THE NEHEMIAH NETWORK
MOBILIZING CHURCHES TO REACH THE NATIONS AT HOME
A biblical strategy equipping churches to work together to reach international students, refugees, and immigrants in their communities.
The Opportunity Before Us
Across our cities, people from nations around the world live, study, and work among us. International students, refugees, and immigrant families have come from places where the gospel cannot easily be shared, and some from countries where believers face persecution.
They are here—often for only a short time.
This creates a unique opportunity. Without crossing borders, the church can reach people from nations that may otherwise remain out of reach.
Yet the scale of the opportunity presents a challenge. No single church, ministry, or missionary can reach them all.
But together, the body of Christ can.
What Is the Nehemiah Network?
The Nehemiah Network is a strategy that mobilizes churches across a city to work together in coordinated outreach so that more international people can be reached with the gospel.
Rather than working in isolation, churches collaborate—each taking responsibility for a portion of the opportunity.
Through this shared effort:
Churches work together instead of operating independently
Responsibility is distributed across the body of Christ
Volunteers engage in practical, relational outreach
The gospel reaches further across an entire city
The result is simple: more people are reached, and the church functions in unity.
A Biblical Model for a Shared Task
When Nehemiah saw that Jerusalem’s walls were broken, he did not attempt to rebuild them alone. He prayed, sought God’s direction, and then mobilized God’s people.
Each family rebuilt a portion of the wall.
Working side by side, they accomplished what no individual could have done alone.
The Nehemiah Network applies this same principle today—mobilizing the church to work together to accomplish a task too great for any one ministry.
How the Nehemiah Network Works
The strategy is simple, but intentional.
1. Churches Participate
Churches in a city commit to working together toward a shared goal: reaching international people in their community.
2. Coordinators Are Appointed
Each participating church appoints a Church Coordinator. These coordinators help mobilize volunteers and serve as a link between their church and the broader effort.
A Horizons Nehemiah Network Coordinator provides guidance, support, and structure across the network.
3. Volunteers Are Mobilized
Believers are equipped to serve in practical roles such as:
Friendship Partners
ESL teachers
Hospitality and mentoring
Bible study opportunities for those who want to learn more
These roles create natural pathways for building relationships and sharing the gospel.
4. Outreach Expands Across the City
As each church reaches a portion of the international community, the responsibility is shared—and the impact extends across the entire city.
This united approach makes it possible to reach far more people than any single church or ministry could reach on its own.
What This Looks Like in Practice
This strategy first took shape in Boulder, Colorado, where more than 2,000 international students from over 80 nations were studying.
Weekly gatherings brought hundreds of students together. The gospel was shared, and many experienced Christian community for the first time. Some received Christ, were baptized, and became part of local churches.
Yet even with this fruit, it became clear that more could be done.
Students were constantly arriving and leaving. The need was greater than any one effort could meet.
This led to the development of a coordinated, city-wide approach—the Nehemiah Network.
Why This Matters
Many international students and immigrants will become leaders in their home countries. While they are here, they are often open to friendship, community, and spiritual conversations.
Reaching them is not only a local opportunity—it has global implications.
When the church works together:
The gospel reaches people from nations that are otherwise difficult to access
Relationships formed locally can have lasting impact globally
The body of Christ reflects unity in mission and purpose
What happens in one city can extend far beyond it.
What Horizons Provides
Horizons equips churches to implement the Nehemiah Network effectively.
This includes:
Foundational training for churches and leaders
Practical guidance for launching and organizing the network
Ongoing support for Church Coordinators
Resources to help mobilize volunteers and sustain outreach
Churches are not expected to figure this out on their own. Horizons walks alongside you in the process.
Who This Is For
The Nehemiah Network is designed for:
Churches that want to reach international people in their community
Missions pastors seeking practical, scalable outreach strategies
Ministry leaders looking to mobilize their congregations
Networks of churches willing to work together in unity
Whether your church is large or small, this strategy can be adapted to your context.
Take the First Step
If your church or ministry would like to implement the Nehemiah Network in your area, you can begin here.
Or email us at: training@horizonsinternational.org
