chinese undergrads, as you mentioned and the next generation (EM) tend to be in limbo not knowing how they will be nurtured in that church context. It’s up to the EM to try and figure out a solution. Unfair but a reality. Honestly, EMs should develop a deeper missional mindset to float between cultures in and out of the church. Regardless of their cultural difference they’re looking for something. We can address that.
There’s a rise in student ministries (grad students specifically) and fellowships around the country. Currently at my church, Chinese Christian Church & Center we’ve blessed off a daughter church solely dedicated to reaching international students in University City. I love hearing their struggles and approach in ministry because their struggles are so similar to EMs.
12/9/09 3:09 PM | Comment Link
Amy Moffitt said...
3Hey Laurence,
Until earlier this year, I was Asst. Director of the International Student Office at George Mason Univ here in the DC area, and had worked with international students for over 7 years. Our undergrads came primarily from special exchange programs set up through initiatives at the uni targeted specifically to create stronger ties with Chinese educational institutions.
In general, undergrad international students aren’t just younger, but they’re also very, very affluent. Chinese and Indian graduate students are here in droves, but they’re here largely on assistantships and scholarships. These are the best and brightest students, but not the most privileged.
The undergrads, on the other hand, are not always the best students. In fact, they’re often very far from that. Undergraduate studies are very expensive and scholarships are few and very competitive. These students tend to be the ones from upwardly mobile families, and may have lived in several other countries, so their level of culture shock may or may not be as great as the graduate student. However, they have a great deal of family pressure to succeed, and in my experience, they generally have few of the life skills necessary to manage their finances, academics and personal lives.
I think any ministry seeking to reach out to these undergrads would do well to bear in mind the different social demographic represented by these students and the different challenges that they face.
Peace.
12/9/09 4:14 PM | Comment Link
LT said...
4Thanks for the undergrad and graduate profile Amy!
Indeed there are socio-economic differences that ministries have to keep in mind. Every student has pressure, is looking and striving for something that will vary from person to person and ministries can help to excavate those things and help shape new alternative stories moving forward.
12/9/09 4:38 PM | Comment Link
Pauline Chiu said...
5echoing what Amy mentioned, when I was in Singapore working with the undergrad students from China, sometimes it’s a double edged sword… because they lack some of the life skills, it was also a great point of where care and guidance from the more mature Christians can come in. I think they also have a better language/cultural learning abilities.
12/9/09 7:32 PM | Comment Link