01-17-2009, 07:12 AM
intervarsity
Training Students to Reach Hindus
Downloads:
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Document
Article PDF
by Evelyn Stephens
I have found that the students who are most effective with Hindus are the ones that are teachable and willing to put themselves in uncomfortable situations for the sake of the gospel. When working among Hindus, one needs to be particularly aware of the cross-cultural dynamics. It is important to teach students to enter another culture with a learning posture and willingness to go the extra mile, so they can reach the heart of a person. This is especially important in reaching Hindus, since most are not interested in learning new cultures or becoming âAmericanized.â They usually do not need as much help with English as some internationals and often have a strong group identity on a campus. This means it is crucial to enter into the Hindu student world, rather than trying to draw them out into programs and other communities.
Hindus sometimes see conversion as a change in community identity, rather than a belief distinction. Thus, invitations to "convert" to Christianity will likely not be accepted. Hinduism is complex because it is really a way of life and a family of religions, rather than one set of beliefs. Thus, even training students in basic Hindu theology is difficult, since the majority of Hindus on campus may not agree on one set of beliefs. Our aim is not the type of cultural conversion that the Hindu students fear. It is to share Jesus and allow him to draw people in and change them completely as they decide to make him the Lord of their life.
The best way to reach Hindus is to share Jesus and talk about personal faith and beliefs, asking about their personal beliefs rather than getting involved in theological debates. Often such debates center around issues that the Hindu does not even believe, but has been taught to defend, so it can be fruitless to argue against these ideas. The students who are most effective with Hindus are the ones who form authentic friendships, showing genuine love and care. These students are able to tell about their personal faith in Jesus and learn about the Hindu studentâs beliefs as their friend. This often leads to fruitful conversations where the Christian can share who Jesus is, what he teaches about God, and demonstrate what it means to give our lives to Jesus and receive life from him. This demonstration is more powerful to many Hindus than any well-constructed argument of doctrine.
As a student group, we encourage our members to be a part of the Hindu student club on campus. Together we go to their festivals and parties. We also attend important community functions like dance recitals and Diwali. In these ways, we connect to the culture and have a natural meeting place to develop friendships with Hindus. Once the friendships are formed, it is important to train students to go deeper in friendships and really get to know one another through giving to and receiving from our Hindu friends.
One of the most effective students I have seen in befriending Hindus takes a genuine interest in Hindu culture. She watches a lot of Bollywood films and takes dance lessons in traditional Hindu dance styles. She learned the basic stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. In this way, she connects with the culture and shows her respect for their way of life. She has a love for Indian food and clothing and also attends cultural festivals and frequently invites Indian students to her apartment. Indian students are impressed to meet someone who has a sincere interest in their life. Yet, because of her genuine friendship, she also is able to share about her personal belief in Jesus and to pray to Jesus on behalf of her friends. One of her friends recently confided that he is interested in Jesus and may want to read the Bible.
Prayer is a crucial component in getting started in Hindu ministry. We have to seek the Lord and ask him to lead us to the students who are cross-cultural and able to easily relate with Indian students. We also have to pray that the gatekeepers of the Hindu community will welcome us in with open arms. Once the key people in the community are welcoming and friends with us, it will be much easier to relate with the group at large. So, we must continually put everything into Godâs hands throughout the process of relating. Prayer keeps us in a solid relationship with Christ and allows us to acknowledge that God is the one at work through our relationships and that God is the only one capable of changing our friends hearts and minds.
Quick Guide to Meeting Indian Students on Campus
Events: Get involved in Indian student organizations and community activities such as playing cricket. Learn about and attend Indian cultural festivals.
Food: Eat Indian food, and ask students to show you how to cook it. Bring snacks to any gathering where you hope to have Indian students. Serve mostly vegetarian foods or chicken.
Bollywood Movies: After meeting people at cultural events, you could host a Bollywood film night or a dinner gathering at your home where you order or cook Indian food.
Gatherings: Start a get together that is focused on creating friendships that will also help them with their felt needs, like how to write a resume, get an interview, and obtain a driverâs license.
Friendships: Develop a few genuine friendships rather than many shallow friendships.
Training Students to Reach Hindus
Downloads:
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Document
Article PDF
by Evelyn Stephens
I have found that the students who are most effective with Hindus are the ones that are teachable and willing to put themselves in uncomfortable situations for the sake of the gospel. When working among Hindus, one needs to be particularly aware of the cross-cultural dynamics. It is important to teach students to enter another culture with a learning posture and willingness to go the extra mile, so they can reach the heart of a person. This is especially important in reaching Hindus, since most are not interested in learning new cultures or becoming âAmericanized.â They usually do not need as much help with English as some internationals and often have a strong group identity on a campus. This means it is crucial to enter into the Hindu student world, rather than trying to draw them out into programs and other communities.
Hindus sometimes see conversion as a change in community identity, rather than a belief distinction. Thus, invitations to "convert" to Christianity will likely not be accepted. Hinduism is complex because it is really a way of life and a family of religions, rather than one set of beliefs. Thus, even training students in basic Hindu theology is difficult, since the majority of Hindus on campus may not agree on one set of beliefs. Our aim is not the type of cultural conversion that the Hindu students fear. It is to share Jesus and allow him to draw people in and change them completely as they decide to make him the Lord of their life.
The best way to reach Hindus is to share Jesus and talk about personal faith and beliefs, asking about their personal beliefs rather than getting involved in theological debates. Often such debates center around issues that the Hindu does not even believe, but has been taught to defend, so it can be fruitless to argue against these ideas. The students who are most effective with Hindus are the ones who form authentic friendships, showing genuine love and care. These students are able to tell about their personal faith in Jesus and learn about the Hindu studentâs beliefs as their friend. This often leads to fruitful conversations where the Christian can share who Jesus is, what he teaches about God, and demonstrate what it means to give our lives to Jesus and receive life from him. This demonstration is more powerful to many Hindus than any well-constructed argument of doctrine.
As a student group, we encourage our members to be a part of the Hindu student club on campus. Together we go to their festivals and parties. We also attend important community functions like dance recitals and Diwali. In these ways, we connect to the culture and have a natural meeting place to develop friendships with Hindus. Once the friendships are formed, it is important to train students to go deeper in friendships and really get to know one another through giving to and receiving from our Hindu friends.
One of the most effective students I have seen in befriending Hindus takes a genuine interest in Hindu culture. She watches a lot of Bollywood films and takes dance lessons in traditional Hindu dance styles. She learned the basic stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. In this way, she connects with the culture and shows her respect for their way of life. She has a love for Indian food and clothing and also attends cultural festivals and frequently invites Indian students to her apartment. Indian students are impressed to meet someone who has a sincere interest in their life. Yet, because of her genuine friendship, she also is able to share about her personal belief in Jesus and to pray to Jesus on behalf of her friends. One of her friends recently confided that he is interested in Jesus and may want to read the Bible.
Prayer is a crucial component in getting started in Hindu ministry. We have to seek the Lord and ask him to lead us to the students who are cross-cultural and able to easily relate with Indian students. We also have to pray that the gatekeepers of the Hindu community will welcome us in with open arms. Once the key people in the community are welcoming and friends with us, it will be much easier to relate with the group at large. So, we must continually put everything into Godâs hands throughout the process of relating. Prayer keeps us in a solid relationship with Christ and allows us to acknowledge that God is the one at work through our relationships and that God is the only one capable of changing our friends hearts and minds.
Quick Guide to Meeting Indian Students on Campus
Events: Get involved in Indian student organizations and community activities such as playing cricket. Learn about and attend Indian cultural festivals.
Food: Eat Indian food, and ask students to show you how to cook it. Bring snacks to any gathering where you hope to have Indian students. Serve mostly vegetarian foods or chicken.
Bollywood Movies: After meeting people at cultural events, you could host a Bollywood film night or a dinner gathering at your home where you order or cook Indian food.
Gatherings: Start a get together that is focused on creating friendships that will also help them with their felt needs, like how to write a resume, get an interview, and obtain a driverâs license.
Friendships: Develop a few genuine friendships rather than many shallow friendships.