Since the early days of the Greenstead Free Church the members have given a warm welcome to national and international students.
One of the church members is responsible for encouraging members of the church to offer hospitality to international students. This scheme is linked with the local branch of Friends International, previously known as COSCI (Colchester Overseas Students Christian Initiative). At the beginning of the academic year the church catering committee has helped to organize a Sunday lunch to welcome new students. If a student wishes to be linked with a family then they are introduced to the family during the meal time. (There is no obligation to be linked with a family and some students have waited a while before they have felt they wanted to be linked). The family and student exchange addresses and telephone numbers. The family will help support the student during their stay in the Colchester and the United Kingdom. The student will be invited to an occasional meal and lasting friendships have often been formed.
One elderly man corresponded at Christmas with two students he has met during their stay in Colchester for at least twenty years before his heavenly homecall!
The students have benefitted from the support they have received and the families have enjoyed learning about other cultures and customs. The benefits have been mutual.
The church members continue to hear from past students and regularly remember the students in their prayers.