International students come from an extraordinary diversity of cultures and life circumstances. Some arrive carrying experiences of conflict, displacement, loss, or trauma. Others may be navigating anxiety, loneliness, depression, stress, or other mental health challenges as they adjust to life in a new country.
How can the global church and those involved in international student ministry respond with wisdom, compassion, and hope?
This webinar will explore how we can minister appropriately and effectively to international students experiencing trauma and other mental health needs.
Drawing on complementary perspectives, Emmanuel from Burundi will share reflections and lessons from ministry in conflict-affected contexts, while Francina from the Netherlands will bring experience in trauma-informed training and ministry. Together, they will help us consider both the particular impact of trauma and the broader mental health challenges international students may face.
The conversation will explore how trauma and mental health challenges can affect students’ wellbeing, relationships, studies, faith, and sense of belonging. We will also consider how churches, student movements, mission organisations, and individual Christians can offer appropriate pastoral care, recognise the limits of their role, and know when professional support is needed.
Our speakers:
Emmanuel Bagumako serves as regional secretary for IFES Francophone Africa, supporting student movements across almost 20 countries. Based in Burundi, he has ministered through seasons of profound social crisis, including the crises of 1993 and 2015, when he served as general secretary of IFES Burundi. In that role, Emmanuel accompanied students in displacement and refugee camps, often from opposing sides of the conflict, helping them find reconciliation and hope in Christ. He also led the Great Lakes Mission Conference, bringing together movements from Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of political tension among the three nations. With pastoral sensitivity and a commitment to leadership development, Emmanuel continues to equip young leaders to serve faithfully in contexts marked by trauma and resilience, bearing witness to the gospel.
Francina de Pater works with IFES in the Netherlands as national director for international student ministry and across Europe as associate regional secretary. Before joining student ministry, she spent 14 years in a ministry reaching out to people in prostitution. Through this work, her interest in pastoral care and trauma developed, leading her to spend years studying trauma in both secular and Christian counselling contexts. In 2009, she started her own coaching practice, Precious Coaching & Training, where she had the honour and privilege of walking alongside many clients who had experienced trauma. Mental health and trauma also arise frequently in student ministry, as increasing numbers of students face challenges in these areas.
This webinar is for anyone interested in international student ministry and the wider mission of welcoming, serving, discipling, and learning from people who cross cultures.
Join us as we learn how to build communities where international students are welcomed, understood, and cared for holistically.
