{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/feed/json/ -- and add it your reader.", "next_url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/feed/json/?paged=2", "home_page_url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/", "feed_url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/feed/json/", "language": "en-US", "title": "Conexi\u00f3n · IFES Blog", "description": "A movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. Locally. Nationally. Globally.", "icon": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ifeslogo.png", "items": [ { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=47989", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/hows-the-family/", "title": "HOW\u2019S THE FAMILY?\u00a0", "content_html": "
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”How\u2019s the family?” 

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If you\u2019re talking about a spouse and two or three children, the answer to that question is likely to be fairly simple and focused. But what if you have twelve children? And thirty grandchildren?   

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Where do you start? 

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It may feel a little like that with IFES \u2013 a family of 163 affiliate member movements, with \u201cfounding\u201d great grandparents and \u201cpioneering\u201d newborns. How do you put your finger on the pulse of this global fellowship? 

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THE IFES FAMILY \u2013 THRIVING TOGETHER?

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Across 180 countries and territories, the IFES family lives for Jesus in very different situations. But one way we gauge the big picture of how the whole family is faring is through our \u201cnational movement survey\u201d.  

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At the start of each year, a set of questions is sent to each movement. A designated person (usually the General Secretary or Board Chair) uses these to review the previous year. It\u2019s an opportunity for national movements to reflect on how they are \u201cbeginning, growing, or maturing\u201d in ministry areas associated with our Thriving Together priorities.

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The survey also provides space to tell how God has been at work in the national movement and share prayer requests.  

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The IFES Ministry Strategy & Impact team then collates this data and summarises the findings in an \u201cinsights report\u201d.  

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So, how\u2019s our family doing?  

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Two thirds of our movements responded to the survey. And, regardless of national context \u2013 whether a pervasively nominal Christian culture, a secular, post-Christian society, a perilous, war-torn land, or an aggressively other-faith majority state \u2013 one thing was clear: the IFES family saw God at work.  

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AWARE OF GOD\u2019S MIGHTY ARM  

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A number spoke about doors being opened. In the Czech Republic, \u201cGod opened new doors\u201d with the Natural Science Faculty and, in Kosovo, God \u201copened doors that we had never thought of\u201d.   

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In Europe, many movements witnessed a spiritual openness, perhaps echoing the recently reported \u201cquiet revival\u201d:  

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\u201cThere seem to be more non-Christians at the activities!\u201d (GBU France)  

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\u201cGrowing numbers of students are attending our Passion Weeks.\u201d (IFES Nederland)  

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\u201cThe group in Hasselt was one of our smallest groups, but they now meet at the university weekly and the group has grown to about 25 students.\u201d (Ichtus Belgium)  

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\u201cStudents are becoming believers.\u201d (UCCF Great Britain)   

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\u201cGod is working through the spiritual openness in Ireland. We have seen students turn from witchcraft after encounters with Christ.\u201d (CUI Ireland)  

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A similar openness was reported in the South Pacific (TSCF Papua New Guinea) and North America (InterVarsity/USA and IVCF Canada). Movements in the Caribbean saw \u201cstudents come to Christ\u201d (IS/IVCF Belize) and \u201cthousands of students give their hearts to Jesus\u201d (ISCCF St Vincent & Grenadines), and ABU Puerto Rico noted \u201cstudents converted to Christ\u201d.  

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Tim Adams, IFES General Secretary, sums it up well:  

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\u201cThe survey confirms what we have seen on the ground: more students are coming to Christ. It\u2019s very encouraging to see new groups and movements, especially as some of these are spontaneous initiatives. They show that God is at work and creating opportunities.\u201d  

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AWARE OF GOD\u2019S GOOD HAND  

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IFES movements also testified to God\u2019s work of protection and nurture amid acutely difficult circumstances, such as persecution, political unrest, poverty, and war.  

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In the Middle East and North Africa region, movements said:  

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\u201cThe Lord has assisted us throughout the year with his protection and encouragement, even though we live in an environment hostile to the gospel.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

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\u201cGod is good and always works miracles in our country.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

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\u201cDespite the exhaustion and challenges caused by the ongoing conflict, we\u2019ve witnessed students and graduates stepping up to support one another and create spaces of peace and community on campuses.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

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And movements in sensitive countries in East Asia shared:  

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\u201cGod is sovereign. He protects us in all seasons\u201d\u2026 \u201cGod protects us through many unexpected events\u201d\u2026 \u201cHe sustains and guides us all the way. He gives us wisdom how to respond to the needs\u201d\u2026 \u201cGod continues clearing the hard ground to make way for a student movement.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

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In short, IFES movements are grateful to God for his manifold works, which also include \u201craising up the next generation of leaders\u201d (FCS Mongolia) and \u201cstudents growing in their prayer life\u201d (FOCUS Zimbabwe).   

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But what can we say about how God is using the family to achieve such purposes?

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How\u2019s it doing in its mission and ministry?   

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ACTIVE IN WITNESS \u2013 BUT COULD BE MORE SALTY?  

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The majority of movements (61%) reported that students were in the \u201cgrowing\u201d or \u201cmaturing\u201d stages of \u201ctaking the initiative to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them\u201d.  

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Almost all movements (96%) said they focused on \u201cempowering students to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ\u201d \u2013 evangelism remains a priority. A variety of methods were mentioned: Bible studies, the Mark Drama, Mission/Events Weeks, creative outreach (like escape rooms), camps, and the sharing of testimonies.    

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\"Moldova,
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A movement in North Africa said that \u201cthough the students are few, they are actively growing in their relationship with God and their confidence in sharing the Word with others\u201d, while ZVE\u0160 Slovenia shared that \u201cstudents are being more public about their faith\u201d.  

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But \u201cthriving in witness\u201d is not merely about evangelism. It\u2019s about \u201cengaging the university\u201d as well.  

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Yet, the survey revealed that only around half (57%) of the movements had \u201cempowering students to bring their Christian voice and service to the university\u201d as a focus area.  

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Nonetheless, some movements did note progress:  

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\u201cWe\u2019ve witnessed a transformation in students\u2019 lives \u2013 from a nominal understanding of the gospel to actively taking leadership in sharing kingdom values within their communities.\u201d (FOCUS Sri Lanka)\u00a0\u00a0

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\u201cChristian Reflection and Ethics Forums provided spaces for dialogue and allowed students and graduates to confront their faith with societal realities (justice, corruption, entrepreneurship, social responsibility).\u201d\u202f(GBUSS Senegal)  

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One movement mentioned a \u201cgrowing awareness and desire to influence the thought life of the university through the application of Christian truth to academic study\u201d (UCCF Great Britain) and another that the \u201cstudents have been challenged to understand their studies in the light of their Christian faith and how to serve the university (not just be served by it)\u201d (GBU Portugal).  

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Nevertheless, half of the IFES family reckoned that the statements \u201cChristian faith shapes the way students approach their studies\u201d and \u201cStudents can dialogue relevantly and biblically around the big issues in their context\u201d were either not evident at all or just beginning to be seen in their movements.   

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For IFES Associate General Secretary Annette Arulrajah, this is an area that needs strengthening:   

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\u201cThe witness we want to see is not merely the proclamation of the gospel but the salting of the earth and the arresting of the decay around us. We need to seize the opportunities of the moment to challenge the norms and thought-processes in our universities.\u201d  

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COMMITTED TO THE WORD \u2013 BUT COULD BE MORE FRUITY?  

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The vast majority of movements (85%) reported that students were in the \u201cgrowing\u201d or \u201cmaturing\u201d stages of \u201cmeeting regularly to study the Bible\u201d. And almost all movements said \u201cnurturing students towards resilient discipleship rooted in the Bible\u201d had been a ministry focus.  

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Other responses under \u201cthriving in whole-life commitment\u201d show how vital such holistic discipleship is. For example, although 44 movements could say that they saw students in the \u201cmaturing\u201d stage of \u201cmeeting regularly for Bible study\u201d, only nine could say that they were \u201cmaturing\u201d in being \u201cfirmly rooted in the Bible\u201d.  

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Similarly, the number of movements in the \u201cmaturing\u201d stage of \u201cshowing love and care for others\u201d and \u201cmeeting regularly to pray\u201d were lower than 44 (19 and 17 respectively) and strikingly lower for \u201creflecting godly values in every area of life\u201d (just four).  

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\u201cWe can\u2019t take for granted that study of God’s Word will result in greater love for him through our living. We need to help students encounter and embrace the call of the Lord upon their lives. The IFES Scripture Engagement ministry exists to catalyse that call for holistic discipleship. We need to keep on in this way because a generation has arrived at our doorsteps that no longer wants concepts and theories. Rather, they want to see the living God at work in their lives.\u201d

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(Annette Arulrajah, IFES Associate General Secretary)  

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Thankfully, the majority of movements report that they are growing in whole-life commitment.  

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In ABUB Brazil, regional gatherings explored the theme of joy in Philippians and were able to \u201cdeepen their spirituality in the gospel and face some big issues such as mental health and violence against women\u201d.  

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NBCBS Nepal shared:  

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\u201cYouth migration has become a critical issue, with many young people leaving the country every day in search of employment. However, through the influence of our movement, some have made a different choice \u2013 they decided to remain in Nepal and pursue a career in government service, a field with very few Christian representatives.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0

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In one East Asian movement, a student refused to take a shortcut in her exam even though it meant she needed to extend her studies by another semester. And FOCUS Kenya mention their Hesabika initiative that\u2019s \u201cchallenging graduates to transform society wherever they are\u201d.  

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\u201cStudents are realising that Jesus is concerned with their entire lives, helping them grow as disciples, and not just in a specific role\u201d (ISCCF Saint Vincent & Grenadines).\u00a0\u00a0

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WIDELY CONNECTED \u2013 BUT HUNGRY FOR COLLABORATION  

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It was heartening to see that around two-thirds of movements considered themselves in the \u201cgrowing\u201d or \u201cmaturing\u201d stages of being \u201cengaged with other like-minded organisations\u201d. And almost three-quarters said that \u201cstrengthening existing partnerships with churches and like-minded organisations\u201d was a focus area.  

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MUC El Salvador\u202fhas promoted collaboration with two other organisations that work with students and young people in the country: \u201cThere\u2019s been a greater focus on working with pre-university schools, and this has allowed us access to university campuses where we didn’t have a presence before.\u201d\u202fAnd SCF Mauritius say that the difficulties involved with pioneering new student groups on campuses has led them to partner with churches to offer Bible study training.  

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A desire for stronger collaboration across the IFES family was evident, not only for \u201cthriving on new ground\u201d, but also for \u201cthriving into the future\u201d:  

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\u201cIt would be helpful to have opportunities to learn from other movements facing similar challenges \u2013 building relationships with their staff and gaining insights into their methods, experiences, and approaches to ministry and organisational life.\u201d (FOCUS Sri Lanka)

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ZAFES Zambia noted that their movement could further flourish by \u201cundertaking various global resource programs to better understand their work and key tools, and by sending staff to learn from other movements in the region.\u201d\u202f  

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Reflecting on needs expressed across the IFES family, Tim Adams (IFES General Secretary) affirms:    

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\u201cWe must ensure that the support offered by our global ministries strongly aligns with what national movements are seeking \u2013 particularly the desire for support in the areas of digital ministry, graduate ministry, and high schools work.”  

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A PROMISING HEALTH CHECK  

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This year\u2019s pulse has been taken. And it shows promising signs of good health. The responses in the national movement survey portray a family that\u2019s thriving together \u2013 dependent on God, active in sharing the gospel, committed to Scripture, and connected in Christ.   

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That\u2019s not to say that fitness can\u2019t be improved.

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More salt in our witness, more fruit in our whole-life discipleship, and deeper collaboration in our fellowship \u2013 all of these will be welcome. We\u2019re still learning and maturing.  

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In many ways, our pulse echoes that of our early church family\u2019s. In places, it was shining with love, faith, and hope (Colossians 1), while in others it was dulled by social inaction (James). In some areas, it was struggling to apply the gospel to its religious heritage (Galatians); elsewhere, it needed to relate citizenship, work, and domestic life to its calling (1 Peter).  

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Nevertheless, it was possible to say that the church was growing (Acts 21:17-19). Sure, there were issues that needed addressing, but Christ\u2019s presence was evident (Revelation 1-3). And with his divine power at work in them, they were urged to make every effort to grow in godliness (2 Peter 1:3-8). 

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How\u2019s the family?  

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With Christ as its head, this family has every hope of being and doing well. 

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Another way you can see the big picture of what God is doing through IFES is by reading this year\u2019s Impact Report! 

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And, on 16 October, pray for the local needs of our global family by using requests sent in from campuses across the fellowship \u2013 be part of Immeasurably More, World Student Day 2025! 

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The post HOW\u2019S THE FAMILY?\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "”How\u2019s the family?” \n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re talking about a spouse and two or three children, the answer to that question is likely to be fairly simple and focused. But what if you have twelve children? And thirty grandchildren?   \n\n\n\nWhere do you start? \n\n\n\nIt may feel a little like that with IFES \u2013 a family of 163 affiliate member movements, with \u201cfounding\u201d great grandparents and \u201cpioneering\u201d newborns. How do you put your finger on the pulse of this global fellowship? \n\n\n\nTHE IFES FAMILY \u2013 THRIVING TOGETHER?\n\n\n\nAcross 180 countries and territories, the IFES family lives for Jesus in very different situations. But one way we gauge the big picture of how the whole family is faring is through our \u201cnational movement survey\u201d.  \n\n\n\n\nAt the start of each year, a set of questions is sent to each movement. A designated person (usually the General Secretary or Board Chair) uses these to review the previous year. It\u2019s an opportunity for national movements to reflect on how they are \u201cbeginning, growing, or maturing\u201d in ministry areas associated with our Thriving Together priorities.\n\n\n\nThe survey also provides space to tell how God has been at work in the national movement and share prayer requests.  \n\n\n\n\nThe IFES Ministry Strategy & Impact team then collates this data and summarises the findings in an \u201cinsights report\u201d.  \n\n\n\nSo, how\u2019s our family doing?  \n\n\n\nTwo thirds of our movements responded to the survey. And, regardless of national context \u2013 whether a pervasively nominal Christian culture, a secular, post-Christian society, a perilous, war-torn land, or an aggressively other-faith majority state \u2013 one thing was clear: the IFES family saw God at work.  \n\n\n\nAWARE OF GOD\u2019S MIGHTY ARM  \n\n\n\nA number spoke about doors being opened. In the Czech Republic, \u201cGod opened new doors\u201d with the Natural Science Faculty and, in Kosovo, God \u201copened doors that we had never thought of\u201d.   \n\n\n\n\nIn Europe, many movements witnessed a spiritual openness, perhaps echoing the recently reported \u201cquiet revival\u201d:  \n\n\n\n\u201cThere seem to be more non-Christians at the activities!\u201d (GBU France)  \n\n\n\n\u201cGrowing numbers of students are attending our Passion Weeks.\u201d (IFES Nederland)  \n\n\n\n\u201cThe group in Hasselt was one of our smallest groups, but they now meet at the university weekly and the group has grown to about 25 students.\u201d (Ichtus Belgium)  \n\n\n\n\u201cStudents are becoming believers.\u201d (UCCF Great Britain)   \n\n\n\n\u201cGod is working through the spiritual openness in Ireland. We have seen students turn from witchcraft after encounters with Christ.\u201d (CUI Ireland)  \n\n\n\n\nA similar openness was reported in the South Pacific (TSCF Papua New Guinea) and North America (InterVarsity/USA and IVCF Canada). Movements in the Caribbean saw \u201cstudents come to Christ\u201d (IS/IVCF Belize) and \u201cthousands of students give their hearts to Jesus\u201d (ISCCF St Vincent & Grenadines), and ABU Puerto Rico noted \u201cstudents converted to Christ\u201d.  \n\n\n\nTim Adams, IFES General Secretary, sums it up well:  \n\n\n\n\n\u201cThe survey confirms what we have seen on the ground: more students are coming to Christ. It\u2019s very encouraging to see new groups and movements, especially as some of these are spontaneous initiatives. They show that God is at work and creating opportunities.\u201d  \n\n\n\n\nAWARE OF GOD\u2019S GOOD HAND  \n\n\n\nIFES movements also testified to God\u2019s work of protection and nurture amid acutely difficult circumstances, such as persecution, political unrest, poverty, and war.  \n\n\n\nIn the Middle East and North Africa region, movements said:  \n\n\n\n\u201cThe Lord has assisted us throughout the year with his protection and encouragement, even though we live in an environment hostile to the gospel.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\u201cGod is good and always works miracles in our country.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\u201cDespite the exhaustion and challenges caused by the ongoing conflict, we\u2019ve witnessed students and graduates stepping up to support one another and create spaces of peace and community on campuses.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\nAnd movements in sensitive countries in East Asia shared:  \n\n\n\n\u201cGod is sovereign. He protects us in all seasons\u201d\u2026 \u201cGod protects us through many unexpected events\u201d\u2026 \u201cHe sustains and guides us all the way. He gives us wisdom how to respond to the needs\u201d\u2026 \u201cGod continues clearing the hard ground to make way for a student movement.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\nIn short, IFES movements are grateful to God for his manifold works, which also include \u201craising up the next generation of leaders\u201d (FCS Mongolia) and \u201cstudents growing in their prayer life\u201d (FOCUS Zimbabwe).   \n\n\n\nBut what can we say about how God is using the family to achieve such purposes?\n\n\n\n How\u2019s it doing in its mission and ministry?   \n\n\n\n\nACTIVE IN WITNESS \u2013 BUT COULD BE MORE SALTY?  \n\n\n\nThe majority of movements (61%) reported that students were in the \u201cgrowing\u201d or \u201cmaturing\u201d stages of \u201ctaking the initiative to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them\u201d.  \n\n\n\nAlmost all movements (96%) said they focused on \u201cempowering students to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ\u201d \u2013 evangelism remains a priority. A variety of methods were mentioned: Bible studies, the Mark Drama, Mission/Events Weeks, creative outreach (like escape rooms), camps, and the sharing of testimonies.    \n\n\n\n\nA movement in North Africa said that \u201cthough the students are few, they are actively growing in their relationship with God and their confidence in sharing the Word with others\u201d, while ZVE\u0160 Slovenia shared that \u201cstudents are being more public about their faith\u201d.  \n\n\n\nBut \u201cthriving in witness\u201d is not merely about evangelism. It\u2019s about \u201cengaging the university\u201d as well.  \n\n\n\nYet, the survey revealed that only around half (57%) of the movements had \u201cempowering students to bring their Christian voice and service to the university\u201d as a focus area.  \n\n\n\n\nNonetheless, some movements did note progress:  \n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve witnessed a transformation in students\u2019 lives \u2013 from a nominal understanding of the gospel to actively taking leadership in sharing kingdom values within their communities.\u201d (FOCUS Sri Lanka)\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\u201cChristian Reflection and Ethics Forums provided spaces for dialogue and allowed students and graduates to confront their faith with societal realities (justice, corruption, entrepreneurship, social responsibility).\u201d\u202f(GBUSS Senegal)  \n\n\n\nOne movement mentioned a \u201cgrowing awareness and desire to influence the thought life of the university through the application of Christian truth to academic study\u201d (UCCF Great Britain) and another that the \u201cstudents have been challenged to understand their studies in the light of their Christian faith and how to serve the university (not just be served by it)\u201d (GBU Portugal).  \n\n\n\nNevertheless, half of the IFES family reckoned that the statements \u201cChristian faith shapes the way students approach their studies\u201d and \u201cStudents can dialogue relevantly and biblically around the big issues in their context\u201d were either not evident at all or just beginning to be seen in their movements.   \n\n\n\nFor IFES Associate General Secretary Annette Arulrajah, this is an area that needs strengthening:   \n\n\n\n\n\u201cThe witness we want to see is not merely the proclamation of the gospel but the salting of the earth and the arresting of the decay around us. We need to seize the opportunities of the moment to challenge the norms and thought-processes in our universities.\u201d  \n\n\n\n\nCOMMITTED TO THE WORD \u2013 BUT COULD BE MORE FRUITY?  \n\n\n\nThe vast majority of movements (85%) reported that students were in the \u201cgrowing\u201d or \u201cmaturing\u201d stages of \u201cmeeting regularly to study the Bible\u201d. And almost all movements said \u201cnurturing students towards resilient discipleship rooted in the Bible\u201d had been a ministry focus.  \n\n\n\n\nOther responses under \u201cthriving in whole-life commitment\u201d show how vital such holistic discipleship is. For example, although 44 movements could say that they saw students in the \u201cmaturing\u201d stage of \u201cmeeting regularly for Bible study\u201d, only nine could say that they were \u201cmaturing\u201d in being \u201cfirmly rooted in the Bible\u201d.  \n\n\n\nSimilarly, the number of movements in the \u201cmaturing\u201d stage of \u201cshowing love and care for others\u201d and \u201cmeeting regularly to pray\u201d were lower than 44 (19 and 17 respectively) and strikingly lower for \u201creflecting godly values in every area of life\u201d (just four).  \n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t take for granted that study of God’s Word will result in greater love for him through our living. We need to help students encounter and embrace the call of the Lord upon their lives. The IFES Scripture Engagement ministry exists to catalyse that call for holistic discipleship. We need to keep on in this way because a generation has arrived at our doorsteps that no longer wants concepts and theories. Rather, they want to see the living God at work in their lives.\u201d\n\n\n\n(Annette Arulrajah, IFES Associate General Secretary)  \n\n\n\n\nThankfully, the majority of movements report that they are growing in whole-life commitment.  \n\n\n\nIn ABUB Brazil, regional gatherings explored the theme of joy in Philippians and were able to \u201cdeepen their spirituality in the gospel and face some big issues such as mental health and violence against women\u201d.  \n\n\n\nNBCBS Nepal shared:  \n\n\n\n\u201cYouth migration has become a critical issue, with many young people leaving the country every day in search of employment. However, through the influence of our movement, some have made a different choice \u2013 they decided to remain in Nepal and pursue a career in government service, a field with very few Christian representatives.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\nIn one East Asian movement, a student refused to take a shortcut in her exam even though it meant she needed to extend her studies by another semester. And FOCUS Kenya mention their Hesabika initiative that\u2019s \u201cchallenging graduates to transform society wherever they are\u201d.  \n\n\n\n\u201cStudents are realising that Jesus is concerned with their entire lives, helping them grow as disciples, and not just in a specific role\u201d (ISCCF Saint Vincent & Grenadines).\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\nWIDELY CONNECTED \u2013 BUT HUNGRY FOR COLLABORATION  \n\n\n\nIt was heartening to see that around two-thirds of movements considered themselves in the \u201cgrowing\u201d or \u201cmaturing\u201d stages of being \u201cengaged with other like-minded organisations\u201d. And almost three-quarters said that \u201cstrengthening existing partnerships with churches and like-minded organisations\u201d was a focus area.  \n\n\n\nMUC El Salvador\u202fhas promoted collaboration with two other organisations that work with students and young people in the country: \u201cThere\u2019s been a greater focus on working with pre-university schools, and this has allowed us access to university campuses where we didn’t have a presence before.\u201d\u202fAnd SCF Mauritius say that the difficulties involved with pioneering new student groups on campuses has led them to partner with churches to offer Bible study training.  \n\n\n\n\nA desire for stronger collaboration across the IFES family was evident, not only for \u201cthriving on new ground\u201d, but also for \u201cthriving into the future\u201d:  \n\n\n\n\u201cIt would be helpful to have opportunities to learn from other movements facing similar challenges \u2013 building relationships with their staff and gaining insights into their methods, experiences, and approaches to ministry and organisational life.\u201d (FOCUS Sri Lanka)\n\n\n\n\nZAFES Zambia noted that their movement could further flourish by \u201cundertaking various global resource programs to better understand their work and key tools, and by sending staff to learn from other movements in the region.\u201d\u202f  \n\n\n\nReflecting on needs expressed across the IFES family, Tim Adams (IFES General Secretary) affirms:    \n\n\n\n\n\u201cWe must ensure that the support offered by our global ministries strongly aligns with what national movements are seeking \u2013 particularly the desire for support in the areas of digital ministry, graduate ministry, and high schools work.”  \n\n\n\n\nA PROMISING HEALTH CHECK  \n\n\n\nThis year\u2019s pulse has been taken. And it shows promising signs of good health. The responses in the national movement survey portray a family that\u2019s thriving together \u2013 dependent on God, active in sharing the gospel, committed to Scripture, and connected in Christ.   \n\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s not to say that fitness can\u2019t be improved. \n\n\n\nMore salt in our witness, more fruit in our whole-life discipleship, and deeper collaboration in our fellowship \u2013 all of these will be welcome. We\u2019re still learning and maturing.  \n\n\n\n\nIn many ways, our pulse echoes that of our early church family\u2019s. In places, it was shining with love, faith, and hope (Colossians 1), while in others it was dulled by social inaction (James). In some areas, it was struggling to apply the gospel to its religious heritage (Galatians); elsewhere, it needed to relate citizenship, work, and domestic life to its calling (1 Peter).  \n\n\n\nNevertheless, it was possible to say that the church was growing (Acts 21:17-19). Sure, there were issues that needed addressing, but Christ\u2019s presence was evident (Revelation 1-3). And with his divine power at work in them, they were urged to make every effort to grow in godliness (2 Peter 1:3-8). \n\n\n\nHow\u2019s the family?  \n\n\n\nWith Christ as its head, this family has every hope of being and doing well. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nAnother way you can see the big picture of what God is doing through IFES is by reading this year\u2019s Impact Report! \n\n\n\n\n \n \n SHOW ME MORE  \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd, on 16 October, pray for the local needs of our global family by using requests sent in from campuses across the fellowship \u2013 be part of Immeasurably More, World Student Day 2025! \n\n\n\n\n \n \n I WANT TO PRAY  \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post HOW\u2019S THE FAMILY?\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-09-18T16:45:02+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-18T17:56:49+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Bryn Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/bryn-rickards/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/8672abde7ce0c7ed71f1b1cc3ec261a2.jpg?ver=1760274006" } ], "author": { "name": "Bryn Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/bryn-rickards/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/8672abde7ce0c7ed71f1b1cc3ec261a2.jpg?ver=1760274006" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Photo-00-banner-e1758117951571.png" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=46922", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/starting-early/", "title": "STARTING EARLY\u00a0", "content_html": "
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What comes to your mind when you hear the word students? Where are they? What are they doing? How old are they? 

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In some cultures and languages, the word \u201cstudent\u201d is reserved for a young adult at university or college. In others, it can also refer to a child or young person at school. 

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At its heart and throughout its history, IFES has focused on pioneering and supporting student witness in the world\u2019s universities and colleges.

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However, many of our national movements do not confine ministry to tertiary-level students. Their mission also extends into secondary schools. 

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In this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we ask why. 

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Why are movements whose purpose is to reach and equip university students also ministering to school students? 

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Within IFES, and elsewhere, this is often called \u201chigh school ministry\u201d, although the use and meaning of \u201chigh school\u201d differs from country to country \u2013 as do the ages at which young people attend it. In this blog, we\u2019ll use it to refer to the stage of schooling that precedes university education. 

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We talked to three IFES movements with a thriving high school ministry \u2013 Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada, Perkantas (Indonesia), and Student Christian Organisation of Malawi. Their reflections, along with information and observations from other movements, provide at least five good reasons for this ministry and offer useful insights into running it. 

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1: NO TIME TO WASTE 

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The year was 1979. Indonesia was suffering from widespread juvenile delinquency. Fights between schools and substance abuse were common. In Surabaya, Mrs Lea Santoso, a staff worker for the local IFES movement Perkantas \u2013 formed just eight years prior \u2013 felt a deep concern for these youngsters.  

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So, Lea invited a few high school students from her church to study the Bible together. Along with her husband Imam, they nurtured faith, helping them choose Christ\u2019s way rather than the harmful options all around. 

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When the students started university, they continued to follow Jesus. And they impressed others with the quality of their character and leadership. Seeing the impact that high school ministry could have, Mr and Mrs Santoso set about expanding this arm of Perkantas. Today, over 1,600 small groups operate across 40 cities. 

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Rabea Merry, current High School Ministry Coordinator for Perkantas, says, \u201cschools often express appreciation for the visible Christlike character and academic excellence of our students. And parents support their children\u2019s involvement because they see positive changes in behaviour and performance.\u201d 

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Fifty years on, the pressures facing young people in Indonesia are different. But they are still impressionable \u2013 and responsive. The sense of urgency to reach them remains. 

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(c) Perkantas 

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Last year, an IFES camp for the French-speaking Caribbean included students from both university and high school.

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The same impetus was evident. The program focused on how to resist temptation because of the widespread pressures of drugs, sex, alcohol, and conforming to social trends. 

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In Canada, Vanessa Kordupel, Director of Youth and High School Ministry in IVCF, has noticed that churches are deeply worried about her country\u2019s \u201cchanging landscape\u201d, with its increasingly secular and digital environment. She sees this as a pressing opportunity: \u201cThey\u2019re an amazing generation \u2013 they just need equipping!\u201d. 

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2: NO-ONE MISSES OUT 

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Campus ministry to high school students isn\u2019t solely motivated by the idea of reaching students \u201cbefore university\u201d because many of them will not go on to further study. Although the number of students in tertiary education has doubled globally in the last 20 years, countless influential young people will never go to university. High school ministry represents a chance to reach them. 

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In Germany, around 30% of 20-24 years olds choose a non-tertiary vocational qualification. Since the 1960s, the local IFES movement, SMD, has been accompanying and supporting student Bible study groups (SBKs) in schools, aiming to \u201cgive God space in everyday school life\u201d. They currently work with around 200 groups and provide resources for starting a new SBK.  

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(c) SMD 

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Typically, groups will read the Bible and pray together, discuss difficult questions they\u2019re facing, stand up for justice, and pass on God\u2019s love in practical ways. Even though some of these Christian students may not go on to experience the way in which SMD is \u201cengaging the university\u201d, they will have learned how to think and live in a consistently Christian way.  

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In Canada, annual camps have been a core component of IVCF ministry since Howard Guinness founded the movement almost 100 years ago.

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Today, such ministry is still going strong. Last year, over 7,700 children and teens attended one of nine camps across the country. 

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(c) InterVarsity Canada 

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The camps\u2019 importance is conveyed by a story from Anne Douglas, Associate Director of Camps: 

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\u201cWhen I went to say goodnight to some girls, their cabin leader told me that four of them had decided to follow Jesus that evening. I stayed for a moment to pray with them. Their requests were heart-wrenching, particularly the number of their parents mired in addiction.\u201d 

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3: A TASTE OF CAMPUS WITNESS 

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Another good reason for reaching high schoolers is that they gain a flavour of campus ministry. As they explore big issues, engage with Scripture, and enjoy fellowship with peers, they taste the essential ingredients of an IFES university group.

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This strategy has been particularly effective for movements that do not yet have any designated ministry in schools.

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For example, BSFB Bangladesh has seen much fruit from including students aged 14+ in their annual camps. Savithri, Regional Secretary for South Asia, describes them as a \u201cfeeder for university ministry\u201d. 

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This is also true where groups exist in high schools. Vanessa (IVCF Canada) notes how Howard Guiness\u2019 pioneering vision was that high school ministry would form a vital bridge between camps and campuses. 

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She also stresses how their work in schools naturally leads into university ministry because the \u201cstudents reaching students\u201d ethos is the same. IVCF high school ministry is supported by staff, volunteers, and youth pastors, but their role is only ever to equip students to lead. Staff may offer one-to-one discipleship conversations over a bubble tea or run leadership training on sharing faith and issues of identity. But it\u2019s the teenagers who are leading lunchtime Bible studies and Alpha groups.  

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Students are also the ones to plan and execute \u201cservice projects\u201d in the school community. In one, they put positive messages on Post-it notes and stuck them around the toilet area during exam season. Student leaders might also approach a school principal to ask for permission to run a group.  

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In SCOM Malawi, General Secretary Ellen Napala, observes the same kind of initiative: 

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\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see that many branches of our school ministry are opened by students. When a student who has been part of SCOM transfers to a school without a group, they liaise with school management and start one \u2013 it\u2019s only afterwards that our staff and volunteers find out!\u201d   

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4: READY-MADE LEADERS 

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With this level of hands-on involvement, by the time students finish school and enter university, they\u2019re ready to lead on campus.

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In the Caribbean, Kayley\u2019s experience of JS Suriname at high school led her to help re-establish JS university ministry.\u00a0\u00a0

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Vanessa (IVCF Canada) sees such students as \u201ca gift\u201d to campus staff \u2013 \u201cfrom Day 1, they are excited by the vision and trained for ministry, ready to lead interactive Bible studies, hold gospel conversations, and meet challenges with courage and resilience.\u201d 

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Rabea (Perkantas Indonesia) agrees: \u201cWe believe that high school ministry forms a foundation for university ministry. Reaching students early allows for stronger discipleship and the development of godly leadership. We see many who were discipled in high school continue as spiritual leaders on campus and in local churches.\u201d 

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In Malawi, Ellen adds that SCOM has the backing of churches, the Ministry of Education, and other key figures in society because its school ministry has raised godly leaders for over 60 years: \u201cThe impact of SCOM cannot be ignored because most people who are doing well or in key positions today attribute their success to their involvement with SCOM from their high school days.\u201d 

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The benefit of an IFES movement\u2019s high school ministry is not only felt \u201cat home\u201d. In many cases it reaches beyond borders. SCF Mauritius say that around half of the school leavers on their island go to study abroad, becoming \u201ca gift\u201d to campus staff in a sister movement. Indeed, GBUC, the French-speaking movement in Canada, as well as movements in North Africa, frequently receive international students whose involvement at high school has given them a heart for IFES ministry. 

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5: FULLER ENGAGEMENT 

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When you visit some IFES movements\u2019 websites, a continuous, integrated whole is immediately clear. For example, both IVCF Canada and SMD Germany have designated sections for high school students, university students, and graduates (young professionals).  

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Ellen (SCOM Malawi) describes how three interconnected parts facilitate a deeper engagement with the ministry \u2013 and fuller support in following years: 

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\u201cWith more time to disciple and mentor students through high school and university, the students cultivate a stronger relationship with the national movement. It\u2019s easier to recruit graduates as volunteers (\u201cAssociates\u201d) because they have seen the benefits of this ministry. And getting them to support the ministry is easier because they saw how others invested in them.\u201d  

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She also says that involving university students in high school ministry develops relationships so that high school students already have mentors to look to when they enter university. \u201cIt\u2019s very unlikely that they wouldn\u2019t join the fellowship at university \u2013 they\u2019re already hooked!\u201d 

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Moreover, high school ministry in Malawi is largely run by SCOM graduates. They are the ones that organize most outreach activities and mobilize resources for conferences. Of this year\u2019s 41 conferences countrywide, 40 were organized and resourced by graduates, with support from other partners. Associates also visit schools to provide encouragement, guidance, and training. Without this kind of mobilisation, it would be impossible for SCOM to reach its 350,000 high school students across 1,700 schools. 

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Vanessa (IVCF Canada) also observes a resourcing and engagement that travels in the other direction. Her years of ministry have convinced her that high school students are like \u201ccultural prophets\u201d \u2013 they represent what\u2019s coming to the university in four to five years\u2019 time. She believes that staff who mainly serve on university campuses would enhance their ministry by giving 5-10 hours a term to high school ministry.  

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GROWING INTEREST 

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With at least these five good reasons for high school ministry, IFES is aiming to better connect movements that are running it (around 60) and those who are looking to start.  

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In June, more than 50 high school ministry staff from seven movements in the East Asia region joined an online webinar called \u201cBridging the Gaps \u2013 Understanding and Discipling the High Schoolers\u201d. Staff from CEF Taiwan and IVCF Philippines shared specific challenges and opportunities they\u2019ve encountered in reaching this generation (\u201clet them lead, let them explore, even if it feels messy or slow!\u201d). 

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Globally, the IFES leadership recently welcomed proposals for a high school ministry working group, a community for sharing ideas, and a resource library. The diversity of experiences and contexts across a truly international fellowship will allow for a rich exchange of best practice. 

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Sometimes, sharing of expertise even comes full circle. Vanessa (IVCF Canada) mentioned how helpful it was to speak with staff from Jamaica at IFES World Assembly in 2023. The school work there was pioneered by a Canadian staff worker, Cathy Nicoll in 1948. She helped start groups in six schools, leading to the formation of the Inter School Christian Fellowship (ISCF), a branch of what is now SCF/SU Jamaica. This legacy spread across the Caribbean. Today, many movements carry the \u201cIS/IVCF\u201d label \u2013 Inter-School and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. 

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\u201cIt was amazing to hear what they\u2019re doing \u2013 and encouraging to think that as a movement we can now learn from them!\u201d, Vanessa says. 

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(c) Students Christian Fellowship & Scripture Union 

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THE WAY AHEAD 

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Each movement, of course, ministers in its own context. The stories above illustrate how IFES movements\u2019 high school ministry has usually been a wise and strategic response to local need or opportunity. In some countries, it\u2019s not always necessary or appropriate to start groups in schools since other organisations are present. But fruitful partnerships can be explored. 

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One way or another, this age group can benefit from the student-led, outward-focused, biblically engaging, leader-raising ministry that IFES offers. And since high school students are more globally connected and aware than ever, the \u201cno time to waste\u201d reason feels particularly pertinent: 

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\u201cThis ministry allows IFES movements to be present in the lives of students at a very critical stage of their lives \u2013 when they are searching and trying to discover who they are and what they want to become. This is the time to introduce Christ and his kingdom values to them!\u201d Ellen (SCOM Malawi). 

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Are you involved in high school ministry or hoping to start it?  

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We\u2019d love to pray for you! 

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Tell us how we can by sending in a World Student Day prayer request. Then, thousands of people all around the world will pray for you on 16 October. 

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The post STARTING EARLY\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "What comes to your mind when you hear the word students? Where are they? What are they doing? How old are they? \n\n\n\nIn some cultures and languages, the word \u201cstudent\u201d is reserved for a young adult at university or college. In others, it can also refer to a child or young person at school. \n\n\n\n\nAt its heart and throughout its history, IFES has focused on pioneering and supporting student witness in the world\u2019s universities and colleges. \n\n\n\nHowever, many of our national movements do not confine ministry to tertiary-level students. Their mission also extends into secondary schools. \n\n\n\nIn this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we ask why. \n\n\n\n\nWhy are movements whose purpose is to reach and equip university students also ministering to school students? \n\n\n\nWithin IFES, and elsewhere, this is often called \u201chigh school ministry\u201d, although the use and meaning of \u201chigh school\u201d differs from country to country \u2013 as do the ages at which young people attend it. In this blog, we\u2019ll use it to refer to the stage of schooling that precedes university education. \n\n\n\nWe talked to three IFES movements with a thriving high school ministry \u2013 Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada, Perkantas (Indonesia), and Student Christian Organisation of Malawi. Their reflections, along with information and observations from other movements, provide at least five good reasons for this ministry and offer useful insights into running it. \n\n\n\n1: NO TIME TO WASTE \n\n\n\nThe year was 1979. Indonesia was suffering from widespread juvenile delinquency. Fights between schools and substance abuse were common. In Surabaya, Mrs Lea Santoso, a staff worker for the local IFES movement Perkantas \u2013 formed just eight years prior \u2013 felt a deep concern for these youngsters.  \n\n\n\nSo, Lea invited a few high school students from her church to study the Bible together. Along with her husband Imam, they nurtured faith, helping them choose Christ\u2019s way rather than the harmful options all around. \n\n\n\nWhen the students started university, they continued to follow Jesus. And they impressed others with the quality of their character and leadership. Seeing the impact that high school ministry could have, Mr and Mrs Santoso set about expanding this arm of Perkantas. Today, over 1,600 small groups operate across 40 cities. \n\n\n\n\nRabea Merry, current High School Ministry Coordinator for Perkantas, says, \u201cschools often express appreciation for the visible Christlike character and academic excellence of our students. And parents support their children\u2019s involvement because they see positive changes in behaviour and performance.\u201d \n\n\n\nFifty years on, the pressures facing young people in Indonesia are different. But they are still impressionable \u2013 and responsive. The sense of urgency to reach them remains. \n\n\n\n(c) Perkantas \n\n\n\n\n\nLast year, an IFES camp for the French-speaking Caribbean included students from both university and high school. \n\n\n\nThe same impetus was evident. The program focused on how to resist temptation because of the widespread pressures of drugs, sex, alcohol, and conforming to social trends. \n\n\n\n\nIn Canada, Vanessa Kordupel, Director of Youth and High School Ministry in IVCF, has noticed that churches are deeply worried about her country\u2019s \u201cchanging landscape\u201d, with its increasingly secular and digital environment. She sees this as a pressing opportunity: \u201cThey\u2019re an amazing generation \u2013 they just need equipping!\u201d. \n\n\n\n2: NO-ONE MISSES OUT \n\n\n\nCampus ministry to high school students isn\u2019t solely motivated by the idea of reaching students \u201cbefore university\u201d because many of them will not go on to further study. Although the number of students in tertiary education has doubled globally in the last 20 years, countless influential young people will never go to university. High school ministry represents a chance to reach them. \n\n\n\nIn Germany, around 30% of 20-24 years olds choose a non-tertiary vocational qualification. Since the 1960s, the local IFES movement, SMD, has been accompanying and supporting student Bible study groups (SBKs) in schools, aiming to \u201cgive God space in everyday school life\u201d. They currently work with around 200 groups and provide resources for starting a new SBK.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n(c) SMD \n\n\n\nTypically, groups will read the Bible and pray together, discuss difficult questions they\u2019re facing, stand up for justice, and pass on God\u2019s love in practical ways. Even though some of these Christian students may not go on to experience the way in which SMD is \u201cengaging the university\u201d, they will have learned how to think and live in a consistently Christian way.  \n\n\n\n\nIn Canada, annual camps have been a core component of IVCF ministry since Howard Guinness founded the movement almost 100 years ago.\n\n\n\n Today, such ministry is still going strong. Last year, over 7,700 children and teens attended one of nine camps across the country. \n\n\n\n\n(c) InterVarsity Canada \n\n\n\nThe camps\u2019 importance is conveyed by a story from Anne Douglas, Associate Director of Camps: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen I went to say goodnight to some girls, their cabin leader told me that four of them had decided to follow Jesus that evening. I stayed for a moment to pray with them. Their requests were heart-wrenching, particularly the number of their parents mired in addiction.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n3: A TASTE OF CAMPUS WITNESS \n\n\n\nAnother good reason for reaching high schoolers is that they gain a flavour of campus ministry. As they explore big issues, engage with Scripture, and enjoy fellowship with peers, they taste the essential ingredients of an IFES university group.\n\n\n\n\nThis strategy has been particularly effective for movements that do not yet have any designated ministry in schools.\n\n\n\nFor example, BSFB Bangladesh has seen much fruit from including students aged 14+ in their annual camps. Savithri, Regional Secretary for South Asia, describes them as a \u201cfeeder for university ministry\u201d. \n\n\n\n\n\nThis is also true where groups exist in high schools. Vanessa (IVCF Canada) notes how Howard Guiness\u2019 pioneering vision was that high school ministry would form a vital bridge between camps and campuses. \n\n\n\nShe also stresses how their work in schools naturally leads into university ministry because the \u201cstudents reaching students\u201d ethos is the same. IVCF high school ministry is supported by staff, volunteers, and youth pastors, but their role is only ever to equip students to lead. Staff may offer one-to-one discipleship conversations over a bubble tea or run leadership training on sharing faith and issues of identity. But it\u2019s the teenagers who are leading lunchtime Bible studies and Alpha groups.  \n\n\n\n\nStudents are also the ones to plan and execute \u201cservice projects\u201d in the school community. In one, they put positive messages on Post-it notes and stuck them around the toilet area during exam season. Student leaders might also approach a school principal to ask for permission to run a group.  \n\n\n\nIn SCOM Malawi, General Secretary Ellen Napala, observes the same kind of initiative: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see that many branches of our school ministry are opened by students. When a student who has been part of SCOM transfers to a school without a group, they liaise with school management and start one \u2013 it\u2019s only afterwards that our staff and volunteers find out!\u201d   \n\n\n\n\n4: READY-MADE LEADERS \n\n\n\n\nWith this level of hands-on involvement, by the time students finish school and enter university, they\u2019re ready to lead on campus.\n\n\n\nIn the Caribbean, Kayley\u2019s experience of JS Suriname at high school led her to help re-establish JS university ministry.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\nVanessa (IVCF Canada) sees such students as \u201ca gift\u201d to campus staff \u2013 \u201cfrom Day 1, they are excited by the vision and trained for ministry, ready to lead interactive Bible studies, hold gospel conversations, and meet challenges with courage and resilience.\u201d \n\n\n\nRabea (Perkantas Indonesia) agrees: \u201cWe believe that high school ministry forms a foundation for university ministry. Reaching students early allows for stronger discipleship and the development of godly leadership. We see many who were discipled in high school continue as spiritual leaders on campus and in local churches.\u201d \n\n\n\nIn Malawi, Ellen adds that SCOM has the backing of churches, the Ministry of Education, and other key figures in society because its school ministry has raised godly leaders for over 60 years: \u201cThe impact of SCOM cannot be ignored because most people who are doing well or in key positions today attribute their success to their involvement with SCOM from their high school days.\u201d \n\n\n\nThe benefit of an IFES movement\u2019s high school ministry is not only felt \u201cat home\u201d. In many cases it reaches beyond borders. SCF Mauritius say that around half of the school leavers on their island go to study abroad, becoming \u201ca gift\u201d to campus staff in a sister movement. Indeed, GBUC, the French-speaking movement in Canada, as well as movements in North Africa, frequently receive international students whose involvement at high school has given them a heart for IFES ministry. \n\n\n\n5: FULLER ENGAGEMENT \n\n\n\nWhen you visit some IFES movements\u2019 websites, a continuous, integrated whole is immediately clear. For example, both IVCF Canada and SMD Germany have designated sections for high school students, university students, and graduates (young professionals).  \n\n\n\nEllen (SCOM Malawi) describes how three interconnected parts facilitate a deeper engagement with the ministry \u2013 and fuller support in following years: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cWith more time to disciple and mentor students through high school and university, the students cultivate a stronger relationship with the national movement. It\u2019s easier to recruit graduates as volunteers (\u201cAssociates\u201d) because they have seen the benefits of this ministry. And getting them to support the ministry is easier because they saw how others invested in them.\u201d  \n\n\n\n\nShe also says that involving university students in high school ministry develops relationships so that high school students already have mentors to look to when they enter university. \u201cIt\u2019s very unlikely that they wouldn\u2019t join the fellowship at university \u2013 they\u2019re already hooked!\u201d \n\n\n\nMoreover, high school ministry in Malawi is largely run by SCOM graduates. They are the ones that organize most outreach activities and mobilize resources for conferences. Of this year\u2019s 41 conferences countrywide, 40 were organized and resourced by graduates, with support from other partners. Associates also visit schools to provide encouragement, guidance, and training. Without this kind of mobilisation, it would be impossible for SCOM to reach its 350,000 high school students across 1,700 schools. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nVanessa (IVCF Canada) also observes a resourcing and engagement that travels in the other direction. Her years of ministry have convinced her that high school students are like \u201ccultural prophets\u201d \u2013 they represent what\u2019s coming to the university in four to five years\u2019 time. She believes that staff who mainly serve on university campuses would enhance their ministry by giving 5-10 hours a term to high school ministry.  \n\n\n\nGROWING INTEREST \n\n\n\nWith at least these five good reasons for high school ministry, IFES is aiming to better connect movements that are running it (around 60) and those who are looking to start.  \n\n\n\nIn June, more than 50 high school ministry staff from seven movements in the East Asia region joined an online webinar called \u201cBridging the Gaps \u2013 Understanding and Discipling the High Schoolers\u201d. Staff from CEF Taiwan and IVCF Philippines shared specific challenges and opportunities they\u2019ve encountered in reaching this generation (\u201clet them lead, let them explore, even if it feels messy or slow!\u201d). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGlobally, the IFES leadership recently welcomed proposals for a high school ministry working group, a community for sharing ideas, and a resource library. The diversity of experiences and contexts across a truly international fellowship will allow for a rich exchange of best practice. \n\n\n\nSometimes, sharing of expertise even comes full circle. Vanessa (IVCF Canada) mentioned how helpful it was to speak with staff from Jamaica at IFES World Assembly in 2023. The school work there was pioneered by a Canadian staff worker, Cathy Nicoll in 1948. She helped start groups in six schools, leading to the formation of the Inter School Christian Fellowship (ISCF), a branch of what is now SCF/SU Jamaica. This legacy spread across the Caribbean. Today, many movements carry the \u201cIS/IVCF\u201d label \u2013 Inter-School and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. \n\n\n\n\u201cIt was amazing to hear what they\u2019re doing \u2013 and encouraging to think that as a movement we can now learn from them!\u201d, Vanessa says. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n(c) Students Christian Fellowship & Scripture Union \n\n\n\nTHE WAY AHEAD \n\n\n\nEach movement, of course, ministers in its own context. The stories above illustrate how IFES movements\u2019 high school ministry has usually been a wise and strategic response to local need or opportunity. In some countries, it\u2019s not always necessary or appropriate to start groups in schools since other organisations are present. But fruitful partnerships can be explored. \n\n\n\nOne way or another, this age group can benefit from the student-led, outward-focused, biblically engaging, leader-raising ministry that IFES offers. And since high school students are more globally connected and aware than ever, the \u201cno time to waste\u201d reason feels particularly pertinent: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cThis ministry allows IFES movements to be present in the lives of students at a very critical stage of their lives \u2013 when they are searching and trying to discover who they are and what they want to become. This is the time to introduce Christ and his kingdom values to them!\u201d Ellen (SCOM Malawi). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAre you involved in high school ministry or hoping to start it?  \n\n\n\nWe\u2019d love to pray for you! \n\n\n\nTell us how we can by sending in a World Student Day prayer request. Then, thousands of people all around the world will pray for you on 16 October. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n SHARE A PRAYER REQUEST  \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Pray With Us \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post STARTING EARLY\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-07-02T21:14:16+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-07T13:14:06+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/STL-event-slides.png" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=46149", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/meeting-gen-z-students-worldwide/", "title": "MEETING GEN Z STUDENTS WORLDWIDE\u00a0", "content_html": "
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They are today\u2019s and tomorrow\u2019s university students: Generation Z (Gen Z). Born in the period 1997-2012, they form the world\u2019s largest single generation \u2013 around one third of its population.  

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In western societies, this distinctive demographic has been thoroughly analysed. And Christian ministries \u2013 including IFES movements like InterVarsity USA \u2013 have tailored their outreach and discipleship accordingly. Later this year, UCCF Great Britain will launch a new version of Uncover Luke that\u2019s aimed at appealing to this generation\u2019s longing for beauty and transcendence. 

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However, the vast majority of Gen Z students do not live in the west. In her talk \u201cEquipping Gen Z for Missional Living\u201d, Denise Margaret Thompson notes that a quarter of Gen Zers live in South Asia, with India’s cohort nearly three times that of all of Europe\u2019s.  

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GLOBAL TRENDS?   

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In response to this, IFES has been eagerly exploring whether trends associated with Gen Z are apparent across our global fellowship. If they are, huge potential exists for collaborative ministry and mission among Gen Z students.  

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So, last year, Peter Dray (formerly Director of Creative Evangelism at UCCF Great Britain) was commissioned to investigate. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups he\u2019s spoken to Gen Z students and staff in national movements from four IFES world regions.  

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In this blog, he reflects on his field notes and identifies four global Gen Z characteristics that are significant for life and faith. 

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1: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Digital Generation

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On my travels, it felt like smartphones were everywhere, and especially on university campuses!  

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Gen Z spends a huge amount of time online \u2013 communicating, watching videos, and handling everyday tasks on their phones \u2013 perhaps all at the same time. Some Singaporean students proudly told me how they were now experts in multi-tasking! 

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Digital immersion means that Gen Z has vast amounts of information at its fingertips \u2013 far more than previous generations did.

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This is especially noticeable in lower-income countries, where mobile internet coverage has boomed. I was moved by interviewees who shared about their easy access to theological resources that their parents never had.

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Practically, Gen Zers can learn skills, make friends, and earn money in ways previous generations couldn’t \u2013 with many having a new sense of drive and entrepreneurialism. One student in rural Kenya shared how he’s paying for his education by selling photos (taken on his phone) to clients around the world.  

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Digital technologies seem to be encouraging greater individuality, immediacy, and spontaneity. 

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Many people I talked to hate phone calls or long texts, preferring to communicate using short messages, GIFs, and stickers. This leads Gen Zers to communicate informally, even with older people or those in authority \u2013 a sign of their preference for flatter organisational structures that can hold leaders to account.  

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Socialising habits are changing too. Gen Zers prioritise time by themselves, even in countries with a historically communitarian mindset. They find waiting difficult, leading them to spur-of-the-moment decisions with a short-term focus. One student told me he’d rather buy single sachets of hot chocolate than a whole jar. He knew it cost more overall but preferred that it was less upfront! 

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Many interviewees also talked about the dark side of constant connection and easy internet access. Online gambling is attractive to students desperate for quick cash, the use of porn is common, and plagiarism is tempting. Several interviewees shared struggles with gaming addiction. Students in lower-income countries seem especially vulnerable and in need of guidance \u2013 the sudden tech explosion has clearly caught parents and churches off guard. 

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Many also felt overwhelmed by the complexity of digital life. Being ‘always on’ takes a toll. One student, who generally appreciates digital tech, said that, for Gen Z, life requires constant effort, with little mental downtime. He said that Christians could never afford to reduce their level of vigilance \u2013 meaning not only the temptations above but also the tug towards hours of endless scrolling. 

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He summed up what many felt: that constant connection is bringing Gen Z students a unique psychological burden, leaving them feeling mentally and emotionally drained. 

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2: Gen Z Students \u2013 A More Aware Generation

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This rise in easy access to internet technologies has been accompanied by increased personal mobility and swift urbanisation, especially in Africa and Asia. Gen Z students are widely exposed to people and ideas from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

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This can create a \u2018shared vernacular\u2019 \u2013 one American staff member in the Middle East said a local student \u201ctalks just like my 18-year-old sister\u201d. It’s also causing Gen Z to dress more alike, no matter where they’re from.

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In some places, exposure to people from other cultures is prompting Gen Zers to question deep-rooted assumptions. In Kenya, for example, those who have built relationships with those beyond their tribes find that tribal identity is less important to them than it is to their parents. Many have never learned their tribal language; some only use their English names. This sense of having \u2018more in common\u2019 is driving young Kenyans to unite in political activism, most notably in the so-called \u2018Gen Z protests\u2019 against the government in July 2024. 

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In some lower-income countries, the greater awareness brought about by digital technologies has exaggerated the generational gap. \u201cOur parents knew a lot about a little,\u201d one Gen Z student told me, \u201cbut we know a little about a lot.\u201d Some expressed frustration that their parents (and churches) couldn\u2019t handle questions they had from content they\u2019d seen online. The danger of blindly accepting answers offered by search engines, AI, or influencers was apparent. 

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In Ireland, I met a Gen Z volunteer whose experience illustrates how his cultural awareness has grown due to global mobility. He grew up in a homogeneous area and had no cross-cultural training. Yet at university, he met people from a range of nations and backgrounds. On one occasion, he met waiters from Sudan, greeting them with some Arabic phrases he’d picked up. He then impressed them with facts he\u2019d learned about Sudan (including that it has more pyramids than Egypt!). This cultural awareness created an instant connection, opening doors for meaningful conversation. 

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Despite greater general awareness, it would be misleading to suggest that cross-cultural engagement is common. In many countries, students still mostly hang out with others from their own ethnic background. Students who’ve made friends beyond their ethnic group have often been challenged to do so or seen it modelled by others \u2013 very often by staff from local IFES movements.

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But the opportunity for cross-cultural friendship, personal growth, and gospel ministry \u2013 both as students and later as graduates \u2013 is bigger than ever. 

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3: Gen Z Students \u2013 The Post-Pandemic Generation

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For Generation Z, the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly significant. As lockdowns swept the globe, most Gen Zers were in their teens \u2013 a vital stage in their development.  

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People I interviewed had mixed feelings about the pandemic. Some \u2013 often feeling quite guilty about it \u2013 admitted they actually enjoyed lockdown, especially if their families weren’t financially struggling.

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Many felt relieved about school being cancelled or not having to take exams! Quite a few talked about times of deep sadness, particularly if they lost loved ones or if their family faced money problems. Others were frustrated that they were still students, especially if they had to put their education on hold during the pandemic. 

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Lockdowns magnified and sped up the cultural trends described above. Families or individuals who didn’t have smartphones obtained them for the first time, while those who already had them spent much more time online. Around the world, many Gen Zers clearly felt incredibly lonely and without purpose, with only the internet for company. Once again, this appears to have been most acutely experienced in lower-income countries, especially among those who had recently moved to the city and felt uprooted from their traditional support networks. 

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The pandemic has made Gen Z students much more aware of mental health issues. Even in countries where mental illness is still somewhat taboo, students openly discussed struggles they’d seen in themselves and others.

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In Timor-Leste, the local staff who translated my interviews were shocked to discover how central this topic was in their students’ thinking. In some cases, Gen Zers\u2019 familiarity with mental struggles and their experience of human vulnerability seems to have weakened their resilience.  

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In Singapore, local staff noted that lockdowns had impaired students\u2019 social skills, with fewer students feeling comfortable to meet or talk with an outside speaker before a meeting. Staff also noticed that students seem less confident in their own opinions \u2013 for example group leaders might send out online surveys to members to get reassurance on even small decisions. 

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Although many Christian students I talked to are actively sharing their faith, they often lack confidence. That can be related to the gospel itself (especially when faced with the new questions asked by friends) or their ability to explain it well. 

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4: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Spiritually Open Generation

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In every country, Gen Zers told me that their generation is more willing to change their beliefs than their parents were. In places where Christians have been the majority, Gen Z is now exposed to a range of new beliefs and voices. Questions about the compatibility of science and Christianity, for example, are being more widely expressed among Gen Zers in Kenya than ever before. They consider their parents\u2019 ignorance to this issue both frustrating and na\u00efve.  

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People I interviewed in every country also talked about the challenges Christians face around gender and sexuality. In many countries \u2013 including lower-income countries \u2013 new age spiritualities (like \u2018manifesting\u2019) are becoming popular. Christian Gen Zers are particularly vulnerable to new intellectual and personal doubts. 

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This openness to reconsider beliefs is also noticeable among those outside the church.  

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In Timor-Leste, Gen Z students are more likely to seek modern medical care than visit a traditional healer.

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They’re more generally willing to question the animistic and nominal Roman Catholic beliefs that have historically dominated their nation. Some Timorese Gen Zers have been drawn to evangelical churches and student groups because they had first watched evangelical worship online.\u00a0\u00a0

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In the Middle East, staff described how internet use has made Muslim students more aware and curious about Christianity than they were even just a few years ago. Some are now more open to studying the Bible or experiencing Christian friendship. 

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In my own country, the United Kingdom \u2013 and in other countries across Europe and North America \u2013 surveys indicate that Gen Z is interested in spirituality and religion. The challenge is that Gen Zers are not just open to Christianity or to Jesus \u2013 they’re open to almost everything, often exploring multiple paths at the same time.  

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To stay faithful in a world with so many competing beliefs, Gen Z needs to know that Jesus is unique and that faith in him makes real sense. 

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REACHING GEN Z STUDENTS TOGETHER 

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These four recurrent themes have shown me that similar approaches can be taken to the reaching and discipling of Gen Z students worldwide, while also allowing for local variations.

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My investigations have also caused me to reflect on how IFES movements throughout their histories have, at their best, shown an amazing ability to help students understand how the gospel connects to their cultural moment \u2013 and that this is just as needed today. 

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So, let’s explore how we can work together, seeking God’s wisdom, as we reimagine this task for a generation that\u2019s digitally immersed, globally connected, pandemic-affected, and spiritually open. 

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These field notes will be followed by a full report later in the year \u2013 stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp channels for more information. 

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WHAT\u2019S YOUR VIEW? 

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Do these four features resonate with your experience and context?

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We\u2019d love to hear your observations on Gen Z from where you are. 

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Share your thoughts with us at hello@ifesworld.org 

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The post MEETING GEN Z STUDENTS WORLDWIDE\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "They are today\u2019s and tomorrow\u2019s university students: Generation Z (Gen Z). Born in the period 1997-2012, they form the world\u2019s largest single generation \u2013 around one third of its population.  \n\n\n\nIn western societies, this distinctive demographic has been thoroughly analysed. And Christian ministries \u2013 including IFES movements like InterVarsity USA \u2013 have tailored their outreach and discipleship accordingly. Later this year, UCCF Great Britain will launch a new version of Uncover Luke that\u2019s aimed at appealing to this generation\u2019s longing for beauty and transcendence. \n\n\n\nHowever, the vast majority of Gen Z students do not live in the west. In her talk \u201cEquipping Gen Z for Missional Living\u201d, Denise Margaret Thompson notes that a quarter of Gen Zers live in South Asia, with India’s cohort nearly three times that of all of Europe\u2019s.  \n\n\n\nGLOBAL TRENDS?   \n\n\n\nIn response to this, IFES has been eagerly exploring whether trends associated with Gen Z are apparent across our global fellowship. If they are, huge potential exists for collaborative ministry and mission among Gen Z students.  \n\n\n\nSo, last year, Peter Dray (formerly Director of Creative Evangelism at UCCF Great Britain) was commissioned to investigate. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups he\u2019s spoken to Gen Z students and staff in national movements from four IFES world regions.  \n\n\n\nIn this blog, he reflects on his field notes and identifies four global Gen Z characteristics that are significant for life and faith. \n\n\n\n1: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Digital Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn my travels, it felt like smartphones were everywhere, and especially on university campuses!  \n\n\n\nGen Z spends a huge amount of time online \u2013 communicating, watching videos, and handling everyday tasks on their phones \u2013 perhaps all at the same time. Some Singaporean students proudly told me how they were now experts in multi-tasking! \n\n\n\n\nDigital immersion means that Gen Z has vast amounts of information at its fingertips \u2013 far more than previous generations did.\n\n\n\n This is especially noticeable in lower-income countries, where mobile internet coverage has boomed. I was moved by interviewees who shared about their easy access to theological resources that their parents never had. \n\n\n\nPractically, Gen Zers can learn skills, make friends, and earn money in ways previous generations couldn’t \u2013 with many having a new sense of drive and entrepreneurialism. One student in rural Kenya shared how he’s paying for his education by selling photos (taken on his phone) to clients around the world.  \n\n\n\nDigital technologies seem to be encouraging greater individuality, immediacy, and spontaneity. \n\n\n\n\nMany people I talked to hate phone calls or long texts, preferring to communicate using short messages, GIFs, and stickers. This leads Gen Zers to communicate informally, even with older people or those in authority \u2013 a sign of their preference for flatter organisational structures that can hold leaders to account.  \n\n\n\nSocialising habits are changing too. Gen Zers prioritise time by themselves, even in countries with a historically communitarian mindset. They find waiting difficult, leading them to spur-of-the-moment decisions with a short-term focus. One student told me he’d rather buy single sachets of hot chocolate than a whole jar. He knew it cost more overall but preferred that it was less upfront! \n\n\n\nMany interviewees also talked about the dark side of constant connection and easy internet access. Online gambling is attractive to students desperate for quick cash, the use of porn is common, and plagiarism is tempting. Several interviewees shared struggles with gaming addiction. Students in lower-income countries seem especially vulnerable and in need of guidance \u2013 the sudden tech explosion has clearly caught parents and churches off guard. \n\n\n\nMany also felt overwhelmed by the complexity of digital life. Being ‘always on’ takes a toll. One student, who generally appreciates digital tech, said that, for Gen Z, life requires constant effort, with little mental downtime. He said that Christians could never afford to reduce their level of vigilance \u2013 meaning not only the temptations above but also the tug towards hours of endless scrolling. \n\n\n\n\nHe summed up what many felt: that constant connection is bringing Gen Z students a unique psychological burden, leaving them feeling mentally and emotionally drained. \n\n\n\n\n2: Gen Z Students \u2013 A More Aware Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis rise in easy access to internet technologies has been accompanied by increased personal mobility and swift urbanisation, especially in Africa and Asia. Gen Z students are widely exposed to people and ideas from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.\n\n\n\n This can create a \u2018shared vernacular\u2019 \u2013 one American staff member in the Middle East said a local student \u201ctalks just like my 18-year-old sister\u201d. It’s also causing Gen Z to dress more alike, no matter where they’re from.\n\n\n\n\nIn some places, exposure to people from other cultures is prompting Gen Zers to question deep-rooted assumptions. In Kenya, for example, those who have built relationships with those beyond their tribes find that tribal identity is less important to them than it is to their parents. Many have never learned their tribal language; some only use their English names. This sense of having \u2018more in common\u2019 is driving young Kenyans to unite in political activism, most notably in the so-called \u2018Gen Z protests\u2019 against the government in July 2024. \n\n\n\nIn some lower-income countries, the greater awareness brought about by digital technologies has exaggerated the generational gap. \u201cOur parents knew a lot about a little,\u201d one Gen Z student told me, \u201cbut we know a little about a lot.\u201d Some expressed frustration that their parents (and churches) couldn\u2019t handle questions they had from content they\u2019d seen online. The danger of blindly accepting answers offered by search engines, AI, or influencers was apparent. \n\n\n\nIn Ireland, I met a Gen Z volunteer whose experience illustrates how his cultural awareness has grown due to global mobility. He grew up in a homogeneous area and had no cross-cultural training. Yet at university, he met people from a range of nations and backgrounds. On one occasion, he met waiters from Sudan, greeting them with some Arabic phrases he’d picked up. He then impressed them with facts he\u2019d learned about Sudan (including that it has more pyramids than Egypt!). This cultural awareness created an instant connection, opening doors for meaningful conversation. \n\n\n\nDespite greater general awareness, it would be misleading to suggest that cross-cultural engagement is common. In many countries, students still mostly hang out with others from their own ethnic background. Students who’ve made friends beyond their ethnic group have often been challenged to do so or seen it modelled by others \u2013 very often by staff from local IFES movements.\n\n\n\n\nBut the opportunity for cross-cultural friendship, personal growth, and gospel ministry \u2013 both as students and later as graduates \u2013 is bigger than ever. \n\n\n\n\n3: Gen Z Students \u2013 The Post-Pandemic Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor Generation Z, the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly significant. As lockdowns swept the globe, most Gen Zers were in their teens \u2013 a vital stage in their development.  \n\n\n\n\nPeople I interviewed had mixed feelings about the pandemic. Some \u2013 often feeling quite guilty about it \u2013 admitted they actually enjoyed lockdown, especially if their families weren’t financially struggling. \n\n\n\nMany felt relieved about school being cancelled or not having to take exams! Quite a few talked about times of deep sadness, particularly if they lost loved ones or if their family faced money problems. Others were frustrated that they were still students, especially if they had to put their education on hold during the pandemic. \n\n\n\n\nLockdowns magnified and sped up the cultural trends described above. Families or individuals who didn’t have smartphones obtained them for the first time, while those who already had them spent much more time online. Around the world, many Gen Zers clearly felt incredibly lonely and without purpose, with only the internet for company. Once again, this appears to have been most acutely experienced in lower-income countries, especially among those who had recently moved to the city and felt uprooted from their traditional support networks. \n\n\n\n\nThe pandemic has made Gen Z students much more aware of mental health issues. Even in countries where mental illness is still somewhat taboo, students openly discussed struggles they’d seen in themselves and others.\n\n\n\n\n In Timor-Leste, the local staff who translated my interviews were shocked to discover how central this topic was in their students’ thinking. In some cases, Gen Zers\u2019 familiarity with mental struggles and their experience of human vulnerability seems to have weakened their resilience.  \n\n\n\nIn Singapore, local staff noted that lockdowns had impaired students\u2019 social skills, with fewer students feeling comfortable to meet or talk with an outside speaker before a meeting. Staff also noticed that students seem less confident in their own opinions \u2013 for example group leaders might send out online surveys to members to get reassurance on even small decisions. \n\n\n\nAlthough many Christian students I talked to are actively sharing their faith, they often lack confidence. That can be related to the gospel itself (especially when faced with the new questions asked by friends) or their ability to explain it well. \n\n\n\n4: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Spiritually Open Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn every country, Gen Zers told me that their generation is more willing to change their beliefs than their parents were. In places where Christians have been the majority, Gen Z is now exposed to a range of new beliefs and voices. Questions about the compatibility of science and Christianity, for example, are being more widely expressed among Gen Zers in Kenya than ever before. They consider their parents\u2019 ignorance to this issue both frustrating and na\u00efve.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPeople I interviewed in every country also talked about the challenges Christians face around gender and sexuality. In many countries \u2013 including lower-income countries \u2013 new age spiritualities (like \u2018manifesting\u2019) are becoming popular. Christian Gen Zers are particularly vulnerable to new intellectual and personal doubts. \n\n\n\nThis openness to reconsider beliefs is also noticeable among those outside the church.  \n\n\n\n\nIn Timor-Leste, Gen Z students are more likely to seek modern medical care than visit a traditional healer. \n\n\n\nThey’re more generally willing to question the animistic and nominal Roman Catholic beliefs that have historically dominated their nation. Some Timorese Gen Zers have been drawn to evangelical churches and student groups because they had first watched evangelical worship online.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn the Middle East, staff described how internet use has made Muslim students more aware and curious about Christianity than they were even just a few years ago. Some are now more open to studying the Bible or experiencing Christian friendship. \n\n\n\nIn my own country, the United Kingdom \u2013 and in other countries across Europe and North America \u2013 surveys indicate that Gen Z is interested in spirituality and religion. The challenge is that Gen Zers are not just open to Christianity or to Jesus \u2013 they’re open to almost everything, often exploring multiple paths at the same time.  \n\n\n\n\nTo stay faithful in a world with so many competing beliefs, Gen Z needs to know that Jesus is unique and that faith in him makes real sense. \n\n\n\n\nREACHING GEN Z STUDENTS TOGETHER \n\n\n\n\nThese four recurrent themes have shown me that similar approaches can be taken to the reaching and discipling of Gen Z students worldwide, while also allowing for local variations. \n\n\n\nMy investigations have also caused me to reflect on how IFES movements throughout their histories have, at their best, shown an amazing ability to help students understand how the gospel connects to their cultural moment \u2013 and that this is just as needed today. \n\n\n\n\nSo, let’s explore how we can work together, seeking God’s wisdom, as we reimagine this task for a generation that\u2019s digitally immersed, globally connected, pandemic-affected, and spiritually open. \n\n\n\nThese field notes will be followed by a full report later in the year \u2013 stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp channels for more information. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nWHAT\u2019S YOUR VIEW? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDo these four features resonate with your experience and context? \n\n\n\nWe\u2019d love to hear your observations on Gen Z from where you are. \n\n\n\nShare your thoughts with us at hello@ifesworld.org \n\n\n\n\n \n \n SHARE NOW \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n IFES CONNECT \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post MEETING GEN Z STUDENTS WORLDWIDE\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-05-08T16:09:35+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-07T13:25:33+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/0-banner-pete-in-kenya-scaled.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=45184", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/good-leaders/", "title": "GOOD LEADERS FOR CAMPUS, CHURCH, AND SOCIETY\u00a0", "content_html": "
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\u201cOur world needs leaders shaped by God.\u201d  

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It\u2019s an assertion we all feel deeply today. We see the damaging effects of cruel dictators, greedy politicians, corrupt officials \u2013 and wayward pastors.  

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But it\u2019s always been true. Proud Egypt needed a Joseph, faithless Israel needed a Deborah, and God-defying Babylon needed a Daniel. And God delivered. He shaped a household slave, a prophetess, and an international student into leaders of vision, compassion, justice, courage, and integrity. 

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Thankfully, God is still calling and shaping leaders today \u2013 and IFES is grateful to be part of that work. Through our national movements, regional programs, and global initiatives, students are being formed into leaders of influence. Our vision statement says:   

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\u201cAt the heart of everything we do is a desire to see students thriving together as communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel and impacting the university, the church and society for the glory of Christ.\u201d   

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In this blog, we hear directly from a student in Asia, a pastor in Latin America, and a lawyer in Africa. They tell us how their involvement in IFES has shaped them as leaders \u2013 for the university, the church, and society. 

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LEADERS FOR UNIVERSITY: NAOMI 

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Naomi Chandrasekharan is a final year student in zoology at the Open University and a student leader in the IFES movement in Sri Lanka.  

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Back in 2020, when COVID kept us all restricted to Zoom calls, I joined FOCUS \u2013 the Fellowship of Christian University Students in Sri Lanka. After two years, I found myself being invited to join around 20 other students from across the island on the National Student Executive (NSE), our student leadership body. 

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Having grown up in a church focused on discipleship and reaching the unreached, my foundation in leadership was already laid. However, the student movement pushed me further, challenging me to study God\u2019s Word more deeply \u2013 not just for personal growth, but for its impact on the world around me. 

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As leaders, we were encouraged to think critically about the issues we saw, both on campus and in wider society. And, most importantly, we explored how the gospel related to those issues. This required us to slow down, pause, and reflect \u2013 an increasingly rare habit in today\u2019s fast-paced world. And one I struggled with as well!  

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Through these practices, I began to understand that leadership is not about what we do for God, but rather recognizing what he is already doing in the world and partnering with him in that mission.  

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In 2022, amid Sri Lanka\u2019s economic crisis, a FOCUS initiative called \u201cWord and the World\u201d gave us the chance to visit poverty-stricken areas across the island, with teams spending several days in local communities. It was an eye-opening experience. It revealed the urgent needs within our own land, and it was a place where our education and the needs of the people met \u2013 a place where dreams were born and hearts were changed.  

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FOCUS fellowship groups on campus have also organized programs to address key student issues. University-wide discussions have been turned into action, and we\u2019ve been given the opportunity to lead some of those sessions. As we served in predominantly unbelieving environments, we learned to respect all people as we created spaces where we could navigate difficult questions of life together. 

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Our student movement operates in three languages (Sinhala, Tamil, and English), which can make communication challenging \u2013 yet also enriching! This experience taught me patience, mindfulness, and the importance of listening attentively to those who might not share my language preference. That often meant I needed to talk less! Speaking in someone\u2019s heart language was not just about what was being said but about affirming the person and identifying with them. As a team, we slowly realized that each of us had a vital role to play and that we needed each other as we united to work towards a common goal.  

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In 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in IFES World Assembly. I was deeply encouraged to hear people share their testimonies \u2013 it was amazing to see what God is doing across the world!  

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It was a learning experience as well as a powerful reminder that we are all a part of something bigger. 

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Members of the NSE met regularly for prayer, but it wasn\u2019t until the end of our tenure that we realized those moments were some of the most significant. We saw how God answered those prayers, doing far more than we had asked, and it reminded us that God builds his kingdom and brings everything together in his time. We are simply called to be faithful to him, trusting him for the outcome, knowing that even the smallest act holds significance in his kingdom. 

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Watch Naomi\u2019s reflections on Psalm 16 at IFES World Assembly 2023 
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LEADERS FOR THE CHURCH: RICARDO

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Ricardo Borges served in IFES-related student ministry for 32 years, locally in his national movement, regionally, and globally. Today, he serves as a full-time pastor in a Brazilian Japanese church in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0

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Through my years of service in IFES, I\u2019ve had the special privilege of learning aspects of ministry that I consider to be crucial for my church-based role today.  

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It begins with the centrality of the Word. It must be heard, read, and understood so that it feeds our devotion and love for God and shapes the way we live \u2013 both individually and communally.  

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The ways that I think, study, and expound the Word in church today are all deeply moulded by my years in IFES.  

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I also learned in IFES that it\u2019s the Word that transforms \u2013 both by prophetic denunciation in the world and by impacting individuals and the structures around us. I seek to lead by proclaiming a holistic gospel of salvation. It needs to both touch the person and promote the welfare of the vulnerable and those on the margins in our cities and nations today. In a world of \u201cbuilding walls\u201d, IFES has taught me to cross borders and confront barriers so that I can learn from my brothers and sisters in diverse cultures and contexts.  

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A global community like IFES, with its identity, values, and ethos of mission, taught me to be more humble \u2013 something that\u2019s helped me work better with others in teams. In our church, we work with people of all ages from different cultures and social backgrounds with varied levels of education. My previous ministry experience has prepared me for this. I\u2019m able to be a little more attentive to the contribution that each person in the body of Christ can bring. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed abundantly and generously to all! 

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I also believe that, by God’s grace, IFES has formed in me a pastoral heart. As a leader, I seek to listen to and welcome each person when they come to Christ. 

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I want to help them grow into all the potential they have as a disciple of Christ, in whatever place and sphere of society the Lord has placed them.  

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To this end, I preach, teach, pastor, visit, and disciple people in the local community today. By God\u2019s grace, I pray that it will be a community that is faithful in the city, in the nation, and in the world. It\u2019s a longing that echoes what IFES is striving for \u2013 communities of disciples growing in the gospel and bringing glory to Christ in the complex and challenging world in which we live today. 

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Listen to Ricardo on this Voices of IFES podcast: 

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\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Is God\u2019s Word Worth It?

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Introducing IFES Scripture Engagement with Ricardo Borges

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LEADERS FOR SOCIETY: MARGARET 

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Margaret Muga has worked for Simba & Simba Advocates (Nairobi County, Kenya) since 2022. She was recently appointed a Senior Associate of the firm.    

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I gave my life to Christ in my high school years. Although I went to church and fellowshipped with my family, I never really connected with my spirituality at a deeper level until 2015, when I joined the Christian Union (CU) at Moi University School of Law. 

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I found a welcoming community of believers comprised of fellow students who not only shared similar beliefs but also offered a place of belonging and unity in Christ. It gave me the opportunity to connect with my faith. I began to more deeply engage with Scripture and see its relevance to our daily lives. I served the student fraternity and community around campus.  

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It was during this period that I challenged myself to think critically about my faith and develop my own convictions.  

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I also discovered that the Fellowship of Christian Unions \u2013 FOCUS Kenya \u2013 was providing immense support to student-led CUs across Kenya.  

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FOCUS Kenya provided Bible study guides and supported our campus group with the help of a staff worker. For me, it was not just about studying the Word of God and fellowshipping on campus. We had the opportunity to put our faith into action.  

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We held door-to-door evangelism among campus students and in the surrounding community. We organized missions to various parts of Kenya. We took part in social advocacy campaigns, volunteered for activities, organized food drives for the needy every semester, and attended national conferences organized by FOCUS.  

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It was these leadership opportunities that were pivotal for my growth.  

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I began by leading small groups. Then, in 2018, I was privileged to lead our campus CU as the Chairperson and was subsequently asked to chair FOCUS Kenya\u2019s National Student Executive Committee. A fond lesson and memory from these various leadership opportunities was listening \u2013 to the students, to fellow committee members, to campus management, to FOCUS Kenya, to mentors and mentees, and ultimately to God \u2013 and seeking to align all views to honour God\u2019s will.  

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I even received the opportunity to serve students on a global scale when I was elected as Student Representative on the IFES Board for 2019-2023. At the same time, I was part of IFES English- and Portuguese-Speaking Africa Regional Support team. I joined at a time when COVID-19 had disrupted everything we knew as normal. I appreciated the diversity of IFES \u2013 with all the different backgrounds, cultures, professions, and ministry experiences feeding into our deliberations and decision-making.  

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I can therefore testify that my campus CU, FOCUS Kenya, and IFES not only helped nourish my spiritual walk with Christ but also formed me into an upright Christian, capable of representing Christ and witnessing to him in the marketplace.  

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Today, as a practising Advocate, my faith and affiliation to IFES is something I\u2019m proud of sharing with others at work. I\u2019m an active member of my church and I continue to participate in activities of FOCUS Kenya as an Associate (graduate supporter).  

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Local and global IFES ministry has shaped who I am as a person. It\u2019s given me the courage to share my faith, the confidence to lead, and a heart to serve others for the glory of God. 

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I\u2019m incredibly grateful for this and feel encouraged that the lives of students are continuing to be transformed. 

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THE FORM OF LEADERS SHAPED BY IFES 

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Naomi, Ricardo, and Margaret \u2013 on different continents, in varied contexts \u2013 have been shaped as leaders by local and global expressions of IFES. While each is unique, what emerges are six distinctive dimensions that are common to all: 

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Rooted in the Word. Deep, thoughtful exploration of Scripture in their student years enabled them to see themselves, their peers, and the world through God\u2019s eyes.   

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Attentive to the world. But their Bible studies were not pietistic. All three speak of how they were encouraged to listen and engage with the needs of those around them \u2013 to see how the Word applied to the world. 

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Committed to action. And that engagement was not theoretical \u2013 whether through the compassion of \u201cWord and the World\u201d in Sri Lanka, the passion of countrywide missions in Kenya, or the courage of \u201cprophetic denunciation\u201d in Latin America, these three leaders have made a practical difference.   

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Engaged in church. It\u2019s also striking that all mention their involvement in a local church. Their commitment to IFES leadership did not rob the church of students or young professionals. On the contrary, they now enrich it with their character, gifts, and skills.   

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Connected to the global church. Although they serve in local contexts, their perspective is now informed by their sense of \u201cglobal community\u201d, of being part of \u201csomething bigger\u201d. 

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Trusted to lead. From the outset, they were entrusted with leadership roles \u2013 whether in a local campus group, a national student executive, or a regional body. They developed as leaders by being given the opportunity to lead. 

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God is still delivering leaders of vision, compassion, justice, courage, and integrity. The legacy of Joseph, Deborah, and Daniel lives on in Naomi, Ricardo, and Margaret \u2013 and countless others who God is shaping today as leaders for tomorrow. 

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That\u2019s why this year\u2019s IFES Global Giving Day is so vital.

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On 2 April, we\u2019re inviting support for leadership programs and mentoring networks across IFES.

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Here are 4 ways you can get involved right now: 

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FOUR WAYS TO ENGAGE 

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1. JOIN THE LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION

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Tell us what you\u2019re looking for in a leader. Visit the webpage and share the three qualities you think are most essential \u2013 and see what others are saying.

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2. PRAY FOR LEADERS SHAPED BY GOD

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Use a prayer inspired by \u201cThe Work of His Hands\u201d theme (Isaiah 64) on the Global Giving Day page. Read stories of students, staff, and graduates who have been moulded through IFES.

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3. SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF LEADERS BY GIVING

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You can already donate to Global Giving Day 2025. Thanks to a generous matching fund, every gift will be doubled until we reach our 110,000 USD target!

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4. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SHAPING LEADERS

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Let others know how God is shaping leaders through IFES by sharing this blog. Get your student group, movement, church, or organization involved with resources from the Share Hub.

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However you respond, you can be part of meeting the call for a world with leaders shaped by God. 

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The post GOOD LEADERS FOR CAMPUS, CHURCH, AND SOCIETY\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "\u201cOur world needs leaders shaped by God.\u201d  \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s an assertion we all feel deeply today. We see the damaging effects of cruel dictators, greedy politicians, corrupt officials \u2013 and wayward pastors.  \n\n\n\nBut it\u2019s always been true. Proud Egypt needed a Joseph, faithless Israel needed a Deborah, and God-defying Babylon needed a Daniel. And God delivered. He shaped a household slave, a prophetess, and an international student into leaders of vision, compassion, justice, courage, and integrity. \n\n\n\nThankfully, God is still calling and shaping leaders today \u2013 and IFES is grateful to be part of that work. Through our national movements, regional programs, and global initiatives, students are being formed into leaders of influence. Our vision statement says:   \n\n\n\n\n\u201cAt the heart of everything we do is a desire to see students thriving together as communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel and impacting the university, the church and society for the glory of Christ.\u201d   \n\n\n\n\nIn this blog, we hear directly from a student in Asia, a pastor in Latin America, and a lawyer in Africa. They tell us how their involvement in IFES has shaped them as leaders \u2013 for the university, the church, and society. \n\n\n\nLEADERS FOR UNIVERSITY: NAOMI \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNaomi Chandrasekharan is a final year student in zoology at the Open University and a student leader in the IFES movement in Sri Lanka.  \n\n\n\n\nBack in 2020, when COVID kept us all restricted to Zoom calls, I joined FOCUS \u2013 the Fellowship of Christian University Students in Sri Lanka. After two years, I found myself being invited to join around 20 other students from across the island on the National Student Executive (NSE), our student leadership body. \n\n\n\nHaving grown up in a church focused on discipleship and reaching the unreached, my foundation in leadership was already laid. However, the student movement pushed me further, challenging me to study God\u2019s Word more deeply \u2013 not just for personal growth, but for its impact on the world around me. \n\n\n\nAs leaders, we were encouraged to think critically about the issues we saw, both on campus and in wider society. And, most importantly, we explored how the gospel related to those issues. This required us to slow down, pause, and reflect \u2013 an increasingly rare habit in today\u2019s fast-paced world. And one I struggled with as well!  \n\n\n\n\nThrough these practices, I began to understand that leadership is not about what we do for God, but rather recognizing what he is already doing in the world and partnering with him in that mission.  \n\n\n\n\nIn 2022, amid Sri Lanka\u2019s economic crisis, a FOCUS initiative called \u201cWord and the World\u201d gave us the chance to visit poverty-stricken areas across the island, with teams spending several days in local communities. It was an eye-opening experience. It revealed the urgent needs within our own land, and it was a place where our education and the needs of the people met \u2013 a place where dreams were born and hearts were changed.  \n\n\n\nFOCUS fellowship groups on campus have also organized programs to address key student issues. University-wide discussions have been turned into action, and we\u2019ve been given the opportunity to lead some of those sessions. As we served in predominantly unbelieving environments, we learned to respect all people as we created spaces where we could navigate difficult questions of life together. \n\n\n\nOur student movement operates in three languages (Sinhala, Tamil, and English), which can make communication challenging \u2013 yet also enriching! This experience taught me patience, mindfulness, and the importance of listening attentively to those who might not share my language preference. That often meant I needed to talk less! Speaking in someone\u2019s heart language was not just about what was being said but about affirming the person and identifying with them. As a team, we slowly realized that each of us had a vital role to play and that we needed each other as we united to work towards a common goal.  \n\n\n\nIn 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in IFES World Assembly. I was deeply encouraged to hear people share their testimonies \u2013 it was amazing to see what God is doing across the world!  \n\n\n\n\nIt was a learning experience as well as a powerful reminder that we are all a part of something bigger. \n\n\n\n\nMembers of the NSE met regularly for prayer, but it wasn\u2019t until the end of our tenure that we realized those moments were some of the most significant. We saw how God answered those prayers, doing far more than we had asked, and it reminded us that God builds his kingdom and brings everything together in his time. We are simply called to be faithful to him, trusting him for the outcome, knowing that even the smallest act holds significance in his kingdom. \n\n\n\n\n\nWatch Naomi\u2019s reflections on Psalm 16 at IFES World Assembly 2023 \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nLEADERS FOR THE CHURCH: RICARDO\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRicardo Borges served in IFES-related student ministry for 32 years, locally in his national movement, regionally, and globally. Today, he serves as a full-time pastor in a Brazilian Japanese church in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\nThrough my years of service in IFES, I\u2019ve had the special privilege of learning aspects of ministry that I consider to be crucial for my church-based role today.  \n\n\n\nIt begins with the centrality of the Word. It must be heard, read, and understood so that it feeds our devotion and love for God and shapes the way we live \u2013 both individually and communally.  \n\n\n\n\nThe ways that I think, study, and expound the Word in church today are all deeply moulded by my years in IFES.  \n\n\n\n\nI also learned in IFES that it\u2019s the Word that transforms \u2013 both by prophetic denunciation in the world and by impacting individuals and the structures around us. I seek to lead by proclaiming a holistic gospel of salvation. It needs to both touch the person and promote the welfare of the vulnerable and those on the margins in our cities and nations today. In a world of \u201cbuilding walls\u201d, IFES has taught me to cross borders and confront barriers so that I can learn from my brothers and sisters in diverse cultures and contexts.  \n\n\n\nA global community like IFES, with its identity, values, and ethos of mission, taught me to be more humble \u2013 something that\u2019s helped me work better with others in teams. In our church, we work with people of all ages from different cultures and social backgrounds with varied levels of education. My previous ministry experience has prepared me for this. I\u2019m able to be a little more attentive to the contribution that each person in the body of Christ can bring. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed abundantly and generously to all! \n\n\n\nI also believe that, by God’s grace, IFES has formed in me a pastoral heart. As a leader, I seek to listen to and welcome each person when they come to Christ. \n\n\n\n\nI want to help them grow into all the potential they have as a disciple of Christ, in whatever place and sphere of society the Lord has placed them.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo this end, I preach, teach, pastor, visit, and disciple people in the local community today. By God\u2019s grace, I pray that it will be a community that is faithful in the city, in the nation, and in the world. It\u2019s a longing that echoes what IFES is striving for \u2013 communities of disciples growing in the gospel and bringing glory to Christ in the complex and challenging world in which we live today. \n\n\n\n\nListen to Ricardo on this Voices of IFES podcast: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Is God\u2019s Word Worth It?\n Introducing IFES Scripture Engagement with Ricardo Borges\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nLEADERS FOR SOCIETY: MARGARET \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMargaret Muga has worked for Simba & Simba Advocates (Nairobi County, Kenya) since 2022. She was recently appointed a Senior Associate of the firm.    \n\n\n\n\nI gave my life to Christ in my high school years. Although I went to church and fellowshipped with my family, I never really connected with my spirituality at a deeper level until 2015, when I joined the Christian Union (CU) at Moi University School of Law. \n\n\n\nI found a welcoming community of believers comprised of fellow students who not only shared similar beliefs but also offered a place of belonging and unity in Christ. It gave me the opportunity to connect with my faith. I began to more deeply engage with Scripture and see its relevance to our daily lives. I served the student fraternity and community around campus.  \n\n\n\n\nIt was during this period that I challenged myself to think critically about my faith and develop my own convictions.  \n\n\n\n\nI also discovered that the Fellowship of Christian Unions \u2013 FOCUS Kenya \u2013 was providing immense support to student-led CUs across Kenya.  \n\n\n\nFOCUS Kenya provided Bible study guides and supported our campus group with the help of a staff worker. For me, it was not just about studying the Word of God and fellowshipping on campus. We had the opportunity to put our faith into action.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe held door-to-door evangelism among campus students and in the surrounding community. We organized missions to various parts of Kenya. We took part in social advocacy campaigns, volunteered for activities, organized food drives for the needy every semester, and attended national conferences organized by FOCUS.  \n\n\n\nIt was these leadership opportunities that were pivotal for my growth.  \n\n\n\nI began by leading small groups. Then, in 2018, I was privileged to lead our campus CU as the Chairperson and was subsequently asked to chair FOCUS Kenya\u2019s National Student Executive Committee. A fond lesson and memory from these various leadership opportunities was listening \u2013 to the students, to fellow committee members, to campus management, to FOCUS Kenya, to mentors and mentees, and ultimately to God \u2013 and seeking to align all views to honour God\u2019s will.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nI even received the opportunity to serve students on a global scale when I was elected as Student Representative on the IFES Board for 2019-2023. At the same time, I was part of IFES English- and Portuguese-Speaking Africa Regional Support team. I joined at a time when COVID-19 had disrupted everything we knew as normal. I appreciated the diversity of IFES \u2013 with all the different backgrounds, cultures, professions, and ministry experiences feeding into our deliberations and decision-making.  \n\n\n\nI can therefore testify that my campus CU, FOCUS Kenya, and IFES not only helped nourish my spiritual walk with Christ but also formed me into an upright Christian, capable of representing Christ and witnessing to him in the marketplace.  \n\n\n\nToday, as a practising Advocate, my faith and affiliation to IFES is something I\u2019m proud of sharing with others at work. I\u2019m an active member of my church and I continue to participate in activities of FOCUS Kenya as an Associate (graduate supporter).  \n\n\n\n\nLocal and global IFES ministry has shaped who I am as a person. It\u2019s given me the courage to share my faith, the confidence to lead, and a heart to serve others for the glory of God. \n\n\n\n\nI\u2019m incredibly grateful for this and feel encouraged that the lives of students are continuing to be transformed. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nTHE FORM OF LEADERS SHAPED BY IFES \n\n\n\nNaomi, Ricardo, and Margaret \u2013 on different continents, in varied contexts \u2013 have been shaped as leaders by local and global expressions of IFES. While each is unique, what emerges are six distinctive dimensions that are common to all: \n\n\n\nRooted in the Word. Deep, thoughtful exploration of Scripture in their student years enabled them to see themselves, their peers, and the world through God\u2019s eyes.   \n\n\n\nAttentive to the world. But their Bible studies were not pietistic. All three speak of how they were encouraged to listen and engage with the needs of those around them \u2013 to see how the Word applied to the world. \n\n\n\nCommitted to action. And that engagement was not theoretical \u2013 whether through the compassion of \u201cWord and the World\u201d in Sri Lanka, the passion of countrywide missions in Kenya, or the courage of \u201cprophetic denunciation\u201d in Latin America, these three leaders have made a practical difference.   \n\n\n\n\nEngaged in church. It\u2019s also striking that all mention their involvement in a local church. Their commitment to IFES leadership did not rob the church of students or young professionals. On the contrary, they now enrich it with their character, gifts, and skills.   \n\n\n\nConnected to the global church. Although they serve in local contexts, their perspective is now informed by their sense of \u201cglobal community\u201d, of being part of \u201csomething bigger\u201d. \n\n\n\nTrusted to lead. From the outset, they were entrusted with leadership roles \u2013 whether in a local campus group, a national student executive, or a regional body. They developed as leaders by being given the opportunity to lead. \n\n\n\n\nGod is still delivering leaders of vision, compassion, justice, courage, and integrity. The legacy of Joseph, Deborah, and Daniel lives on in Naomi, Ricardo, and Margaret \u2013 and countless others who God is shaping today as leaders for tomorrow. \n\n\n\nThat\u2019s why this year\u2019s IFES Global Giving Day is so vital. \n\n\n\nOn 2 April, we\u2019re inviting support for leadership programs and mentoring networks across IFES.\n\n\n\nHere are 4 ways you can get involved right now: \n\n\n\nFOUR WAYS TO ENGAGE \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n 1. JOIN THE LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION\n Tell us what you\u2019re looking for in a leader. Visit the webpage and share the three qualities you think are most essential \u2013 and see what others are saying.\n \n\n \n 2. PRAY FOR LEADERS SHAPED BY GOD\n Use a prayer inspired by \u201cThe Work of His Hands\u201d theme (Isaiah 64) on the Global Giving Day page. Read stories of students, staff, and graduates who have been moulded through IFES.\n \n\n \n 3. SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF LEADERS BY GIVING\n You can already donate to Global Giving Day 2025. Thanks to a generous matching fund, every gift will be doubled until we reach our 110,000 USD target!\n \n\n \n 4. SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SHAPING LEADERS\n Let others know how God is shaping leaders through IFES by sharing this blog. Get your student group, movement, church, or organization involved with resources from the Share Hub.\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nHowever you respond, you can be part of meeting the call for a world with leaders shaped by God. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nThe post GOOD LEADERS FOR CAMPUS, CHURCH, AND SOCIETY\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-03-05T16:24:49+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-07T13:17:28+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/banner-option-leader-scaled.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=44415", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/global-collaboration/", "title": "Fostering Unity in a Divided World", "content_html": "
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As you enter a new year, how hopeful are you for global collaboration?  

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Despite some bright spots, the last 12 months may have left us feeling apprehensive due to wars, disputed elections, or negative newsfeeds. We\u2019re living in a world beleaguered by division, polarisation, isolationism, and dysfunctional governance. The spirit of international cooperation and interdependence witnessed during the 2020 pandemic has quickly faded. What hope can we see for fostering unity? 

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As Christians, we see Christ: he is our hope. Through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we are given a different vision for our divided world: 

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Nations scattered by pride are reunified through Christ\u2019s Spirit (Genesis 11, Acts 2). People separated by status, culture, and ethnicity are united in Christ (Galatians 3:27-28, Ephesians 2:11-22). Individuals are joined to Christ in humble dependence (John 15:1-17) and serve together with radical interdependence (1 Corinthians 12). 

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But what should this grand theology look like in daily practice? 

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The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) is in its very essence an expression of that world-transforming vision, uniting over 160 national ministries in a shared mission: \u201cto work together to form a movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ in every country of the world\u201d. 

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But among this ever-growing family of movements, the need to help each other build capacity and renew ministry is also vital. How can a newly established movement learn from the veteran movements in its region? And how can a 100-year-old movement learn from those that have just begun? 

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Through cross-cultural relationships, international networks, regional conferences, and global training programs, IFES is fostering such partnerships. In fact, the four words that comprise IFES show us why we can be hopeful for global collaboration in the coming year.  

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I: INTERNATIONAL (NOT NATIONALISTIC)

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Every four years, the IFES World Assembly is a highpoint of international connection.

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\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful to see so many nations coming together, with different languages and cultures, joyful and excited, united in worship,\u201d says Kehinde Ojo (Program Director for Indigenous Support Development).  

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But he points out that such international connections also take place every year \u2013 through IFES regional events.

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\u201cWhen people ask me about IFES ministry in Africa, I say \u2018which Africa?\u2019 because there\u2019s so much diversity even within one region. Like in EPSA (English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa), we have three sub-regions, and common languages are not only English and Portuguese but Spanish as well. The east is very different from the west and the south is different altogether!\u201d 

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Given this diversity, he says that regional events that bring students and staff together for worship, fellowship, teaching, and training are rich times of learning about each other. In every IFES region, when national movements gather, the program invariably includes a cultural night when participants can share food, dancing, songs, and traditions from their own countries. 

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Such interactions are particularly powerful when participants come from countries in conflict with one another and meet each other for the first time. For example, in late August, student leaders from movements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will join together for training and fellowship. 

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Global collaboration through international relationships also underpins the core IFES leadership team. The responsibility for developing and sharing IFES priorities and resources across the globe is shared by IFES General Secretary Tim Adams (from the UK) with Annette Arulrajah from Malaysia, David Bahena from Mexico, George Ogalo from Kenya, and Olena Welch from Ukraine (see their roles here). 

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Here\u2019s the \u201cI\u201d of IFES: from global leadership to regional staff and student leaders, IFES brings together \u2013 and holds together \u2013 people from different nations.   

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LOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS 

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This year, regional conferences in Francophone Africa (PANAF), Europe (European Student Festival), and MENA will draw together hundreds of students from many different countries. Here\u2019s a taster of what\u2019s to come: 

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F: FELLOWSHIP (NOT ISOLATIONISM) 

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From the experience of meeting one another and learning together grows the fellowship of partnering together.

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Individual interests give way to mutual support.  

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Annette Arulrajah (IFES Associate General Secretary for Global Fellowship) was impressed by her visit to the Caribbean last year, where she participated in an IFES Caribbean (CARIFES) retreat for national movement board members and the inaugural CARIFES Academy camp, a regional training program for staff and students: 

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\u201cIt was such a joy to see this sharing of resources and ideas for ministry \u2013 and how they are promoting a vision for being each other\u2019s keepers.\u201d 

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She was also delighted to see the global collaboration expressed by TSCF New Zealand when it reached out to movements in the South Pacific region with an invitation to its November staff training. Around 20 participants from Australia, Fiji, Guam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Tonga joined with TSCF staff. One day, Jonathan from PSFC Fiji was given the opportunity to teach others how to worship in Fijian \u2013 a vivid example of what Annette calls the \u201cenabling and enriching\u201d of IFES fellowship.  

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Over the years, Annette has also witnessed cooperation among movements in East Asia, particularly in pioneering new movements. She notes that it took time and effort to build a sense of ownership across the region. But the fostered fellowship led to graduates from well-established movements \u2013 in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan \u2013 going to help pioneer work in Cambodia, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and other (sensitive) countries.  

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Last year\u2019s IFES Global Giving Day was another truly international expression of such fellowship. Students, staff, and supporters from 80 countries and territories gave over $50,000 to help plant new movements and groups across the world.  

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For Kehinde \u2013 with years of expertise in raising support \u2013 the amount of participation on the day is just as important as the amount of money raised. \u201cI\u2019d rather see nine small gifts come in than just one big one,\u201d he says with a smile. Last year, he was touched by the giving of students, staff, and supporters in UGBB Burkina Faso. Giving what they could out of their poverty, he likens this act to the generosity of the Macedonian churches commended by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 8. 

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The \u201cF\u201d of IFES means that every movement is committed to looking out for each other.   

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LOOKING FORWARD IN 2025:  FELLOWSHIP IN DEVELOPING LEADERS 

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On 2 April 2025, participate in the fellowship of Global Giving Day and support leadership development programs across IFES.

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Keep an eye out for how you can get involved in coming weeks. For example, you\u2019ll be able to share your thoughts on what makes a good leader.  

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  • And, later this year, students and staff in national movements should look out for a new fellowship-wide initiative called Mentoring Communities. 
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E: EVANGELICAL (NOT PARTISAN) 

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To some ears, the word \u201cevangelical\u201d has sadly become associated with a political party, demographic, or polarised (and polarising) viewpoint. But that\u2019s not the E of IFES.

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At its root, the word simply indicates the centrality of the evangel \u2013 the \u201cgood news\u201d of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, for all who believe.  

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Set within a biblical framework of foundational beliefs, this gospel unites us across political divides, national boundaries, cultural differences, and church denominations. Indeed, Kehinde stresses that the \u201cbeautiful\u201d interactions he described earlier flow from what unites us: our worship of Jesus. 

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In his work with national movements, Kehinde is realistic about linguistic and cultural barriers: \u201cYou ignore them at your peril \u2013 a lot of sensitivity is needed!\u201d. But he has witnessed how encountering Christ through Scripture helps build bridges and forge connections.  

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\u201cWhen we come together to read the Bible, we must approach with a posture of listening, with the conviction that we can help each other understand God\u2019s Word. That requires humility and a willingness to reconsider what we thought we knew from our own cultural perspectives.\u201d 

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Over recent years, IFES has facilitated cross-cultural networks that promote engagement with Scripture and shared insightful resources from across the fellowship.  

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Global collaboration is also promoted through prayer. By humbly worshipping God, seeking his strength and guidance, and interceding for each other\u2019s ministries and contexts, we are more deeply bound together. 

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Launched last year, the IFES monthly prayer meeting enables students, staff, and supporters from any country to pray together. Annette explains:  

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\u201cWhile IFES national movements have always prayed for each other, we\u2019ve never really had a means of regularly coming together face-to-face. But the experience of recent years has shown us that online gatherings can meet that need.\u201d 

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Since its inception, numbers attending have steadily increased. \u201cIt shows me that there\u2019s a real hunger for feeling connected to the wider world,\u201d Annette adds. 

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The prayer meeting will be held every first Thursday of each month through 2025. But in January, a special \u201cGlobal Prayer Day\u201d is scheduled to pray for the year ahead (see below).  

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LOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: SEEKING CHRIST TOGETHER 

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On 23 January 2025 (14:00 UTC), join the whole IFES family \u2013 students, staff, and supporters for Global Prayer Day: \u201cNew Beginnings\u201d. Register on Zoom here. 

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Another opportunity to participate in global prayer is World Student Day \u2013 this year on Thursday 16 October. Please note the change of day/date and sign up for updates and resources here. 

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And pray for the advance of Christ\u2019s good news in the student world every two weeks with Prayerline. 

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S: STUDENTS (NOT DICTATORS) 

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The S of IFES stresses the work of planting, strengthening, and renewing student-led ministry.

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The founding \u201ctogether\u201d vision was born through student initiative and remains central today.

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In fact, Annette says the diverse personalities and cultures represented in their leadership team are united by their common passion: to empower students (and the staff who support them) in local contexts. 

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This year, Global Resource Ministry (GRM) teams will continue to facilitate exchanges of experience and expertise from movements across IFES. Through a team of mentors and a hub of resources, they promote collaboration and innovation on a range of needs. 

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In recent years, under the GRM umbrella of Engaging the University, the Logos and Cosmos Initiative (LCI) has enabled academics and students in Francophone Africa and Latin America to collaborate on science-and-faith projects. Ever since Lisman Komaladi (IFES Regional Secretary for East Asia) heard about the initiative, he\u2019s hoped that a similar initiative could be run in his region \u2013 an excitement shared by Prarthini Selveindran (FES Singapore). 

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In 2025, thanks to a generous grant from ECLAS, made available through Singapore Bible College, their vision is becoming a reality. This month, IFES East Asia are holding an Open House, marking the launch of LCI @EA. Lisman shares how this example of global collaboration can empower students: 

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\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to our national movements being energised \u2013 that students will see their ministry more broadly \u2013 as a ministry to the campus, a mission to the whole university.\u201d 

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Building on the experiences of LCI, their initiative will retain the three core components of equipping, mentoring, and projects. But they plan to adapt specifics for their context, including a broader scope for \u201cscience\u201d and a greater involvement of undergraduate students in the leading of projects.     

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Whether it\u2019s relating faith to study in this way or ministering to international students, supporting graduates, developing governance, or pioneering new groups, the GRM teams and networks represent what are now widely known as communities of practice. It means that national movements \u2013 whether 10 or 100 years old \u2013 can learn from each other and better serve their students. And it follows that today\u2019s students, cooperating and collaborating with each other, are better equipped to play leading roles in society, churches, and the international community. 

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LOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: EQUIPPING STUDENTS AND STUDENT MOVEMENTS 

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  • Keep following IFES World and IFES East Asia socials for updates on LCI @EA. 
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  • Later this year, a dedicated page on the main IFES website will introduce the Global Resource Ministry teams and guide you to more information and helpful resources.  
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  • This year, a new round of the Engaging the University e-learning course will begin. Students from across the fellowship will learn together, thinking biblically and critically about the university context and our calling within it. More info here. 
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  • In the second half of 2025, the Indigenous Support Development (ISD) team will launch a comprehensive manual that can help national movements build sustainable ministry. 
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PRACTISING UNITY 

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Seeing all these opportunities and initiatives, we can feel hopeful for global collaboration in 2025 \u2013 at least for the part we can play. In a world of nationalism, isolationism, polarisation, and dictatorships, we can live a different story: one of unity in Christ. 

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It\u2019s not merely a creedal unity. It\u2019s experienced and strengthened through practice. By being an active part of IFES \u2013 whether as a student, staff, or supporter, whether locally, nationally, or globally \u2013 you can foster unity in a divided world.  

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With international connections, the fellowship of partnering together, an evangelical unity fed by Scripture and prayer, and a clear commitment to God\u2019s work among students, we can champion collaboration in polarised times. Together, we can be ambassadors of hope. 

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Kehinde sums it up well: 

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\u201cGlobal collaboration is here to stay! No-one is called to work alone. We all have something to give. Even if it\u2019s just a smile, that can change everything.\u201d 

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The post Fostering Unity in a Divided World appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "As you enter a new year, how hopeful are you for global collaboration?  \n\n\n\nDespite some bright spots, the last 12 months may have left us feeling apprehensive due to wars, disputed elections, or negative newsfeeds. We\u2019re living in a world beleaguered by division, polarisation, isolationism, and dysfunctional governance. The spirit of international cooperation and interdependence witnessed during the 2020 pandemic has quickly faded. What hope can we see for fostering unity? \n\n\n\nAs Christians, we see Christ: he is our hope. Through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we are given a different vision for our divided world: \n\n\n\nNations scattered by pride are reunified through Christ\u2019s Spirit (Genesis 11, Acts 2). People separated by status, culture, and ethnicity are united in Christ (Galatians 3:27-28, Ephesians 2:11-22). Individuals are joined to Christ in humble dependence (John 15:1-17) and serve together with radical interdependence (1 Corinthians 12). \n\n\n\nBut what should this grand theology look like in daily practice? \n\n\n\nThe International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) is in its very essence an expression of that world-transforming vision, uniting over 160 national ministries in a shared mission: \u201cto work together to form a movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ in every country of the world\u201d. \n\n\n\nBut among this ever-growing family of movements, the need to help each other build capacity and renew ministry is also vital. How can a newly established movement learn from the veteran movements in its region? And how can a 100-year-old movement learn from those that have just begun? \n\n\n\nThrough cross-cultural relationships, international networks, regional conferences, and global training programs, IFES is fostering such partnerships. In fact, the four words that comprise IFES show us why we can be hopeful for global collaboration in the coming year.  \n\n\n\nI: INTERNATIONAL (NOT NATIONALISTIC)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvery four years, the IFES World Assembly is a highpoint of international connection.\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful to see so many nations coming together, with different languages and cultures, joyful and excited, united in worship,\u201d says Kehinde Ojo (Program Director for Indigenous Support Development).  \n\n\n\n\n But he points out that such international connections also take place every year \u2013 through IFES regional events.\n\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen people ask me about IFES ministry in Africa, I say \u2018which Africa?\u2019 because there\u2019s so much diversity even within one region. Like in EPSA (English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa), we have three sub-regions, and common languages are not only English and Portuguese but Spanish as well. The east is very different from the west and the south is different altogether!\u201d \n\n\n\n\nGiven this diversity, he says that regional events that bring students and staff together for worship, fellowship, teaching, and training are rich times of learning about each other. In every IFES region, when national movements gather, the program invariably includes a cultural night when participants can share food, dancing, songs, and traditions from their own countries. \n\n\n\nSuch interactions are particularly powerful when participants come from countries in conflict with one another and meet each other for the first time. For example, in late August, student leaders from movements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will join together for training and fellowship. \n\n\n\nGlobal collaboration through international relationships also underpins the core IFES leadership team. The responsibility for developing and sharing IFES priorities and resources across the globe is shared by IFES General Secretary Tim Adams (from the UK) with Annette Arulrajah from Malaysia, David Bahena from Mexico, George Ogalo from Kenya, and Olena Welch from Ukraine (see their roles here). \n\n\n\nHere\u2019s the \u201cI\u201d of IFES: from global leadership to regional staff and student leaders, IFES brings together \u2013 and holds together \u2013 people from different nations.   \n\n\n\n\n\nLOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis year, regional conferences in Francophone Africa (PANAF), Europe (European Student Festival), and MENA will draw together hundreds of students from many different countries. Here\u2019s a taster of what\u2019s to come: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nF: FELLOWSHIP (NOT ISOLATIONISM) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrom the experience of meeting one another and learning together grows the fellowship of partnering together.\n\n\n\nIndividual interests give way to mutual support.  \n\n\n\n\nAnnette Arulrajah (IFES Associate General Secretary for Global Fellowship) was impressed by her visit to the Caribbean last year, where she participated in an IFES Caribbean (CARIFES) retreat for national movement board members and the inaugural CARIFES Academy camp, a regional training program for staff and students: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cIt was such a joy to see this sharing of resources and ideas for ministry \u2013 and how they are promoting a vision for being each other\u2019s keepers.\u201d \n\n\n\n\nShe was also delighted to see the global collaboration expressed by TSCF New Zealand when it reached out to movements in the South Pacific region with an invitation to its November staff training. Around 20 participants from Australia, Fiji, Guam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Tonga joined with TSCF staff. One day, Jonathan from PSFC Fiji was given the opportunity to teach others how to worship in Fijian \u2013 a vivid example of what Annette calls the \u201cenabling and enriching\u201d of IFES fellowship.  \n\n\n\nOver the years, Annette has also witnessed cooperation among movements in East Asia, particularly in pioneering new movements. She notes that it took time and effort to build a sense of ownership across the region. But the fostered fellowship led to graduates from well-established movements \u2013 in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan \u2013 going to help pioneer work in Cambodia, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and other (sensitive) countries.  \n\n\n\nLast year\u2019s IFES Global Giving Day was another truly international expression of such fellowship. Students, staff, and supporters from 80 countries and territories gave over $50,000 to help plant new movements and groups across the world.  \n\n\n\nFor Kehinde \u2013 with years of expertise in raising support \u2013 the amount of participation on the day is just as important as the amount of money raised. \u201cI\u2019d rather see nine small gifts come in than just one big one,\u201d he says with a smile. Last year, he was touched by the giving of students, staff, and supporters in UGBB Burkina Faso. Giving what they could out of their poverty, he likens this act to the generosity of the Macedonian churches commended by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 8. \n\n\n\nThe \u201cF\u201d of IFES means that every movement is committed to looking out for each other.   \n\n\n\n\n\nLOOKING FORWARD IN 2025:  FELLOWSHIP IN DEVELOPING LEADERS \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn 2 April 2025, participate in the fellowship of Global Giving Day and support leadership development programs across IFES. \n\n\n\nKeep an eye out for how you can get involved in coming weeks. For example, you\u2019ll be able to share your thoughts on what makes a good leader.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n LEARN MORE \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd, later this year, students and staff in national movements should look out for a new fellowship-wide initiative called Mentoring Communities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nE: EVANGELICAL (NOT PARTISAN) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo some ears, the word \u201cevangelical\u201d has sadly become associated with a political party, demographic, or polarised (and polarising) viewpoint. But that\u2019s not the E of IFES. \n\n\n\nAt its root, the word simply indicates the centrality of the evangel \u2013 the \u201cgood news\u201d of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, for all who believe.  \n\n\n\n\nSet within a biblical framework of foundational beliefs, this gospel unites us across political divides, national boundaries, cultural differences, and church denominations. Indeed, Kehinde stresses that the \u201cbeautiful\u201d interactions he described earlier flow from what unites us: our worship of Jesus. \n\n\n\nIn his work with national movements, Kehinde is realistic about linguistic and cultural barriers: \u201cYou ignore them at your peril \u2013 a lot of sensitivity is needed!\u201d. But he has witnessed how encountering Christ through Scripture helps build bridges and forge connections.  \n\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen we come together to read the Bible, we must approach with a posture of listening, with the conviction that we can help each other understand God\u2019s Word. That requires humility and a willingness to reconsider what we thought we knew from our own cultural perspectives.\u201d \n\n\n\n\nOver recent years, IFES has facilitated cross-cultural networks that promote engagement with Scripture and shared insightful resources from across the fellowship.  \n\n\n\nGlobal collaboration is also promoted through prayer. By humbly worshipping God, seeking his strength and guidance, and interceding for each other\u2019s ministries and contexts, we are more deeply bound together. \n\n\n\nLaunched last year, the IFES monthly prayer meeting enables students, staff, and supporters from any country to pray together. Annette explains:  \n\n\n\n\u201cWhile IFES national movements have always prayed for each other, we\u2019ve never really had a means of regularly coming together face-to-face. But the experience of recent years has shown us that online gatherings can meet that need.\u201d \n\n\n\nSince its inception, numbers attending have steadily increased. \u201cIt shows me that there\u2019s a real hunger for feeling connected to the wider world,\u201d Annette adds. \n\n\n\nThe prayer meeting will be held every first Thursday of each month through 2025. But in January, a special \u201cGlobal Prayer Day\u201d is scheduled to pray for the year ahead (see below).  \n\n\n\n\n\nLOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: SEEKING CHRIST TOGETHER \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn 23 January 2025 (14:00 UTC), join the whole IFES family \u2013 students, staff, and supporters for Global Prayer Day: \u201cNew Beginnings\u201d. Register on Zoom here. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n Register here \n \n\n\n\n\n\nAnother opportunity to participate in global prayer is World Student Day \u2013 this year on Thursday 16 October. Please note the change of day/date and sign up for updates and resources here. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n Learn more \n \n\n\n\n\n\nAnd pray for the advance of Christ\u2019s good news in the student world every two weeks with Prayerline. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nS: STUDENTS (NOT DICTATORS) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe S of IFES stresses the work of planting, strengthening, and renewing student-led ministry. \n\n\n\nThe founding \u201ctogether\u201d vision was born through student initiative and remains central today. \n\n\n\n\nIn fact, Annette says the diverse personalities and cultures represented in their leadership team are united by their common passion: to empower students (and the staff who support them) in local contexts. \n\n\n\nThis year, Global Resource Ministry (GRM) teams will continue to facilitate exchanges of experience and expertise from movements across IFES. Through a team of mentors and a hub of resources, they promote collaboration and innovation on a range of needs. \n\n\n\nIn recent years, under the GRM umbrella of Engaging the University, the Logos and Cosmos Initiative (LCI) has enabled academics and students in Francophone Africa and Latin America to collaborate on science-and-faith projects. Ever since Lisman Komaladi (IFES Regional Secretary for East Asia) heard about the initiative, he\u2019s hoped that a similar initiative could be run in his region \u2013 an excitement shared by Prarthini Selveindran (FES Singapore). \n\n\n\nIn 2025, thanks to a generous grant from ECLAS, made available through Singapore Bible College, their vision is becoming a reality. This month, IFES East Asia are holding an Open House, marking the launch of LCI @EA. Lisman shares how this example of global collaboration can empower students: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to our national movements being energised \u2013 that students will see their ministry more broadly \u2013 as a ministry to the campus, a mission to the whole university.\u201d \n\n\n\n\nBuilding on the experiences of LCI, their initiative will retain the three core components of equipping, mentoring, and projects. But they plan to adapt specifics for their context, including a broader scope for \u201cscience\u201d and a greater involvement of undergraduate students in the leading of projects.     \n\n\n\nWhether it\u2019s relating faith to study in this way or ministering to international students, supporting graduates, developing governance, or pioneering new groups, the GRM teams and networks represent what are now widely known as communities of practice. It means that national movements \u2013 whether 10 or 100 years old \u2013 can learn from each other and better serve their students. And it follows that today\u2019s students, cooperating and collaborating with each other, are better equipped to play leading roles in society, churches, and the international community. \n\n\n\n\n\nLOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: EQUIPPING STUDENTS AND STUDENT MOVEMENTS \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKeep following IFES World and IFES East Asia socials for updates on LCI @EA. \n\n\n\nLater this year, a dedicated page on the main IFES website will introduce the Global Resource Ministry teams and guide you to more information and helpful resources.  \n\n\n\nThis year, a new round of the Engaging the University e-learning course will begin. Students from across the fellowship will learn together, thinking biblically and critically about the university context and our calling within it. More info here. \n\n\n\nIn the second half of 2025, the Indigenous Support Development (ISD) team will launch a comprehensive manual that can help national movements build sustainable ministry. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPRACTISING UNITY \n\n\n\n\n\n\nSeeing all these opportunities and initiatives, we can feel hopeful for global collaboration in 2025 \u2013 at least for the part we can play. In a world of nationalism, isolationism, polarisation, and dictatorships, we can live a different story: one of unity in Christ. \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s not merely a creedal unity. It\u2019s experienced and strengthened through practice. By being an active part of IFES \u2013 whether as a student, staff, or supporter, whether locally, nationally, or globally \u2013 you can foster unity in a divided world.  \n\n\n\nWith international connections, the fellowship of partnering together, an evangelical unity fed by Scripture and prayer, and a clear commitment to God\u2019s work among students, we can champion collaboration in polarised times. Together, we can be ambassadors of hope. \n\n\n\nKehinde sums it up well: \n\n\n\n\n\u201cGlobal collaboration is here to stay! No-one is called to work alone. We all have something to give. Even if it\u2019s just a smile, that can change everything.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\nThe post Fostering Unity in a Divided World appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-01-10T16:09:55+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-07T13:18:19+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-Global-Collab-banner-scaled-e1736516061736.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=43835", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/christmas-everywhere-spreading-the-word/", "title": "Christmas everywhere all the time", "content_html": "
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Would you like more Christmas or less?

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Some countries religiously celebrate it, some have ruthlessly monetized it, and others happily ignore it. In fact, the question may not be easy to answer because the word \u201cChristmas\u201d has become so broadly used, evoking various associations.

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Would you want Christmas music and lights and trees and food everywhere all the time? Probably not.

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But at this time of year, as we variously celebrate \u201cChristmas\u201d, one element of the Christmas story is surely worth wanting everywhere all the time: the sharing of good news.

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In Luke\u2019s Gospel we\u2019re told that the angel of the Lord proclaims good news of a Saviour\u2019s birth to the shepherds (2:10-12). The shepherds verify the event and go and \u201cspread the word\u201d (2:17). Then, in the temple courts, the \u201crighteous and devout\u201d Simeon announces in his public prayer \u201ca light for revelation to the Gentiles\u201d (2:29-32), and the prophet Anna explains more to those gathered (2:38).

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Similarly, over the last year \u2013 in all kinds of places and in various ways \u2013 students in IFES movements have been proclaiming, announcing, explaining, and spreading the word. In this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we\u2019ll tell you how.

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As you read, take heart that Christ\u2019s coming has been spoken of \u201ceverywhere all the time\u201d (below are just a few examples). May these snapshots of evangelism inspire you and your spiritual community to keep spreading the word in 2025.

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS?

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Here\u2019s an idea: after reading through, you could go back and re-read one story each day, pausing to pray for those mentioned and then considering how you might apply a similar idea in your student group, ministry, or church in the coming year. 

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1. CONVERSING AT THE LUNCH BAR \u2013 TARKWA, GHANA (EPSA)

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How can you reach a whole campus?

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Each year, students in various IFES movements organise high-profile, week-long series of events and talks at their universities.

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In the last week of June, GHAFES Ghana partnered with several other local ministries and IFES Europe for \u201ca focused, intentional, creative, and intensive period of public evangelism\u201d at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa.

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One component involved daily \u201cLunch Bars\u201d, whereby students received food and listened to a talk, followed by a Q&A and gospel invitation. Topics included \u201cThe Gospel: Fabricated or Eyewitness Accounts?\u201d and \u201cChristianity: A White Man’s Religion?\u201d.

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After one Lunch Bar, Michael wanted to know more. It turned out he\u2019d lost his trust in the Christian faith.

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But after further conversation, he acknowledged: \u201cI can see there are answers in the Bible. You have been showing me answers from the Bible!\u201d.

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Some days later, when the team followed up with Michael, he shared his good news: \u201cI have decided to follow Jesus\u201d.

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2. ASKING A CURIOUS QUESTION \u2013 MANAGUA, NICARAGUA (LATIN AMERICA)

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How can you get people thinking?

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Try asking them this:

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\u201cIf you found a door in the middle of nowhere, where would you like it to lead you?\u201d

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With this imaginative question, a CECNIC Nicaragua group carried out \u201cfirst-contact\u201d evangelism at the Polytechnic University (UNP) in Managua.

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They asked people to write their answers, engaged in conversation, and told them all about a man who once said, \u201cI am the door\u201d.

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\u201cWe shared that every time we go to him, he offers us love, peace, wisdom, and countless promises in our lives.\u201d

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3. PUZZLING OVER THE GOSPEL \u2013 SOFIA, BULGARIA (EUROPE)

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How can you tell the good news story in a culturally engaging way?

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Earlier this year, we shared how IFES InterAction staff Silas Walter created an Easter Escape Room:

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\u201cFive students are locked in a kitchen. To get out, they must solve a riddle. They can see remnants of a dinner party \u2013 the table is cluttered with half-drunk glasses of wine and leftovers of bread. But who were the guests? What happened? And why has no-one returned to clear up?\u201d (read more)

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This month, BCSU Bulgaria will again use escape room puzzles to introduce the Christmas story. Silas explains:

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\u201cThe idea is to figure out what happened in Bethlehem from the perspective of the wise men. The discussion afterwards will conclude with the question: If God really became human, what would it mean for us?\u201d

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4. CAMPING WITH FUN AND FAITH \u2013 DILIJAN, ARMENIA (EURASIA)

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How can you create a space for unhurried consideration of the gospel?

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Weekends away or week-long camps are a key opportunity for ministry in many IFES movements \u2013 not only for believers but also for seeking students. It provides a place for them to experience Christ\u2019s community and his call.

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In August, Crossroads (Armenia) took 50+ high school, college, and university students away to the beautiful setting of Dilijan for four days of team games, worship, Bible studies, small groups, and prayer.

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\u201cWatching them growing closer to God was so encouraging. Two friends who attended came with loads of questions: Stepan was very open to the Word, but his friend showed no interest at all and even tried to hold him back. Despite this, by the end of camp, Stepan decided that he wanted to follow Jesus.\u201d

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Both students are now avidly attending weekly Crossroads Bible studies.

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5. CHATTING AT GAMES NIGHT \u2013 MIDDLE EAST (MENA)

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In sensitive contexts, how can you openly talk about Jesus?

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Last year, one student group in the Middle East organized a trivia and games night for 27 students, with half coming from non-Christian backgrounds. In a fun atmosphere, with plenty of food and snacks, students engaged in many meaningful conversations. In addition to a talk by their movement staff, the students laid out a small book table with free Bibles and Christian books in Arabic. Similar events have happened throughout this year.

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For more on the importance of dialogue through friendship read Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

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6. TALKING ABOUT LABELS \u2013 FRESNO, USA (NORTH AMERICA)

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How can you grab people\u2019s attention?

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Showing how the gospel addresses real, contemporary issues is essential. At the start of their academic year, an InterVarsity group in Fresno created an open-air stand all about labels.

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\u201cNegative labels can inform our identity in harmful ways. The labels that Jesus gives us tell us the truth about our identities. We are loved, forgiven, and accepted.\u201d

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Striking artwork depicted the story of \u201cthe woman caught in adultery\u201d (John 8), while hands-on activities connected with students\u2019 own personal experiences, opening the way for good news conversations. 

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7. READING TOGETHER \u2013 PORT VILA, VANUATU (SOUTH PACIFIC) 

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How can you help people encounter the \u201creal\u201d Jesus?

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For a number of IFES movements, distributing specially designed and printed gospels to students \u2013 and inviting them to discuss what they read \u2013 has proved a successful way of tackling students\u2019 assumptions and misconceptions about Jesus.

\n
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\n

This year, the GNYF group at the National University in Vanuatu distributed the Gospel of John in their ?Huia Jisas? mission (\u201cWho is Jesus?\u201d in Bislama). Their approach intentionally differed from the big \u201ccrusades\u201d that are commonly held on the islands. Joel Atwood, GNYF national director explains:

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\u201cOur key words were \u2018diffuse\u2019 and \u2018messy\u2019 \u2013 we wanted students reading John with fellow students and not relying on big flashy events or loud preachers. We only had two \u2018support events\u2019 and the rest of the time it was just students reading with students.\u201d

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Find out more about using the Gospels in this way at Uncover.

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8. TOURING SCHOOLS \u2013 SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (CARIBBEAN)

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How can you introduce a new generation to the good news?

\n
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\n

In the Caribbean, many IFES national movements include ministry to high school students. It\u2019s a crucial point at which to reach the younger generation before they face the pressures of their university years.

\n
\n\n
\n

In Saint Vincent, the ISCCF team had sensed a harvest ready to be reaped among its youth. So, in February and April they partnered with Pastor Sunil Balkaran and the TAM team from Trinidad to tour 16 schools, preaching the gospel alongside performing arts and testimonies.

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\"preaching
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In all, nearly 4,000 high school students made decisions to follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

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9. SERVING WITH THE WORD \u2013 KHUVSGUL, MONGOLIA (EAST ASIA)

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How can you offer the Word with tangible impact?

\n
\n\n
\n

In June, a team of nine students and three staff from FCS Mongolia took a two-week trip to Tsagaan Nuur sum in the country\u2019s most northern province.

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\n
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They served the local community by undertaking a construction project, running sports and games, and organizing open mic events.

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They also took to the streets, offering goods and beauty services in the form of hair tints and face massages.

\n
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Through it all, they shared the gospel with about 35 adults and 60 children.

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See snippets of their trip here.

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10. POSTING HOPE \u2013 INDIA (SOUTH ASIA)

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How can you spread the digital word?

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Sprinkle Hope is an initiative of UESI Kerala that aims \u201cto sprinkle true hope through creative endeavours\u201d.

\n
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\n

For India\u2019s Independence Day in August, the team created an Instagram reel inviting reflection on the true meaning of freedom.

\n
\n\n
\n

At Easter, they posted a deck of illustrated slides that explained the significance of Christ\u2019s death and resurrection.

\n
\n\n
\n

And previously, on World Suicide Prevention Day, they created a reel around mental health that has now been viewed over 6,000 times.

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11. TAKING CHRIST TO THE CUP OF NATIONS \u2013 ABIDJAN, C\u00d4TE D\u2019IVOIRE (FRANCOPHONE AFRICA)

\n
\n\n
\n

How can you meet people where they are?

\n
\n\n
\n

At the start of the year, GBUCI groups in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire visited various locations where Africa\u2019s Cup of Nations (AFCON) matches were being played.

\n
\n\n
\n

The GBUCI students engaged with visiting football fans by offering AFCON-coloured make-up and free mouth-watering snacks. They joined the celebrations and shared about the greatest victory of all: Christ\u2019s sacrifice for sin on the cross.

\n
\n\n
\n
\"C\u00f4te
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\u201cOver 200 people were touched by the gospel, and we thank God for that\u201d.

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12. ACTING OUT THE GOSPEL (IN VARIOUS PLACES)

\n
\n\n
\n

How can you tell the whole story in 90 minutes?

\n
\n\n
\n

The Mark Drama uses theatre-in-the-round to create a joyful yet hard-hitting performance of the gospel. By the end of 90 minutes, the audience has seen every incident and heard almost every word of Jesus as recorded by Mark.

\n
\n\n
\n

All you need is 15 willing volunteers who learn the content over 6 weeks.

\n
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\n
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\u201cNo props. No professionals. Just Gospel.\u201d

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Over the last 10 years, various IFES movements have effectively used this tool. This year, it\u2019s been hosted by BCSU in Bulgaria, ABU Ribeir\u00e3o Preto at the University of S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s medical school, and Swansea CU (UCCF Great Britain), where \u201cvibrant performances\u201d were shared with over 100 students.

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MORE CHRISTMAS?

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Over the last year, the Word has been spread around the world \u2013 proclaimed, announced, explained, performed, posted, and embodied. It\u2019s been presented in different ways in different contexts, amid different opportunities and different needs. But the gospel has remained the same: 

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\u201cGood news that will cause great joy for all people \u2013 a Saviour who is born to us, the Messiah, the Lord \u2013 peace on earth.\u201d (Luke 2:10-11, 14) 

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That\u2019s a life-giving word that\u2019s worth spreading everywhere, all the time. You can never have too much Christmas!

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AT A GLANCE: CONEXI\u00d3N BLOGS IN 2024

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TOPIC BLOG WHY READ IT? 
Whole-life discipleship Faithful Everywhere 
Living out the gospel in creation, culture, and society\u202f 		Stories from Chile, Malaysia, and Norway illustrate how you can impact the world with your faith.  
Pioneering ministry Mission Not Yet Accomplished 
Breaking New Ground around the world 		How can you reach the unreached in the student world? Find out with examples from Equatorial Guinea, Ecuador, and Pakistan. 
Giving Global Perspectives on Giving 
Theological, personal, and devotional reflections from around IFES 		Broaden your horizons on giving with perspectives from Brazil, the Philippines, and Nigeria.  
Acts-style ministry Student Ministry in the Last Days 
10 Principles from the Book of Acts 		What should your witness to Jesus look like in \u201cthe last days\u201d? Here are 10 pointers, anchored in Acts and practically applied.  
Engaging with Scripture Is the Bible Relevant for Today\u2019s World? 
Six steps to discern biblical perspectives on contemporary issues 		Improve your approach to exploring what the Bible says on any topic! Includes a FREE booklet. 
Conference impact Christian Conferences: Momentary High or Lasting Impact? 
Investigating the influence of IFES\u2019s global gathering \u2013 one year on 		Do conferences really make a difference in the long term? Discover six lasting impacts from World Assembly 2023. Includes questions to consider when planning your own large conference. 
Digital ministry Student Ministry in a Digital Age 
Utilising technology to reach and equip digital natives 		Are you just using technology or can you utilise it for Christ? Consider the difference with examples of digital ministry around the IFES world. Includes links to many thought-provoking and practical resources. 
Global prayer Zealous for Global Prayer 
Uniting the nations to pray on World Student Day \u2013 and beyond 		Expand the vision and reach of your prayers by connecting with a movement of worldwide intercession. Includes a FREE devotional guide. 
Student initiative Amateurs in Charge? 
The risky yet rewarding business of student-led ministry 		See the connections between Luke 10 and IFES ministry \u2013 and discover six compelling reasons why the risk of student-led ministry is worth the reward.  
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The post Christmas everywhere all the time appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "Would you like more Christmas or less?\n\n\n\nSome countries religiously celebrate it, some have ruthlessly monetized it, and others happily ignore it. In fact, the question may not be easy to answer because the word \u201cChristmas\u201d has become so broadly used, evoking various associations.\n\n\n\nWould you want Christmas music and lights and trees and food everywhere all the time? Probably not.\n\n\n\nBut at this time of year, as we variously celebrate \u201cChristmas\u201d, one element of the Christmas story is surely worth wanting everywhere all the time: the sharing of good news.\n\n\n\nIn Luke\u2019s Gospel we\u2019re told that the angel of the Lord proclaims good news of a Saviour\u2019s birth to the shepherds (2:10-12). The shepherds verify the event and go and \u201cspread the word\u201d (2:17). Then, in the temple courts, the \u201crighteous and devout\u201d Simeon announces in his public prayer \u201ca light for revelation to the Gentiles\u201d (2:29-32), and the prophet Anna explains more to those gathered (2:38).\n\n\n\nSimilarly, over the last year \u2013 in all kinds of places and in various ways \u2013 students in IFES movements have been proclaiming, announcing, explaining, and spreading the word. In this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we\u2019ll tell you how.\n\n\n\nAs you read, take heart that Christ\u2019s coming has been spoken of \u201ceverywhere all the time\u201d (below are just a few examples). May these snapshots of evangelism inspire you and your spiritual community to keep spreading the word in 2025.\n\n\n\n\n12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS?\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s an idea: after reading through, you could go back and re-read one story each day, pausing to pray for those mentioned and then considering how you might apply a similar idea in your student group, ministry, or church in the coming year. \n\n\n\n\n1. CONVERSING AT THE LUNCH BAR \u2013 TARKWA, GHANA (EPSA)\n\n\n\nHow can you reach a whole campus?\n\n\n\nEach year, students in various IFES movements organise high-profile, week-long series of events and talks at their universities.\n\n\n\nIn the last week of June, GHAFES Ghana partnered with several other local ministries and IFES Europe for \u201ca focused, intentional, creative, and intensive period of public evangelism\u201d at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa.\n\n\n\n\n\nOne component involved daily \u201cLunch Bars\u201d, whereby students received food and listened to a talk, followed by a Q&A and gospel invitation. Topics included \u201cThe Gospel: Fabricated or Eyewitness Accounts?\u201d and \u201cChristianity: A White Man’s Religion?\u201d.\n\n\n\nAfter one Lunch Bar, Michael wanted to know more. It turned out he\u2019d lost his trust in the Christian faith. \n\n\n\nBut after further conversation, he acknowledged: \u201cI can see there are answers in the Bible. You have been showing me answers from the Bible!\u201d.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSome days later, when the team followed up with Michael, he shared his good news: \u201cI have decided to follow Jesus\u201d.\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n2. ASKING A CURIOUS QUESTION \u2013 MANAGUA, NICARAGUA (LATIN AMERICA)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you get people thinking?\n\n\n\nTry asking them this:\n\n\n\n\u201cIf you found a door in the middle of nowhere, where would you like it to lead you?\u201d\n\n\n\nWith this imaginative question, a CECNIC Nicaragua group carried out \u201cfirst-contact\u201d evangelism at the Polytechnic University (UNP) in Managua. \n\n\n\nThey asked people to write their answers, engaged in conversation, and told them all about a man who once said, \u201cI am the door\u201d.\n\n\n\n\n\u201cWe shared that every time we go to him, he offers us love, peace, wisdom, and countless promises in our lives.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n3. PUZZLING OVER THE GOSPEL \u2013 SOFIA, BULGARIA (EUROPE)\n\n\n\nHow can you tell the good news story in a culturally engaging way?\n\n\n\nEarlier this year, we shared how IFES InterAction staff Silas Walter created an Easter Escape Room:\n\n\n\n\u201cFive students are locked in a kitchen. To get out, they must solve a riddle. They can see remnants of a dinner party \u2013 the table is cluttered with half-drunk glasses of wine and leftovers of bread. But who were the guests? What happened? And why has no-one returned to clear up?\u201d (read more)\n\n\n\n\nThis month, BCSU Bulgaria will again use escape room puzzles to introduce the Christmas story. Silas explains:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cThe idea is to figure out what happened in Bethlehem from the perspective of the wise men. The discussion afterwards will conclude with the question: If God really became human, what would it mean for us?\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n4. CAMPING WITH FUN AND FAITH \u2013 DILIJAN, ARMENIA (EURASIA)\n\n\n\nHow can you create a space for unhurried consideration of the gospel?\n\n\n\nWeekends away or week-long camps are a key opportunity for ministry in many IFES movements \u2013 not only for believers but also for seeking students. It provides a place for them to experience Christ\u2019s community and his call.\n\n\n\nIn August, Crossroads (Armenia) took 50+ high school, college, and university students away to the beautiful setting of Dilijan for four days of team games, worship, Bible studies, small groups, and prayer.\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cWatching them growing closer to God was so encouraging. Two friends who attended came with loads of questions: Stepan was very open to the Word, but his friend showed no interest at all and even tried to hold him back. Despite this, by the end of camp, Stepan decided that he wanted to follow Jesus.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\nBoth students are now avidly attending weekly Crossroads Bible studies.\n\n\n\n5. CHATTING AT GAMES NIGHT \u2013 MIDDLE EAST (MENA)\n\n\n\n\n\nIn sensitive contexts, how can you openly talk about Jesus?\n\n\n\nLast year, one student group in the Middle East organized a trivia and games night for 27 students, with half coming from non-Christian backgrounds. In a fun atmosphere, with plenty of food and snacks, students engaged in many meaningful conversations. In addition to a talk by their movement staff, the students laid out a small book table with free Bibles and Christian books in Arabic. Similar events have happened throughout this year.\n\n\n\nFor more on the importance of dialogue through friendship read Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. TALKING ABOUT LABELS \u2013 FRESNO, USA (NORTH AMERICA)\n\n\n\nHow can you grab people\u2019s attention?\n\n\n\nShowing how the gospel addresses real, contemporary issues is essential. At the start of their academic year, an InterVarsity group in Fresno created an open-air stand all about labels.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cNegative labels can inform our identity in harmful ways. The labels that Jesus gives us tell us the truth about our identities. We are loved, forgiven, and accepted.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStriking artwork depicted the story of \u201cthe woman caught in adultery\u201d (John 8), while hands-on activities connected with students\u2019 own personal experiences, opening the way for good news conversations. \n\n\n\n\n7. READING TOGETHER \u2013 PORT VILA, VANUATU (SOUTH PACIFIC) \n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you help people encounter the \u201creal\u201d Jesus?\n\n\n\nFor a number of IFES movements, distributing specially designed and printed gospels to students \u2013 and inviting them to discuss what they read \u2013 has proved a successful way of tackling students\u2019 assumptions and misconceptions about Jesus.\n\n\n\nThis year, the GNYF group at the National University in Vanuatu distributed the Gospel of John in their ?Huia Jisas? mission (\u201cWho is Jesus?\u201d in Bislama). Their approach intentionally differed from the big \u201ccrusades\u201d that are commonly held on the islands. Joel Atwood, GNYF national director explains:\n\n\n\n\n\u201cOur key words were \u2018diffuse\u2019 and \u2018messy\u2019 \u2013 we wanted students reading John with fellow students and not relying on big flashy events or loud preachers. We only had two \u2018support events\u2019 and the rest of the time it was just students reading with students.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nFind out more about using the Gospels in this way at Uncover.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n8. TOURING SCHOOLS \u2013 SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (CARIBBEAN)\n\n\n\nHow can you introduce a new generation to the good news?\n\n\n\nIn the Caribbean, many IFES national movements include ministry to high school students. It\u2019s a crucial point at which to reach the younger generation before they face the pressures of their university years.\n\n\n\nIn Saint Vincent, the ISCCF team had sensed a harvest ready to be reaped among its youth. So, in February and April they partnered with Pastor Sunil Balkaran and the TAM team from Trinidad to tour 16 schools, preaching the gospel alongside performing arts and testimonies. \n\n\n\n\nIn all, nearly 4,000 high school students made decisions to follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour.\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n9. SERVING WITH THE WORD \u2013 KHUVSGUL, MONGOLIA (EAST ASIA)\n\n\n\nHow can you offer the Word with tangible impact?\n\n\n\nIn June, a team of nine students and three staff from FCS Mongolia took a two-week trip to Tsagaan Nuur sum in the country\u2019s most northern province.\n\n\n\n\nThey served the local community by undertaking a construction project, running sports and games, and organizing open mic events. \n\n\n\nThey also took to the streets, offering goods and beauty services in the form of hair tints and face massages. \n\n\n\nThrough it all, they shared the gospel with about 35 adults and 60 children.\n\n\n\nSee snippets of their trip here.\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n10. POSTING HOPE \u2013 INDIA (SOUTH ASIA)\n\n\n\nHow can you spread the digital word?\n\n\n\n\n\nSprinkle Hope is an initiative of UESI Kerala that aims \u201cto sprinkle true hope through creative endeavours\u201d. \n\n\n\nFor India\u2019s Independence Day in August, the team created an Instagram reel inviting reflection on the true meaning of freedom.\n\n\n\nAt Easter, they posted a deck of illustrated slides that explained the significance of Christ\u2019s death and resurrection. \n\n\n\nAnd previously, on World Suicide Prevention Day, they created a reel around mental health that has now been viewed over 6,000 times.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n11. TAKING CHRIST TO THE CUP OF NATIONS \u2013 ABIDJAN, C\u00d4TE D\u2019IVOIRE (FRANCOPHONE AFRICA)\n\n\n\nHow can you meet people where they are?\n\n\n\nAt the start of the year, GBUCI groups in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire visited various locations where Africa\u2019s Cup of Nations (AFCON) matches were being played.\n\n\n\nThe GBUCI students engaged with visiting football fans by offering AFCON-coloured make-up and free mouth-watering snacks. They joined the celebrations and shared about the greatest victory of all: Christ\u2019s sacrifice for sin on the cross.\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cOver 200 people were touched by the gospel, and we thank God for that\u201d.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n12. ACTING OUT THE GOSPEL (IN VARIOUS PLACES)\n\n\n\nHow can you tell the whole story in 90 minutes?\n\n\n\nThe Mark Drama uses theatre-in-the-round to create a joyful yet hard-hitting performance of the gospel. By the end of 90 minutes, the audience has seen every incident and heard almost every word of Jesus as recorded by Mark.\n\n\n\nAll you need is 15 willing volunteers who learn the content over 6 weeks.\n\n\n\n\n\u201cNo props. No professionals. Just Gospel.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nOver the last 10 years, various IFES movements have effectively used this tool. This year, it\u2019s been hosted by BCSU in Bulgaria, ABU Ribeir\u00e3o Preto at the University of S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s medical school, and Swansea CU (UCCF Great Britain), where \u201cvibrant performances\u201d were shared with over 100 students.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nMORE CHRISTMAS?\n\n\n\nOver the last year, the Word has been spread around the world \u2013 proclaimed, announced, explained, performed, posted, and embodied. It\u2019s been presented in different ways in different contexts, amid different opportunities and different needs. But the gospel has remained the same: \n\n\n\n\u201cGood news that will cause great joy for all people \u2013 a Saviour who is born to us, the Messiah, the Lord \u2013 peace on earth.\u201d (Luke 2:10-11, 14) \n\n\n\nThat\u2019s a life-giving word that\u2019s worth spreading everywhere, all the time. You can never have too much Christmas!\n\n\n\n\nAT A GLANCE: CONEXI\u00d3N BLOGS IN 2024\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nTOPIC BLOG WHY READ IT? Whole-life discipleship Faithful Everywhere Living out the gospel in creation, culture, and society\u202f Stories from Chile, Malaysia, and Norway illustrate how you can impact the world with your faith.  Pioneering ministry Mission Not Yet Accomplished Breaking New Ground around the world How can you reach the unreached in the student world? Find out with examples from Equatorial Guinea, Ecuador, and Pakistan. Giving Global Perspectives on Giving Theological, personal, and devotional reflections from around IFES Broaden your horizons on giving with perspectives from Brazil, the Philippines, and Nigeria.  Acts-style ministry Student Ministry in the Last Days 10 Principles from the Book of Acts What should your witness to Jesus look like in \u201cthe last days\u201d? Here are 10 pointers, anchored in Acts and practically applied.  Engaging with Scripture Is the Bible Relevant for Today\u2019s World? Six steps to discern biblical perspectives on contemporary issues Improve your approach to exploring what the Bible says on any topic! Includes a FREE booklet. Conference impact Christian Conferences: Momentary High or Lasting Impact? Investigating the influence of IFES\u2019s global gathering \u2013 one year on Do conferences really make a difference in the long term? Discover six lasting impacts from World Assembly 2023. Includes questions to consider when planning your own large conference. Digital ministry Student Ministry in a Digital Age Utilising technology to reach and equip digital natives Are you just using technology or can you utilise it for Christ? Consider the difference with examples of digital ministry around the IFES world. Includes links to many thought-provoking and practical resources. Global prayer Zealous for Global Prayer Uniting the nations to pray on World Student Day \u2013 and beyond Expand the vision and reach of your prayers by connecting with a movement of worldwide intercession. Includes a FREE devotional guide. Student initiative Amateurs in Charge? The risky yet rewarding business of student-led ministry See the connections between Luke 10 and IFES ministry \u2013 and discover six compelling reasons why the risk of student-led ministry is worth the reward.  \n\n\n\n\n\nThe post Christmas everywhere all the time appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-12-05T12:18:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-07T13:18:46+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Vahan Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/rickardsvahangmail-com/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/ccabac07acfefd2444f42fa9613b6e47.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1-banner-image-sm.jpeg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=43215", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/student-led-ministry/", "title": "AMATEURS IN CHARGE?", "content_html": "
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You wouldn\u2019t expect an amateur actor to direct a Hollywood blockbuster. You wouldn\u2019t let an amateur chef prepare a presidential dinner. So, why should ordinary students without theological qualifications lead campus Bible studies? Why let young, impressionable adults take charge of Christian witness and ministry at university?\u00a0

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In this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we\u2019re considering the case for student-led ministry.  

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It\u2019s a core value of IFES: \u201cWe are a ministry of students reaching students and we believe in students taking the initiative in all aspects of witness to the university.\u201d But why take the risk? Why put \u201camateurs\u201d in charge? 

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When reading through the Gospels, you might ask the same questions of Jesus. Matthew has barely left his tax collector\u2019s desk (Matthew 9), when Jesus sends him and other spiritual rookies to help confront evil and heal sickness among the \u201charassed and helpless\u201d (Matthew 10). Yet Jesus\u2019s risky trust in his ‘students\u2019 yields clear rewards \u2013 for the helpless and the helpers. 

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By looking at that passage in the light of past and present IFES ministry, we can see six compelling reasons for championing student initiative. 

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1. THE STUDENT WORLD: A PLENTIFUL HARVEST 

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The trigger for Jesus sending out his students was not their need for spiritual growth. This mission was not designed as a \u2018discipleship program\u2019. Primarily, it expressed Jesus\u2019s loving response to a vast need (Matthew 9:35-38). 

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Of course, the disciples did learn much (see below). But here we find an important caveat for all that follows: Jesus entrusts his followers with ministry because of the \u201cplentiful harvest\u201d \u2013 and the need for \u201cworkers\u201d to gather it in. Through his disciples, the multitudes could be touched.  

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Ten years ago, it was a similar sense of need and calling that caused four students to sail for nine days on an open boat up the Lualaba river.

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Albert, Patrice, Dieudonn\u00e9, and Venance, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were students in the GBU DRC group in Kisangani. When they heard that two provinces in their country lacked any GBU presence, they felt burdened and decided to act.

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After much prayer and fasting, they sailed for the University of Kindu \u2013 in a province dominated by Islam and folk religions. There, they met students, talked to them about Christ, and introduced the basics of the IFES vision.

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The four pioneering students from Kisangani passed on Bible study skills and led prayer and worship. When they left a month later, nine students had taken responsibility for the new group.\u00a0\u00a0

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The need has not changed. In fact, over the last ten years, the number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide has skyrocketed.

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Today, it stands at around 250 million \u2013 a vast harvest field.\u00a0\u00a0

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2. STUDENT-LED: STUDENTS REACHING STUDENTS 

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To gather in the plentiful harvest, Jesus told his students to spend time in the field. When they entered a town, they were to stay in people\u2019s homes (Matthew 10:11). We\u2019re not told how long the whole mission lasted \u2013 it certainly wasn\u2019t the typical 3-5 years that higher education takes. However, the principle remains: they spent time among the \u201clost sheep\u201d, chatting in their homes, eating around their tables, winning their trust and witnessing their needs. 

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In the same way, university students who are disciples of Jesus are best placed to reach students who are lost, \u201charassed and helpless\u201d. For they are already in the harvest field, chatting with them on campus, sharing meals together, and encountering their needs.  

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This is why staff in IFES and staff workers in its national movements encourage and equip students to do the harvesting. 

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As a student in SIUCF (Solomon Islands), Amelia was involved in the ministry on her campus. But, when she became a staff worker, she learned a hard lesson. She realised how she needed to step back \u2013 to do less hands-on ministry so that students could do more. In a recent Prayerline, she shares:  

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\u201cThe dynamics of student ministry are very different from how I\u2019m used to serving within our church youth fellowship. Regional support from IFES has equipped me to grow SIUCF ministry by training up the students.\u201d\u00a0

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Consequently, some campuses now have students running Bible study groups in several dorms. 

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3. STUDENT-LED: EXPERIENCING GOD AT WORK  

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Jesus\u2019s first disciples saw him heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and drive out demons (Matthew 8-9). They saw God at work through Jesus. Then, Jesus gave them authority to do exactly the same (10:8) \u2013 and they experienced God work through them. Luke tells us how thrilling this was for Jesus\u2019 students (Luke 10:17). 

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For more than 75 years, this has been the experience of students in IFES movements. The prospect of leading an outreach event, prayer time, or campus Bible study can feel deeply daunting. Yet, when the time comes, it is often a thrilling opportunity to see God at work.

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\"student
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That was Samuel\u2019s story. As a student at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al, he joined his campus GBUC Canada group. That term, students were taking turns to lead studies in Nehemiah. But he\u2019d never led a Bible study before. So, when his turn came, he wasn\u2019t sure what to expect.  

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He recalls it was a thrilling experience: 

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\u201cJust preparing the study was enjoyable. But when I led it, I realised how it wasn\u2019t so much me leading as the Lord \u2013 he was able, through me, to give what was needed.\u201d  

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4. STUDENT-LED: DEEPENING RELIANCE ON GOD

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Like Samuel in Canada, before Jesus\u2019 students could experience God at work through them, they needed to step out in faith. They needed to depend on God not only to use them but also to meet their needs (10:9). And their mission was to be a precursor to future times when they\u2019d need to rely on the Holy Spirit to give them the right words to say (10:20).  

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\n\n
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By leading his GBU group in Vila Real (Portugal), Wirlley learned exactly that. He\u2019d been praying for an opportunity to serve the university. One day, while they were discussing how the closure of a campus bus stop was negatively impacting the student community, they realised how they could serve: by mobilising a petition. With the help of others, Wirlley and his GBU group gathered over 1,700 signatures. The bus stop was reopened.  

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However, such student initiative hadn\u2019t gone unnoticed by the university authorities \u2013 not least because GBU was a faith-based group on a secular campus. Some weeks later, high-ranking university officials summoned Wirlley to a meeting to explain his actions. He shares about his deepened reliance on God: 

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\u201cYou can\u2019t believe how nervous I was! Pacing up and down the room, I was thinking, \u2018Oh wow! Oh no, oh no!\u2019 But I was also in prayer. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to calmly speak.\u201d   

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5. STUDENT-LED: LEARNING MINISTRY SKILLS 

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Discipleship is apprenticeship \u2013 it\u2019s about learning on the job. Nowhere is that clearer than in Mathew 10. As students of Jesus, the disciples had shadowed their \u201cmaster\u201d at work. Now it was time for them to become practitioners \u2013 to go and \u2018do\u2019, offering healing, life, restoration, and liberation (10:8). They were to learn ministry by ministering. 

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When Natalie launched a fellowship group in her faculty at the University of Panama, she faced numerous challenges. But with support from peers and her national movement (CEC), as well as last year\u2019s faith-building trip to IFES World Assembly, she has been continuing to practise her faith. In recent months, Natalie has been learning more about the ministry of prayer \u2013 by ministering:  

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\u201cBefore one of our exams, some classmates suggested praying together for the exam and they asked me to lead the prayer. While I was praying, the whole classroom went silent until I finished. The rest is a long story, but I can say that God answered that prayer in a miraculous way because we all passed that subject. My classmates said \u2018Wow! Your prayer really worked!\u2019, and I just said something like \u2018It was all God\u2019. \u201cSome of us stayed to pray in thanksgiving for what happened, and we invited the lecturer to join us \u2013 and he did! So, we also prayed over him and talked with him a bit more about God. That was an amazing day! God showed me how much he can do with a little obedience and faithfulness from us.\u201d 

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6. STUDENT-LED: DEVELOPING AS FUTURE LEADERS

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Finally, as \u201cthe twelve\u201d practised the ministry of Jesus, dependent on the Father, open to the Spirit\u2019s work, these \u201cdisciples\u201d (10:1) became \u201capostles\u201d (10:2). They were turning into future pioneers and leaders for the church.   

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Serving God in student-led ministry has been the seedbed out of which many godly and influential leaders have grown \u2013 for the church and society.  

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In the 1970s, when Chad had one of the world\u2019s weakest economies, many would have thought it impossible that one of its students could become the leader of an international organisation.

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Yet, by God\u2019s grace, it was possible \u2013 through Daniel Bourdann\u00e9, former IFES General Secretary, to whom we recently paid tribute. His journey to global leadership started with student-led ministry in Chad and Togo. 

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Around the world, many students have been shaped for prominent roles in society by encountering Christ and learning to serve God through their national movement. In chapter five of Shining Like Stars, Lindsay Brown illustrates this with testimonies, like those of Fanny Bejarano who secured a senior judiciary role in Argentina and Procel DaSilva Armando who gained an influential government role in Guinea-Bissau. 

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It can often be in the \u2018small things\u2019, like organising student prayer meetings, that student initiative becomes a gateway to discovering gifts and calling. In a recent podcast, Isabelle Veldhuizen shares how her humble experience in a small group in GBU France led to her involvement with IFES Europe and her participation in the Global Leadership Initiative.  

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STUDENT INITIATIVE: A REWARDING RISK 

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Entrusting students with ministry feels risky: Albert, Patrice, Dieudonn\u00e9, and Venance heading up the river; Wirlley standing before the university administration; Natalie guiding her whole class in prayer; Samuel leading his first Bible study with peers; Amelia stepping back as staff so that more students could step up.  

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But hasn\u2019t it always been God\u2019s way to use \u2018amateurs\u2019 \u2013 with a wavering Abram, a young David, and a virgin Mary? And with Jesus giving authority to his new apprentices? Yet, we\u2019ve seen that the \u2018risk\u2019 Jesus took was vindicated by the harvesting of lives \u2013 and the growth of his disciples.  

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The examples above show that the rewards of student-led ministry are no less impressive: the growth of new campus groups, the meeting of needs, a deeper knowledge of the Spirit\u2019s enabling, faith-building experiences of answered prayer, and the germination of future leaders. 

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 Through its national movements, regional initiatives, and global ministries, IFES seeks to empower students \u2013 with fellowship, training, and resources \u2013 so that the harvest can be gathered in. 

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\u201cWe are a ministry of students reaching students and we believe in students taking the initiative in all aspects of witness to the university.\u201d\u00a0

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Amen.

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\u00a0

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BELIEVE IN GOD\u2019S RISK: INCREASE THE REWARD\u00a0

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Have you been inspired by the idea and impact of student-led ministry?\u00a0

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Then support students today!\u00a0

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STUDENTS IN ACTION 

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Watch students share and speak from Scripture at IFES World Assembly 2023.\u00a0

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The post AMATEURS IN CHARGE? appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "You wouldn\u2019t expect an amateur actor to direct a Hollywood blockbuster. You wouldn\u2019t let an amateur chef prepare a presidential dinner. So, why should ordinary students without theological qualifications lead campus Bible studies? Why let young, impressionable adults take charge of Christian witness and ministry at university?\u00a0\n\n\n\nIn this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we\u2019re considering the case for student-led ministry.  \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a core value of IFES: \u201cWe are a ministry of students reaching students and we believe in students taking the initiative in all aspects of witness to the university.\u201d But why take the risk? Why put \u201camateurs\u201d in charge? \n\n\n\nWhen reading through the Gospels, you might ask the same questions of Jesus. Matthew has barely left his tax collector\u2019s desk (Matthew 9), when Jesus sends him and other spiritual rookies to help confront evil and heal sickness among the \u201charassed and helpless\u201d (Matthew 10). Yet Jesus\u2019s risky trust in his ‘students\u2019 yields clear rewards \u2013 for the helpless and the helpers. \n\n\n\nBy looking at that passage in the light of past and present IFES ministry, we can see six compelling reasons for championing student initiative. \n\n\n\n1. THE STUDENT WORLD: A PLENTIFUL HARVEST \n\n\n\nThe trigger for Jesus sending out his students was not their need for spiritual growth. This mission was not designed as a \u2018discipleship program\u2019. Primarily, it expressed Jesus\u2019s loving response to a vast need (Matthew 9:35-38). \n\n\n\nOf course, the disciples did learn much (see below). But here we find an important caveat for all that follows: Jesus entrusts his followers with ministry because of the \u201cplentiful harvest\u201d \u2013 and the need for \u201cworkers\u201d to gather it in. Through his disciples, the multitudes could be touched.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTen years ago, it was a similar sense of need and calling that caused four students to sail for nine days on an open boat up the Lualaba river.\n\n\n\n Albert, Patrice, Dieudonn\u00e9, and Venance, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were students in the GBU DRC group in Kisangani. When they heard that two provinces in their country lacked any GBU presence, they felt burdened and decided to act.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter much prayer and fasting, they sailed for the University of Kindu \u2013 in a province dominated by Islam and folk religions. There, they met students, talked to them about Christ, and introduced the basics of the IFES vision. \n\n\n\nThe four pioneering students from Kisangani passed on Bible study skills and led prayer and worship. When they left a month later, nine students had taken responsibility for the new group.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe need has not changed. In fact, over the last ten years, the number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide has skyrocketed. \n\n\n\nToday, it stands at around 250 million \u2013 a vast harvest field.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n2. STUDENT-LED: STUDENTS REACHING STUDENTS \n\n\n\nTo gather in the plentiful harvest, Jesus told his students to spend time in the field. When they entered a town, they were to stay in people\u2019s homes (Matthew 10:11). We\u2019re not told how long the whole mission lasted \u2013 it certainly wasn\u2019t the typical 3-5 years that higher education takes. However, the principle remains: they spent time among the \u201clost sheep\u201d, chatting in their homes, eating around their tables, winning their trust and witnessing their needs. \n\n\n\nIn the same way, university students who are disciples of Jesus are best placed to reach students who are lost, \u201charassed and helpless\u201d. For they are already in the harvest field, chatting with them on campus, sharing meals together, and encountering their needs.  \n\n\n\nThis is why staff in IFES and staff workers in its national movements encourage and equip students to do the harvesting. \n\n\n\n\nAs a student in SIUCF (Solomon Islands), Amelia was involved in the ministry on her campus. But, when she became a staff worker, she learned a hard lesson. She realised how she needed to step back \u2013 to do less hands-on ministry so that students could do more. In a recent Prayerline, she shares:  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cThe dynamics of student ministry are very different from how I\u2019m used to serving within our church youth fellowship. Regional support from IFES has equipped me to grow SIUCF ministry by training up the students.\u201d\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nConsequently, some campuses now have students running Bible study groups in several dorms. \n\n\n\n3. STUDENT-LED: EXPERIENCING GOD AT WORK  \n\n\n\nJesus\u2019s first disciples saw him heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and drive out demons (Matthew 8-9). They saw God at work through Jesus. Then, Jesus gave them authority to do exactly the same (10:8) \u2013 and they experienced God work through them. Luke tells us how thrilling this was for Jesus\u2019 students (Luke 10:17). \n\n\n\nFor more than 75 years, this has been the experience of students in IFES movements. The prospect of leading an outreach event, prayer time, or campus Bible study can feel deeply daunting. Yet, when the time comes, it is often a thrilling opportunity to see God at work.\n\n\n\n\nThat was Samuel\u2019s story. As a student at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al, he joined his campus GBUC Canada group. That term, students were taking turns to lead studies in Nehemiah. But he\u2019d never led a Bible study before. So, when his turn came, he wasn\u2019t sure what to expect.  \n\n\n\nHe recalls it was a thrilling experience: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cJust preparing the study was enjoyable. But when I led it, I realised how it wasn\u2019t so much me leading as the Lord \u2013 he was able, through me, to give what was needed.\u201d  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. STUDENT-LED: DEEPENING RELIANCE ON GOD\n\n\n\nLike Samuel in Canada, before Jesus\u2019 students could experience God at work through them, they needed to step out in faith. They needed to depend on God not only to use them but also to meet their needs (10:9). And their mission was to be a precursor to future times when they\u2019d need to rely on the Holy Spirit to give them the right words to say (10:20).  \n\n\n\nBy leading his GBU group in Vila Real (Portugal), Wirlley learned exactly that. He\u2019d been praying for an opportunity to serve the university. One day, while they were discussing how the closure of a campus bus stop was negatively impacting the student community, they realised how they could serve: by mobilising a petition. With the help of others, Wirlley and his GBU group gathered over 1,700 signatures. The bus stop was reopened.  \n\n\n\n\nHowever, such student initiative hadn\u2019t gone unnoticed by the university authorities \u2013 not least because GBU was a faith-based group on a secular campus. Some weeks later, high-ranking university officials summoned Wirlley to a meeting to explain his actions. He shares about his deepened reliance on God: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t believe how nervous I was! Pacing up and down the room, I was thinking, \u2018Oh wow! Oh no, oh no!\u2019 But I was also in prayer. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to calmly speak.\u201d   \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. STUDENT-LED: LEARNING MINISTRY SKILLS \n\n\n\nDiscipleship is apprenticeship \u2013 it\u2019s about learning on the job. Nowhere is that clearer than in Mathew 10. As students of Jesus, the disciples had shadowed their \u201cmaster\u201d at work. Now it was time for them to become practitioners \u2013 to go and \u2018do\u2019, offering healing, life, restoration, and liberation (10:8). They were to learn ministry by ministering. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen Natalie launched a fellowship group in her faculty at the University of Panama, she faced numerous challenges. But with support from peers and her national movement (CEC), as well as last year\u2019s faith-building trip to IFES World Assembly, she has been continuing to practise her faith. In recent months, Natalie has been learning more about the ministry of prayer \u2013 by ministering:  \n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cBefore one of our exams, some classmates suggested praying together for the exam and they asked me to lead the prayer. While I was praying, the whole classroom went silent until I finished. The rest is a long story, but I can say that God answered that prayer in a miraculous way because we all passed that subject. My classmates said \u2018Wow! Your prayer really worked!\u2019, and I just said something like \u2018It was all God\u2019. \u201cSome of us stayed to pray in thanksgiving for what happened, and we invited the lecturer to join us \u2013 and he did! So, we also prayed over him and talked with him a bit more about God. That was an amazing day! God showed me how much he can do with a little obedience and faithfulness from us.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n6. STUDENT-LED: DEVELOPING AS FUTURE LEADERS\n\n\n\nFinally, as \u201cthe twelve\u201d practised the ministry of Jesus, dependent on the Father, open to the Spirit\u2019s work, these \u201cdisciples\u201d (10:1) became \u201capostles\u201d (10:2). They were turning into future pioneers and leaders for the church.   \n\n\n\nServing God in student-led ministry has been the seedbed out of which many godly and influential leaders have grown \u2013 for the church and society.  \n\n\n\n\nIn the 1970s, when Chad had one of the world\u2019s weakest economies, many would have thought it impossible that one of its students could become the leader of an international organisation. \n\n\n\nYet, by God\u2019s grace, it was possible \u2013 through Daniel Bourdann\u00e9, former IFES General Secretary, to whom we recently paid tribute. His journey to global leadership started with student-led ministry in Chad and Togo. \n\n\n\n\nAround the world, many students have been shaped for prominent roles in society by encountering Christ and learning to serve God through their national movement. In chapter five of Shining Like Stars, Lindsay Brown illustrates this with testimonies, like those of Fanny Bejarano who secured a senior judiciary role in Argentina and Procel DaSilva Armando who gained an influential government role in Guinea-Bissau. \n\n\n\nIt can often be in the \u2018small things\u2019, like organising student prayer meetings, that student initiative becomes a gateway to discovering gifts and calling. In a recent podcast, Isabelle Veldhuizen shares how her humble experience in a small group in GBU France led to her involvement with IFES Europe and her participation in the Global Leadership Initiative.  \n\n\n\nSTUDENT INITIATIVE: A REWARDING RISK \n\n\n\nEntrusting students with ministry feels risky: Albert, Patrice, Dieudonn\u00e9, and Venance heading up the river; Wirlley standing before the university administration; Natalie guiding her whole class in prayer; Samuel leading his first Bible study with peers; Amelia stepping back as staff so that more students could step up.  \n\n\n\n\nBut hasn\u2019t it always been God\u2019s way to use \u2018amateurs\u2019 \u2013 with a wavering Abram, a young David, and a virgin Mary? And with Jesus giving authority to his new apprentices? Yet, we\u2019ve seen that the \u2018risk\u2019 Jesus took was vindicated by the harvesting of lives \u2013 and the growth of his disciples.  \n\n\n\nThe examples above show that the rewards of student-led ministry are no less impressive: the growth of new campus groups, the meeting of needs, a deeper knowledge of the Spirit\u2019s enabling, faith-building experiences of answered prayer, and the germination of future leaders. \n\n\n\n\n Through its national movements, regional initiatives, and global ministries, IFES seeks to empower students \u2013 with fellowship, training, and resources \u2013 so that the harvest can be gathered in. \n\n\n\n\u201cWe are a ministry of students reaching students and we believe in students taking the initiative in all aspects of witness to the university.\u201d\u00a0 \n\n\n\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBELIEVE IN GOD\u2019S RISK: INCREASE THE REWARD\u00a0\n\n\n\nHave you been inspired by the idea and impact of student-led ministry?\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nThen support students today!\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI pay taxes in:USAUKCanadaOthersGive OnceMonthly$1000$500$250$100$50$25$The minimum donation amount is $5USDDirect my gift to:Where most needed - IFES ministry worldwideRegionsProgramsCountryIFES StaffXAdd a note or specific designation:ContinueSecure donationGive OnceMonthly\u00a3800\u00a3400\u00a3200\u00a3100\u00a350\u00a310\u00a3The minimum donation amount is \u00a35GBPDirect my gift to:Where most needed - IFES ministry worldwideRegionsProgramsCountryIFES StaffXAdd a note or specific designation:ContinueSecure donationFor Canadians Who May Need a Tax ReceiptGifts may be made to IFES ministry and staff throughout the world by giving through our member movement in Canada, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of Canada.You can donate by email, electronic fund transfer, or using your credit/debit card. IVCF Canada does not charge any overheads and are able to issue tax receipts when appropriate.Clicking the button below will bring you to IVCF Canada's donation page where you can make your gift to IFES.Give Via IVCF CanadaGive OnceMonthly$800$400$200$100$50$10$The minimum donation amount is $5USD \u2304USDEURGBPDirect my gift to:Where most needed - IFES ministry worldwideRegionsProgramsCountryIFES StaffXAdd a note or specific designation:ContinueSecure donation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSTUDENTS IN ACTION \n\n\n\nWatch students share and speak from Scripture at IFES World Assembly 2023.\u00a0\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post AMATEURS IN CHARGE? appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-11-07T09:10:48+00:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-07T09:10:49+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WA23-stock-student-speaking-from-Bible-scaled.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=42795", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/zealous-for-global-prayer/", "title": "Zealous for Global Prayer\u00a0", "content_html": "
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Global prayer \u2013 is it just the latest faith trend, a new ministry gimmick?  

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It\u2019s true that various international initiatives have become increasingly popular in recent years, such as Thy Kingdom Come, The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and our own IFES World Student Day. But it\u2019s nothing new. 

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The vision for global prayer has been around for centuries. Old Testament prophets spoke of it (Isaiah 56:6-7), Jesus got visibly emotional about it (Mark 11:15-17), and the apostles tasted it (Acts 2:5-21).  

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In this blog, we\u2019ll glimpse Jesus\u2019s zeal for global prayer. We\u2019ll explore how IFES World Student Day is one event that\u2019s mobilising worldwide intercession.

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And we\u2019ll see how that\u2019s part of a wider commitment and invitation to pray together for God\u2019s work in the world\u2019s universities \u2013 locally, nationally, and globally. 

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JESUS IS ZEALOUS ABOUT GLOBAL PRAYER 

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To say that Jesus cared about global prayer is an understatement. He was zealous for it. 

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Do you remember that day \u2013 one of the few occasions in the Gospels when Jesus gets angry? He was so riled by the trade in the temple courts that he overturned the merchants\u2019 tables and benches (Matthew 21:12). He cleared them out, even driving out their business assets with a whip (John 2:15)! 

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It prompted his disciples to recall words from Psalm 69: \u201cZeal for your house will consume me.\u201d  (John 2:17). And the way Jesus explained his zeal is probably familiar: \u201cIt is written,\u201d he said to them, \u201c\u2018My house will be a house of prayer\u2019; but you have made it \u2018a den of robbers.\u2019\u201d (Luke 19:46).

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But Mark wants to make sure his readers realise the full implications of the scripture reference:

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As he taught them, he said, \u201cIs it not written: \u2018My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations\u2019? But you have made it \u2018a den of robbers.\u2019 (Mark 11:15-16).    

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Jesus wasn\u2019t only upset that worship had been turned into a money-making enterprise. He was troubled that their religious activities were thwarting God\u2019s intention for all nations to pray, side by side (see also Numbers 15:14-16). 

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Indeed, it was this kind of international worship that Jesus\u2019 sacrificial death would secure (Revelation 7:9-10). No wonder he was zealous for it. 

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48 HOURS OF GLOBAL PRAYER: WORLD STUDENT DAY 

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This is surely one reason why IFES World Student Day feels so exciting, holy, and significant \u2013 it is an earthly reflection of the great multitude in heaven \u201cfrom every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.\u201d (Revelation 7:9). 

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As a global fellowship comprising over 160 national movements (and working in another 20 countries and territories), IFES is uniquely placed to connect students across the globe and mobilize prayer with and for them. For 48 hours each year, World Student Day provides a focal point to do that.

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Every October, students, IFES global and national staff, supporters, ministries, and churches are invited to pray for the needs of students and their witness on campus.  

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But, praying for \u201cthe world\u201d can be daunting. So, in the weeks before, IFES students and staff submit concrete requests which are turned into Prayer Cards (published online).  

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Last year, as the sun rose over the oceans of the South Pacific, we prayed with Micah in PSFC Fiji for first-year students to get involved in their group at Derrick. As it passed over Indonesia\u2019s myriad islands, we prayed that Taria and her friends would have wisdom as they share the gospel with their Muslim friends. As it shed light over India\u2019s millions, we prayed with Eyiekhrote for young students struggling with addictions such as tobacco and pornography.

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As it peeked over Africa\u2019s mountains and flooded its plains, we prayed with Natnael for students in Ethiopia who were facing conflict and persecution, and we interceded with Koula that college authorities in Cote d\u2019Ivoire would allow Christian activities on campus. As it warmed the Caribbean waters, we prayed with Samantha in ISCCF St Vincent and the Grenadines for healing and help for students coming from broken homes. As it energised the Amazon rainforest, we prayed for Marisol in AGEUP Peru, serving students facing anxiety, depression, and stress. And, as it finally lit up America\u2019s West Coast, we prayed with Abi in InterVarsity/USA that \u201cChristian students find time to slow down amid busy schedules so they can share God\u2019s overflowing love with others\u201d. 

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This wave of global prayer involved over 25,000 people across more than 160 countries \u2013 a wide array of nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before God\u2019s throne.  

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On 18 October 2024 this mobilisation of global prayer will return.

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This year\u2019s theme for World Student Day is \u201csanctuary\u201d \u2013 flowing from Psalm 46. It\u2019s a recognition of today\u2019s acute need for refuge and peace around the world.   

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All are welcome to join in this exciting expression of worldwide prayer (sign up here). Prayer Cards are ready. Various resources are available, including maps, social media graphics, videos, and a five-day devotional guide. Thousands are preparing to be still and pray that students in all the earth know God.\u202f 

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Prepare for World Student Day by prayerfully engaging with Psalm 46. \u201cBe still\u201d and use our downloadable five-day DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.\u202f 

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Each day, dive deeper into the calming truths of the Psalm, with questions, commentary, and links to prayer resources. Use it alone or in a group to pursue God\u2019s peace in your life, in your community, and on campuses around the world. 

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A LEGACY OF GLOBAL PRAYER 

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Just as the concept of global prayer is not new, so World Student Day has been around for decades.

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Its first iteration was in the 1970s. At the IFES General Committee (World Assembly) in 1975, member movements unanimously adopted \u201ca proposal that a day be set apart each year when student members of IFES would pray for the International Fellowship\u201d.

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IFES Day was born, later to become IFES Day of Prayer. This grew into what is now called World Student Day. 

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However, one special day to focus prayer across the fellowship was merely an outworking of a long-standing passion for prayer among its founding movements.

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Anecdotes of zealous, globally-minded prayer fill the first chapters of Pete Lowman\u2019s book The Day of His Power: A History of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students from its Beginnings up to 1988. Of the early days for evangelical student ministry in the USA, it reads: \u201cPrayer meetings continued; students began to commit themselves to the foreign field\u201d (p.13). While in 1940s China, \u201cnew [student] converts, who felt a strong desire for prayer and Bible study, began to hold their own meetings… There were signs of a deep work of the Holy Spirit: some students were converted, many yielded their lives for consecration, and several answered the call to Christian ministry\u201d (p.123).\u00a0

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It\u2019s therefore unsurprising that the ten national movements which founded IFES in 1947 covenanted to \u201cwork and pray to see a clear evangelical witness established in every university in the world\u201d. Today\u2019s vision remains unchanged. At its very core, IFES is a ministry of global prayer. 

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Kehinde Ojo, Director for Indigenous Support Development, is keenly aware of the vast global harvest \u2013 and the need to pray for workers to reap it: 

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\u201cFor many years now, I\u2019ve reflected on Jesus\u2019s words in Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV): \u2018The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.\u2019\u201d 

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\u201cThis passage is so applicable to student ministry \u2013 the situation with the multitudes is replicated in universities and colleges all over the world! Many students are like \u2018sheep without a shepherd\u2019. I find it compelling that Jesus requested prayer as a way of addressing the need.\u201d 

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A NETWORK OF GLOBAL PRAYER 

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World Student Day is simply one way of meeting that need. Across IFES \u2013 at global, national, and local levels \u2013 students, staff, and supporters engage with various outward-facing prayer opportunities, following rhythms of global prayer. 

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To facilitate “prayer without ceasing\u201d, the IFES Daily Prayer Guide, published every quarter, contains brief points for prayer from national movements and the global fellowship. And the fortnightly Prayerline offers a vivid snapshot of student witness in a national movement, followed by points for prayer. 

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Within the fellowship itself, Annette Arulrajah (Associate General Secretary for Global Fellowship) has been championing a renewed call for prayer: 

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\u201cAny movement that\u2019s not underpinned with the prayers of its people is a movement straining away from the powerhouse. In order to thrive, any movement of God must be powered by God Himself. As we endeavour to do his work, we must fall on our knees and cry out to him.\u201d  

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To facilitate a deeper sense of togetherness in such prayer, IFES has recently invited global and national staff to participate in monthly online prayer meetings. And plans are underway for a Global Prayer Day on 23 January 2025, when a Virtual Prayer Room will be launched \u2013 a fresh example of how IFES is utilising digital ministry. 

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Complementing intercession at the global level is a plethora of prayer initiatives in IFES regions and within national movements. Since 2020, the IFES Caribbean team have been mobilising prayer through 40 Days of Prayer \u2013 a focused period of inviting supporters to intercede for each of their region\u2019s national movements by using prayer points and joining weekly online meetings. At the national level, larger movements often publish resources to fuel prayer for their ministries \u2013 such as KGK\u2019s Prayer Assignment in Japan, UCCF\u2019s Focus in Great Britain, or ABUB\u2019s Intercessor in Brazil \u2013 while other movements email prayer letters or post prayer requests on social media channels, like UJC Chad. 

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CHOOSING GLOBAL PRAYER 

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Whatever resources we use or initiatives we join, Annette\u2019s exhortation reminds us that heartfelt prayer is a must.  

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Indeed, from its beginning to end, the Bible treats prayer as intrinsic to our relationship with God. Whether it\u2019s strolling in God\u2019s presence, talking with him about what we see in front of us (Gen 2), weeping in God\u2019s presence, pleading with him for change (Nehemiah 1), or bowing in God\u2019s presence, telling him how much we appreciate what he\u2019s done for us (Revelation 5).  

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The question is whether our conversation, lament, and praise are infused with God\u2019s global vision.  

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Like the money changers in the temple, will we turn inwards and focus on taking care of our own \u201cbusiness\u201d? Or will we face outwards and share Christ\u2019s zeal for a kind of prayer that blesses the nations? 

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It\u2019s not a gimmick. Let\u2019s pursue God\u2019s heart. Let\u2019s choose global prayer.  

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AT A GLANCE: IFES RESOURCES FOR GLOBAL PRAYER 
 What is it? How frequent? Where to access? 
Prayerline A vivid snapshot of how God is at work through students, usually focused on one IFES national movement. With pointers for prayer. Every 2 weeks Email (subscription) Web (page) From social media posts App (Prayermate) Podcast (Podbean) 
Daily Prayer Guide A short point for prayer for every day of the year. Covers every world region. Includes requests for the global fellowship and its national movements. Every 3 months Web (download) Email (subscription) Post (UK, USA, Canada only) App (Prayermate) 
Praise & Prayer News from around IFES to stimulate praise and prayer.   Every 3 months Web (download) Email (subscription) Post (UK/USA/Canada only) 
World Student Day 
Prayer Cards 		A focused day of prayer for student ministry on campuses around the world, using requests submitted by students and staff.   Annual, every October Email (subscription) Web (page)  
To find out about prayer initiatives or resources at the local level, visit the IFES Our World page for links to national movement websites and social media channels. 
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The post Zealous for Global Prayer\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "Global prayer \u2013 is it just the latest faith trend, a new ministry gimmick?  \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s true that various international initiatives have become increasingly popular in recent years, such as Thy Kingdom Come, The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and our own IFES World Student Day. But it\u2019s nothing new. \n\n\n\nThe vision for global prayer has been around for centuries. Old Testament prophets spoke of it (Isaiah 56:6-7), Jesus got visibly emotional about it (Mark 11:15-17), and the apostles tasted it (Acts 2:5-21).  \n\n\n\nIn this blog, we\u2019ll glimpse Jesus\u2019s zeal for global prayer. We\u2019ll explore how IFES World Student Day is one event that\u2019s mobilising worldwide intercession.\n\n\n\nAnd we\u2019ll see how that\u2019s part of a wider commitment and invitation to pray together for God\u2019s work in the world\u2019s universities \u2013 locally, nationally, and globally. \n\n\n\nJESUS IS ZEALOUS ABOUT GLOBAL PRAYER \n\n\n\nTo say that Jesus cared about global prayer is an understatement. He was zealous for it. \n\n\n\nDo you remember that day \u2013 one of the few occasions in the Gospels when Jesus gets angry? He was so riled by the trade in the temple courts that he overturned the merchants\u2019 tables and benches (Matthew 21:12). He cleared them out, even driving out their business assets with a whip (John 2:15)! \n\n\n\n\nIt prompted his disciples to recall words from Psalm 69: \u201cZeal for your house will consume me.\u201d  (John 2:17). And the way Jesus explained his zeal is probably familiar: \u201cIt is written,\u201d he said to them, \u201c\u2018My house will be a house of prayer\u2019; but you have made it \u2018a den of robbers.\u2019\u201d (Luke 19:46). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBut Mark wants to make sure his readers realise the full implications of the scripture reference: \n\n\n\nAs he taught them, he said, \u201cIs it not written: \u2018My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations\u2019? But you have made it \u2018a den of robbers.\u2019 (Mark 11:15-16).    \n\n\n\n\nJesus wasn\u2019t only upset that worship had been turned into a money-making enterprise. He was troubled that their religious activities were thwarting God\u2019s intention for all nations to pray, side by side (see also Numbers 15:14-16). \n\n\n\nIndeed, it was this kind of international worship that Jesus\u2019 sacrificial death would secure (Revelation 7:9-10). No wonder he was zealous for it. \n\n\n\n48 HOURS OF GLOBAL PRAYER: WORLD STUDENT DAY \n\n\n\nThis is surely one reason why IFES World Student Day feels so exciting, holy, and significant \u2013 it is an earthly reflection of the great multitude in heaven \u201cfrom every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.\u201d (Revelation 7:9). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs a global fellowship comprising over 160 national movements (and working in another 20 countries and territories), IFES is uniquely placed to connect students across the globe and mobilize prayer with and for them. For 48 hours each year, World Student Day provides a focal point to do that.\n\n\n\n\nEvery October, students, IFES global and national staff, supporters, ministries, and churches are invited to pray for the needs of students and their witness on campus.  \n\n\n\nBut, praying for \u201cthe world\u201d can be daunting. So, in the weeks before, IFES students and staff submit concrete requests which are turned into Prayer Cards (published online).  \n\n\n\n\nLast year, as the sun rose over the oceans of the South Pacific, we prayed with Micah in PSFC Fiji for first-year students to get involved in their group at Derrick. As it passed over Indonesia\u2019s myriad islands, we prayed that Taria and her friends would have wisdom as they share the gospel with their Muslim friends. As it shed light over India\u2019s millions, we prayed with Eyiekhrote for young students struggling with addictions such as tobacco and pornography. \n\n\n\nAs it peeked over Africa\u2019s mountains and flooded its plains, we prayed with Natnael for students in Ethiopia who were facing conflict and persecution, and we interceded with Koula that college authorities in Cote d\u2019Ivoire would allow Christian activities on campus. As it warmed the Caribbean waters, we prayed with Samantha in ISCCF St Vincent and the Grenadines for healing and help for students coming from broken homes. As it energised the Amazon rainforest, we prayed for Marisol in AGEUP Peru, serving students facing anxiety, depression, and stress. And, as it finally lit up America\u2019s West Coast, we prayed with Abi in InterVarsity/USA that \u201cChristian students find time to slow down amid busy schedules so they can share God\u2019s overflowing love with others\u201d. \n\n\n\n\nThis wave of global prayer involved over 25,000 people across more than 160 countries \u2013 a wide array of nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before God\u2019s throne.  \n\n\n\nOn 18 October 2024 this mobilisation of global prayer will return. \n\n\n\nThis year\u2019s theme for World Student Day is \u201csanctuary\u201d \u2013 flowing from Psalm 46. It\u2019s a recognition of today\u2019s acute need for refuge and peace around the world.   \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAll are welcome to join in this exciting expression of worldwide prayer (sign up here). Prayer Cards are ready. Various resources are available, including maps, social media graphics, videos, and a five-day devotional guide. Thousands are preparing to be still and pray that students in all the earth know God.\u202f \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPrepare for World Student Day by prayerfully engaging with Psalm 46. \u201cBe still\u201d and use our downloadable five-day DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.\u202f \n\n\n\nEach day, dive deeper into the calming truths of the Psalm, with questions, commentary, and links to prayer resources. Use it alone or in a group to pursue God\u2019s peace in your life, in your community, and on campuses around the world. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n DOWNLOAD DEVOTIONAL GUIDE \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n I\u2019D LIKE TO PRAY ON WORLD STUDENT DAY  \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA LEGACY OF GLOBAL PRAYER \n\n\n\n\nJust as the concept of global prayer is not new, so World Student Day has been around for decades. \n\n\n\nIts first iteration was in the 1970s. At the IFES General Committee (World Assembly) in 1975, member movements unanimously adopted \u201ca proposal that a day be set apart each year when student members of IFES would pray for the International Fellowship\u201d. \n\n\n\n\n\nIFES Day was born, later to become IFES Day of Prayer. This grew into what is now called World Student Day. \n\n\n\nHowever, one special day to focus prayer across the fellowship was merely an outworking of a long-standing passion for prayer among its founding movements.\n\n\n\n\nAnecdotes of zealous, globally-minded prayer fill the first chapters of Pete Lowman\u2019s book The Day of His Power: A History of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students from its Beginnings up to 1988. Of the early days for evangelical student ministry in the USA, it reads: \u201cPrayer meetings continued; students began to commit themselves to the foreign field\u201d (p.13). While in 1940s China, \u201cnew [student] converts, who felt a strong desire for prayer and Bible study, began to hold their own meetings… There were signs of a deep work of the Holy Spirit: some students were converted, many yielded their lives for consecration, and several answered the call to Christian ministry\u201d (p.123).\u00a0\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s therefore unsurprising that the ten national movements which founded IFES in 1947 covenanted to \u201cwork and pray to see a clear evangelical witness established in every university in the world\u201d. Today\u2019s vision remains unchanged. At its very core, IFES is a ministry of global prayer. \n\n\n\nKehinde Ojo, Director for Indigenous Support Development, is keenly aware of the vast global harvest \u2013 and the need to pray for workers to reap it: \n\n\n\n\u201cFor many years now, I\u2019ve reflected on Jesus\u2019s words in Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV): \u2018The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.\u2019\u201d \n\n\n\n\u201cThis passage is so applicable to student ministry \u2013 the situation with the multitudes is replicated in universities and colleges all over the world! Many students are like \u2018sheep without a shepherd\u2019. I find it compelling that Jesus requested prayer as a way of addressing the need.\u201d \n\n\n\nA NETWORK OF GLOBAL PRAYER \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWorld Student Day is simply one way of meeting that need. Across IFES \u2013 at global, national, and local levels \u2013 students, staff, and supporters engage with various outward-facing prayer opportunities, following rhythms of global prayer. \n\n\n\nTo facilitate “prayer without ceasing\u201d, the IFES Daily Prayer Guide, published every quarter, contains brief points for prayer from national movements and the global fellowship. And the fortnightly Prayerline offers a vivid snapshot of student witness in a national movement, followed by points for prayer. \n\n\n\nWithin the fellowship itself, Annette Arulrajah (Associate General Secretary for Global Fellowship) has been championing a renewed call for prayer: \n\n\n\n\u201cAny movement that\u2019s not underpinned with the prayers of its people is a movement straining away from the powerhouse. In order to thrive, any movement of God must be powered by God Himself. As we endeavour to do his work, we must fall on our knees and cry out to him.\u201d  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo facilitate a deeper sense of togetherness in such prayer, IFES has recently invited global and national staff to participate in monthly online prayer meetings. And plans are underway for a Global Prayer Day on 23 January 2025, when a Virtual Prayer Room will be launched \u2013 a fresh example of how IFES is utilising digital ministry. \n\n\n\n\nComplementing intercession at the global level is a plethora of prayer initiatives in IFES regions and within national movements. Since 2020, the IFES Caribbean team have been mobilising prayer through 40 Days of Prayer \u2013 a focused period of inviting supporters to intercede for each of their region\u2019s national movements by using prayer points and joining weekly online meetings. At the national level, larger movements often publish resources to fuel prayer for their ministries \u2013 such as KGK\u2019s Prayer Assignment in Japan, UCCF\u2019s Focus in Great Britain, or ABUB\u2019s Intercessor in Brazil \u2013 while other movements email prayer letters or post prayer requests on social media channels, like UJC Chad. \n\n\n\nCHOOSING GLOBAL PRAYER \n\n\n\n\nWhatever resources we use or initiatives we join, Annette\u2019s exhortation reminds us that heartfelt prayer is a must.  \n\n\n\nIndeed, from its beginning to end, the Bible treats prayer as intrinsic to our relationship with God. Whether it\u2019s strolling in God\u2019s presence, talking with him about what we see in front of us (Gen 2), weeping in God\u2019s presence, pleading with him for change (Nehemiah 1), or bowing in God\u2019s presence, telling him how much we appreciate what he\u2019s done for us (Revelation 5).  \n\n\n\n\nThe question is whether our conversation, lament, and praise are infused with God\u2019s global vision.  \n\n\n\nLike the money changers in the temple, will we turn inwards and focus on taking care of our own \u201cbusiness\u201d? Or will we face outwards and share Christ\u2019s zeal for a kind of prayer that blesses the nations? \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s not a gimmick. Let\u2019s pursue God\u2019s heart. Let\u2019s choose global prayer.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAT A GLANCE: IFES RESOURCES FOR GLOBAL PRAYER  What is it? How frequent? Where to access? Prayerline A vivid snapshot of how God is at work through students, usually focused on one IFES national movement. With pointers for prayer. Every 2 weeks Email (subscription) Web (page) From social media posts App (Prayermate) Podcast (Podbean) Daily Prayer Guide A short point for prayer for every day of the year. Covers every world region. Includes requests for the global fellowship and its national movements. Every 3 months Web (download) Email (subscription) Post (UK, USA, Canada only) App (Prayermate) Praise & Prayer News from around IFES to stimulate praise and prayer.   Every 3 months Web (download) Email (subscription) Post (UK/USA/Canada only) World Student Day Prayer Cards A focused day of prayer for student ministry on campuses around the world, using requests submitted by students and staff.   Annual, every October Email (subscription) Web (page)  To find out about prayer initiatives or resources at the local level, visit the IFES Our World page for links to national movement websites and social media channels. \n\n\n\n\nThe post Zealous for Global Prayer\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-10-10T14:23:39+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-05-21T09:20:31+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1-Brazil-Thais-Ketura-ready-for-WSD-2016.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=42128", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/student-ministry-in-a-digital-age/", "title": "Student Ministry in a Digital Age", "content_html": "
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You are one of five and a half billion people using the internet.

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Scrolling news feeds, streaming TV shows, and shopping online are probably an integral part of your life. Through subconscious adaptations and conscious choices, you are part of the digital age. 

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But what does Christ think about the adaptations and choices we make?

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And how can student ministry thrive in this \u201cnew world\u201d?\u00a0

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These are vital questions. Today\u2019s students are not just digital natives but also social media natives. 

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In a recent survey of IFES national movements, a third said digital ministry is a focus area. Yet almost two-thirds of all respondents said they require support in it. 

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So, how has digital engagement across IFES evolved and how can we fully utilise new technologies?

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What support can we offer each other so that university students are reached and equipped in this digital age?  

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THE EVOLVING DIGITAL PRESENCE OF STUDENT MINISTRY 

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Most Christian ministries have adopted digital technology to be present in the digital space.

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When the internet became more widespread and accessible in the late 1990s, IFES and some of its national movements launched websites.

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Initially text heavy, these have evolved into informative and visually attractive platforms for showcasing ministry \u2013 like GBU Spain\u2019s.  

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With the emergence of social media, Facebook pages were created, later followed by Instagram accounts. Some movements, like Perkantas Indonesia, are now present on TikTok. And earlier this year IFES launched its own WhatsApp channel. 

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But the evolving use of technology for presence and engagement has been far from uniform.  

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Many movements in Africa prefer to post on a Facebook page rather than maintain a website. This perhaps reflects not just the extra cost and work involved in websites but also that today\u2019s students are less interested in them.  

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Moreover, movements in Latin America, like CECE Ecuador, tend to have higher engagement on Instagram than Facebook. And a recent poll on the IFES WhatsApp channel indicated that it has fewer subscribers from Eurasia, where Telegram is more popular. 

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This cautions us against any one-size-fits-all approach. It should encourage movements to think strategically about developing their presence on platforms that are most relevant in their context. 

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E-MINISTRY OR DIGITAL MINISTRY? 

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Beyond ministry presence, forms of student ministry have also evolved into digital formats. 

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Take something as simple as recordings of inspirational talks at IFES conferences. They\u2019ve made their way from being locked in the limited reach of a cassette tape to being ubiquitously available on Voices of IFES podcasts and the IFES YouTube channel.

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80%

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of Gen Z teens say YouTube has helped them become more knowledgeable about something,

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that can only be a good thing. (And keep a look out for old IFES talks that have recently been digitised.)  

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Traditionally delivered in person, training is now widely offered online.

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Many of IFES\u2019s resource ministries use e-learning, such as courses about engaging the university, understanding Scripture, and developing good governance.

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The IFES Logos and Cosmos Initiative (LCI) in Latin America and Francophone Africa uses Moodle for assignments, projects, and feedback as well as Zoom for monthly and quarterly seminars and workshops. 

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In a global fellowship this is invaluable. Digital technology enables students and staff from different countries around the world to meet, learn, and share together in a way that would not be otherwise possible.

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The Scripture Engagement team conducts online calls with their \u201cmultipliers\u201d four times a year, with 17 participants from 16 countries across nine IFES regions.  

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Nevertheless, we might agree with Ricardo Borges, Secretary for Scripture Engagement, when he wonders, \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I can call it \u2018digital ministry\u2019\u201d. 

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The adoption of digital tools to simply do what we were already doing might better be described as e-ministry. Just like mail became \u201ce-mail\u201d and courses turned into \u201ce-courses\u201d, online meetings are essentially \u201ce-meetings\u201d and YouTube talks \u201ce-talks\u201d.  

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But shouldn\u2019t digital ministry be more?

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How can the opportunities afforded by digital technology shape what we\u2019re doing \u2013 or enable us to do something we weren\u2019t? 

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DIGITAL MINISTRY IN THE DIGITAL AGE 

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 It turns out that a recent experiment with the e-learning course \u201cFoundations of Scripture Engagement\u201d is a good example of how the medium can shape content. The team ran two trial courses with very different groups \u2013 LCI participants from eight countries across Francophone Africa and FES Singapore staff. 

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The innovation was that participants were able to adapt and supplement the course content and adjust its length. Ricardo notes that \u201cit was positive to see how they could utilise the flexibility of the e-learning program to shape a course that better fitted their context.\u201d 

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In the LCI, WhatsApp proved to be a vital supplement to the Moodle courses and Zoom meetings.

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As a group of geographically distant people, the team knew that fostering community while learning was going to be a challenge.

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But over time, a dozen very active regional and task-based WhatsApp groups sprung up. Learners and leaders could share experiences and knowledge \u2013 and friendships were built. This hybrid approach has facilitated a deeply relational learning experience. 

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In recent years, InterVarsity Canada (IVCF) have been considering the transition from ministry to e-ministry and the need to affirm and develop digital student ministry. Sanjana Daniel, IVCF Digital Ministry Specialist, explains: 

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\u201cWe coach those who are leading youth and young adults about how they can have helpful and nuanced conversations about the use of digital technology in discipleship. This is mostly done by connecting core competencies \u2013 showing them that what has always been true of discipleship and ministry is still true, but that those skills need to be honed in a new direction. One of the resources we offer is a set of discipleship cycles that are specifically designed around aspects of tech-mediated spiritual formation.\u201d 

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This considered yet positive approach grapples with a fundamental question: how can we critically assess our digital context so that we neither blindly adopt it nor fail to grasp its opportunities?

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That\u2019s also the impetus behind a suite of digital ministry papers published for this year\u2019s Lausanne conference. 

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WISELY UTILISING OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DIGITAL AGE 

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For Sanjana, \u201cdigital discipleship\u201d is essential. She is passionate about helping students treat life online as part of our whole-life experience and discipleship, rather than as a disembodied other part. In this way, IVCF students consider deeper issues of identity, worth, relationships, and discourse. They are challenged to embrace a thoughtful approach \u2013 neither demonizing tech nor being consumed by it. She says this is making them more hopeful: 

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\u201cOne student admitted that the feeling she mostly associates with using her phone is shame. But this conversation has encouraged her to pray about that rather than just accept it and view the realities of modern life with more nuance and grace for herself.\u201d 

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To support students in their engagement with digital technology, IVCF have curated a collection of online resources. 

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Ma\u00e9va Frair, Senior Media Producer at IFES, is also enthusiastic about utilising digital media to shape content that appeals to social natives. In recent years, she has been developing Reels for IFES on Instagram.

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She sees their immediate value and strategic potential: 

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\u201cIn this new digital world, everything must be fast. With our short attention spans, we don\u2019t easily take time to read or listen to something. So, our goal is to create accessible content for everyone by giving them small glimpses of something bigger. If students get interested by a one-minute Reel, then they may be willing to access longer pods, articles, and videos.\u201d 

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LEVERAGING THE DIGITAL AGE: FROM USE TO UTILISATION 

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Whether it\u2019s ministry presence, tools, discipleship, or outreach, what we see is that good digital ministry involves creative and thoughtful exploitation of technology.

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It moves beyond a passive, unthinking use \u2013 beyond an \u201ce-ministry\u201d approach \u2013 to an active utilisation that meets specific needs and opens up new opportunities. 

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The boundary between use and utilisation can be fluid \u2013 as shown by the Scripture Engagement team\u2019s experience with their e-learning course. What matters is the intention to leverage technology to enhance ministry. 

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This is one of the aims of IFES Connect \u2013 an online community for national movement staff, IFES staff, supporters, and students.

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It was launched to meet the need for a digital space for collaboration, conversation, and direct resource sharing across IFES. This community enables users to follow news and events, contribute to forums, access resources, and offer prayer requests.

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The proactive utilisation of technology also requires an overarching methodology and coordinated strategy.  

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Over the next few years, the DIGITAL243 project (243 after Proverbs 24:3) will be working with movements and ministries across IFES. It will help connect needs and provide expertise so that digital opportunities can be leveraged.

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John Bagg, who heads up the project, says it represents a shift in thinking:

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\u201cI hope that DIGITAL243 will mean that others see IT services not just as a \u2018service provider\u2019 but as a \u2018ministry partner\u2019\u201d. 

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INTO THE FUTURE OF THE DIGITAL AGE 

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The five and a half billion internet users will soon be six. If the gospel is to reach natives of all places, then we must reach and equip natives of digital spaces.

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That will require conscious choices \u2013 a thoughtful and prayerful utilisation of technology rather than subconscious adjustments or negative knee-jerk reactions.  

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As you discern your own needs, context, and opportunities, Roja Mathew Jacob, Digital Engagement Specialist at IFES, reminds us of the ultimate goal: 

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\u201cMy vision for digital ministry is to help students encounter Christ in their online lives. Through creative content, authentic connections, and thoughtful engagement, IFES can reach and equip students globally, empowering them to grow in faith and become digital disciples who share Christ’s love in their online communities.\u201d  

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Do you have an inspiring story of digital student ministry to tell \u2013 or more questions about digital ministry? 

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Share it with your global family on IFES Connect!

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CONNECT WITH IFES ONLINE: 

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Facebook      Instagram      WhatsApp      YouTube     IFES Connect 

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The post Student Ministry in a Digital Age appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "You are one of five and a half billion people using the internet.\n\n\n\nScrolling news feeds, streaming TV shows, and shopping online are probably an integral part of your life. Through subconscious adaptations and conscious choices, you are part of the digital age. \n\n\n\nBut what does Christ think about the adaptations and choices we make?\n\n\n\nAnd how can student ministry thrive in this \u201cnew world\u201d?\u00a0\n\n\n\nThese are vital questions. Today\u2019s students are not just digital natives but also social media natives. \n\n\n\nIn a recent survey of IFES national movements, a third said digital ministry is a focus area. Yet almost two-thirds of all respondents said they require support in it. \n\n\n\nSo, how has digital engagement across IFES evolved and how can we fully utilise new technologies?\n\n\n\nWhat support can we offer each other so that university students are reached and equipped in this digital age?  \n\n\n\nTHE EVOLVING DIGITAL PRESENCE OF STUDENT MINISTRY \n\n\n\n\nMost Christian ministries have adopted digital technology to be present in the digital space.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen the internet became more widespread and accessible in the late 1990s, IFES and some of its national movements launched websites.\n\n\n\nInitially text heavy, these have evolved into informative and visually attractive platforms for showcasing ministry \u2013 like GBU Spain\u2019s.  \n\n\n\n\nWith the emergence of social media, Facebook pages were created, later followed by Instagram accounts. Some movements, like Perkantas Indonesia, are now present on TikTok. And earlier this year IFES launched its own WhatsApp channel. \n\n\n\nBut the evolving use of technology for presence and engagement has been far from uniform.  \n\n\n\nMany movements in Africa prefer to post on a Facebook page rather than maintain a website. This perhaps reflects not just the extra cost and work involved in websites but also that today\u2019s students are less interested in them.  \n\n\n\nMoreover, movements in Latin America, like CECE Ecuador, tend to have higher engagement on Instagram than Facebook. And a recent poll on the IFES WhatsApp channel indicated that it has fewer subscribers from Eurasia, where Telegram is more popular. \n\n\n\nThis cautions us against any one-size-fits-all approach. It should encourage movements to think strategically about developing their presence on platforms that are most relevant in their context. \n\n\n\nE-MINISTRY OR DIGITAL MINISTRY? \n\n\n\nBeyond ministry presence, forms of student ministry have also evolved into digital formats. \n\n\n\nTake something as simple as recordings of inspirational talks at IFES conferences. They\u2019ve made their way from being locked in the limited reach of a cassette tape to being ubiquitously available on Voices of IFES podcasts and the IFES YouTube channel.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n80%\n\n\n\nof Gen Z teens say YouTube has helped them become more knowledgeable about something,\n\n\n\nthat can only be a good thing. (And keep a look out for old IFES talks that have recently been digitised.)  \n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTraditionally delivered in person, training is now widely offered online.\n\n\n\nMany of IFES\u2019s resource ministries use e-learning, such as courses about engaging the university, understanding Scripture, and developing good governance. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe IFES Logos and Cosmos Initiative (LCI) in Latin America and Francophone Africa uses Moodle for assignments, projects, and feedback as well as Zoom for monthly and quarterly seminars and workshops. \n\n\n\nIn a global fellowship this is invaluable. Digital technology enables students and staff from different countries around the world to meet, learn, and share together in a way that would not be otherwise possible.\n\n\n\nThe Scripture Engagement team conducts online calls with their \u201cmultipliers\u201d four times a year, with 17 participants from 16 countries across nine IFES regions.  \n\n\n\nNevertheless, we might agree with Ricardo Borges, Secretary for Scripture Engagement, when he wonders, \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I can call it \u2018digital ministry\u2019\u201d. \n\n\n\nThe adoption of digital tools to simply do what we were already doing might better be described as e-ministry. Just like mail became \u201ce-mail\u201d and courses turned into \u201ce-courses\u201d, online meetings are essentially \u201ce-meetings\u201d and YouTube talks \u201ce-talks\u201d.  \n\n\n\nBut shouldn\u2019t digital ministry be more?\n\n\n\nHow can the opportunities afforded by digital technology shape what we\u2019re doing \u2013 or enable us to do something we weren\u2019t? \n\n\n\nDIGITAL MINISTRY IN THE DIGITAL AGE \n\n\n\n It turns out that a recent experiment with the e-learning course \u201cFoundations of Scripture Engagement\u201d is a good example of how the medium can shape content. The team ran two trial courses with very different groups \u2013 LCI participants from eight countries across Francophone Africa and FES Singapore staff. \n\n\n\nThe innovation was that participants were able to adapt and supplement the course content and adjust its length. Ricardo notes that \u201cit was positive to see how they could utilise the flexibility of the e-learning program to shape a course that better fitted their context.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\nIn the LCI, WhatsApp proved to be a vital supplement to the Moodle courses and Zoom meetings.\n\n\n\nAs a group of geographically distant people, the team knew that fostering community while learning was going to be a challenge.\n\n\n\nBut over time, a dozen very active regional and task-based WhatsApp groups sprung up. Learners and leaders could share experiences and knowledge \u2013 and friendships were built. This hybrid approach has facilitated a deeply relational learning experience. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nIn recent years, InterVarsity Canada (IVCF) have been considering the transition from ministry to e-ministry and the need to affirm and develop digital student ministry. Sanjana Daniel, IVCF Digital Ministry Specialist, explains: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cWe coach those who are leading youth and young adults about how they can have helpful and nuanced conversations about the use of digital technology in discipleship. This is mostly done by connecting core competencies \u2013 showing them that what has always been true of discipleship and ministry is still true, but that those skills need to be honed in a new direction. One of the resources we offer is a set of discipleship cycles that are specifically designed around aspects of tech-mediated spiritual formation.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\nThis considered yet positive approach grapples with a fundamental question: how can we critically assess our digital context so that we neither blindly adopt it nor fail to grasp its opportunities?\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s also the impetus behind a suite of digital ministry papers published for this year\u2019s Lausanne conference. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nWISELY UTILISING OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DIGITAL AGE \n\n\n\nFor Sanjana, \u201cdigital discipleship\u201d is essential. She is passionate about helping students treat life online as part of our whole-life experience and discipleship, rather than as a disembodied other part. In this way, IVCF students consider deeper issues of identity, worth, relationships, and discourse. They are challenged to embrace a thoughtful approach \u2013 neither demonizing tech nor being consumed by it. She says this is making them more hopeful: \n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cOne student admitted that the feeling she mostly associates with using her phone is shame. But this conversation has encouraged her to pray about that rather than just accept it and view the realities of modern life with more nuance and grace for herself.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo support students in their engagement with digital technology, IVCF have curated a collection of online resources. \n\n\n\nMa\u00e9va Frair, Senior Media Producer at IFES, is also enthusiastic about utilising digital media to shape content that appeals to social natives. In recent years, she has been developing Reels for IFES on Instagram.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShe sees their immediate value and strategic potential: \n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\u201cIn this new digital world, everything must be fast. With our short attention spans, we don\u2019t easily take time to read or listen to something. So, our goal is to create accessible content for everyone by giving them small glimpses of something bigger. If students get interested by a one-minute Reel, then they may be willing to access longer pods, articles, and videos.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\nLEVERAGING THE DIGITAL AGE: FROM USE TO UTILISATION \n\n\n\nWhether it\u2019s ministry presence, tools, discipleship, or outreach, what we see is that good digital ministry involves creative and thoughtful exploitation of technology.\n\n\n\nIt moves beyond a passive, unthinking use \u2013 beyond an \u201ce-ministry\u201d approach \u2013 to an active utilisation that meets specific needs and opens up new opportunities. \n\n\n\nThe boundary between use and utilisation can be fluid \u2013 as shown by the Scripture Engagement team\u2019s experience with their e-learning course. What matters is the intention to leverage technology to enhance ministry. \n\n\n\n\nThis is one of the aims of IFES Connect \u2013 an online community for national movement staff, IFES staff, supporters, and students.\n\n\n\nIt was launched to meet the need for a digital space for collaboration, conversation, and direct resource sharing across IFES. This community enables users to follow news and events, contribute to forums, access resources, and offer prayer requests.\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n Find out more \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe proactive utilisation of technology also requires an overarching methodology and coordinated strategy.  \n\n\n\nOver the next few years, the DIGITAL243 project (243 after Proverbs 24:3) will be working with movements and ministries across IFES. It will help connect needs and provide expertise so that digital opportunities can be leveraged.\n\n\n\nJohn Bagg, who heads up the project, says it represents a shift in thinking:\n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope that DIGITAL243 will mean that others see IT services not just as a \u2018service provider\u2019 but as a \u2018ministry partner\u2019\u201d. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nINTO THE FUTURE OF THE DIGITAL AGE \n\n\n\nThe five and a half billion internet users will soon be six. If the gospel is to reach natives of all places, then we must reach and equip natives of digital spaces.\n\n\n\nThat will require conscious choices \u2013 a thoughtful and prayerful utilisation of technology rather than subconscious adjustments or negative knee-jerk reactions.  \n\n\n\nAs you discern your own needs, context, and opportunities, Roja Mathew Jacob, Digital Engagement Specialist at IFES, reminds us of the ultimate goal: \n\n\n\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n \u201cMy vision for digital ministry is to help students encounter Christ in their online lives. Through creative content, authentic connections, and thoughtful engagement, IFES can reach and equip students globally, empowering them to grow in faith and become digital disciples who share Christ’s love in their online communities.\u201d  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nDo you have an inspiring story of digital student ministry to tell \u2013 or more questions about digital ministry? \n\n\n\nShare it with your global family on IFES Connect!\n\n\n\n\n \n \n SHARE ON IFES CONNECT  \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCONNECT WITH IFES ONLINE: \n\n\n\nFacebook      Instagram      WhatsApp      YouTube     IFES Connect \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post Student Ministry in a Digital Age appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-09-12T13:42:36+01:00", "date_modified": "2024-10-29T08:47:11+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-students-with-mobile-phones-scaled-e1726169079556.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=39944", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/lasting-impact-of-christian-conferences/", "title": "CHRISTIAN CONFERENCES: MOMENTARY HIGH OR LASTING IMPACT?", "content_html": "
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You love it. But you know it won\u2019t last. 

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The joy of worshipping with hundreds of other believers. The excitement of sensing God\u2019s presence and hearing him speak. The buzz of meeting and sharing with fellow Christians.  

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The sensations you feel at a Christian conference \u2013 they can\u2019t last. Because, in the end, we must go home. We still worship with other believers, sense God\u2019s presence, and share with others. But that spiritual high was momentary. 

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So, what\u2019s the value of those few days together? Is the large Christian conference a quick shot to boost us until the next fix, or can it have lasting impact? Indeed, such important questions have been asked about the worth of leadership conferences, missions conferences, inter-church gatherings, and even academic conferences.  

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In this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we investigate the ongoing influence of last year\u2019s IFES World Assembly.

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By listening to feedback and testimonies from attenders, we\u2019ll consider six ways in which the conference has impacted them, well beyond its momentary high.  

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THE MOMENTARY HIGH: LAST YEAR\u2019S GLOBAL CONFERENCE 

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Every four years, the IFES World Assembly brings together delegates from over 160 national student movements. It\u2019s an exciting time to reflect on campus ministry, foster partnerships, and discern God\u2019s leading.  

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In August 2023, around 850 participants were hosted in Jakarta for eight days by Perkantas Indonesia.  

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Students, staff, and board members enjoyed the expected elements of a good Christian conference: stirring worship, moving testimonies, and buzzing conversations. As the conference closed, participants shared how \u201dtouching\u201d the theme was and that they were \u201cencouraged\u201d in their witness. 

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In many ways, the conference content offered promising prospects for the momentary high to have lasting impact. The theme centred on remaining resilient and the whole program was marked by a deep honesty that was far from \u201ca transient bubble of glory-story hype\u201d. 

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However, the feeling of being touched, inspired, or encouraged is just that \u2013 a feeling. So, we reached out to participants to see if their feelings had translated into practice. What impact had they observed over the last twelve months? 

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LASTING IMPACT 1: A LARGER VIEW 

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One of the inescapably impactful elements of World Assembly was encountering the world and gaining a larger view of it and God\u2019s work within it. 

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Reflecting on the conference, staff from UCCF Great Britain noted that \u201cit offered their staff and students a much broader and deeper vision of IFES ministry around the world\u201d. Similarly, CUI Ireland shared that \u201cwe had our eyes opened massively to the wider IFES world\u201d. It was a momentary high that has had a tangible and ongoing effect, with the movement stepping forward to host the next World Assembly in 2027.\u00a0

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For many participants, their view expanded as they heard first-hand of the sacrificial suffering and defiant faith of fellow students and staff in hostile contexts. 

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Frida, a board member of Credo Sweden, recalls, \u201cOne of the things that touched me most during the World Assembly was meeting people from sensitive countries, those who were willing to risk their own safety to bring students to Christ.\u201d  

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Mae, a supporter from ISCF Grenada, agrees: \u201cI was tremendously impacted by the stories of our brothers and sisters in countries where publicly acknowledging that you\u2019re a follower of Jesus is often a death warrant. What moved me was their declaration that they would not have it any other way.\u201d 

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LASTING IMPACT 2: A VIEW TO SHARE  

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A natural outcome of this larger view of student ministry in the world was to share it with others. Frida shared it in her church, whilst Mae told her Christian friends and invited them to pray (see below).  

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Students also passed on what they\u2019d experienced to their campus groups. Zuzana, from VBH Slovakia, gave a presentation about World Assembly to her movement. She incorporated two videos sent to her by delegates from the USA and Indonesia (whom she’d made friends with through her small group). This seemingly small step embodied what staff from IVCF Canada observed about the conference \u2013 that \u201crelationships across movements were born and strengthened.\u201d

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LASTING IMPACT 3: PRAYER FOR OTHERS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0

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Happy, a Perkantas staff worker in Indonesia\u2019s Surabaya region, has also seized the opportunity to pass on her enlarged view and develop new relationships \u2013 through prayer: 

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I invited my students, as part of the IFES family, to pray for student ministry in another region and country once a month. It\u2019s really helped me to keep in touch with my new friends from World Assembly. This prayer helps my students to know student ministry as a global ministry, beyond their regional or national movement.\u201d 

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Having been touched by the testimonies of persecuted believers, Mae (ISCF Grenada), encouraged a few friends from IFES Caribbean to join her in praying for them: \u201cIt began with us praying for those brothers and sisters, and it has since evolved into praying for movements in IFES and for countries experiencing war and natural disasters\u201d.  

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\u201cI can\u2019t say I\u2019ve managed to pray every day for students and staff in those nations that are hostile to Christians, but I pray for them more often than I did before World Assembly.\u201d 

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LASTING IMPACT 4: STRENGTHENED LOCAL MINISTRY  

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Dalin, a student leader in SONOKO Cambodia, believes \u201cWorld Assembly was a transformative experience that has greatly influenced my approach to ministry over the past year\u201d.  

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At the personal level, \u201cothers\u2019 stories were inspiring, encouraging, and life-giving \u2013 they strengthened me and cheered me on in this journey of faith\u201d. For wider ministry, the \u201cinsights gained, connections made, and experiences exchanged have enhanced our strategies and initiatives.\u201d What does that look like in practice? 

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\u201cOne new idea we\u2019ve brought back is for our monthly student gathering. It brings together all the small group members from different campuses. But now we\u2019re also inviting non-Christian students to join in, not to preach at them but to build healthy relationships with them and show the gospel in action. So, as student leaders we think carefully about a topic that will benefit them in university life and help them towards putting God first in everything.\u201d 

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Desi, the General Secretary of BCSU, the national movement in Bulgaria, points to numerous ways in which their ministry has been influenced by what they experienced \u2013 from increasing the use of the arts in their programs to building a \u201cwelcoming culture\u201d at national events. One of the most significant impacts has been the strengthening of student initiative:\u00a0

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\u201cWe saw how student-centred World Assembly was \u2013 with students even giving some of the Scripture talks! So, we\u2019ve entrusted more responsibilities to our students and started seeking their testimonies and feedback even more. Now, BCSU students are part of almost every element of our national conferences \u2013 emceeing, leading worship, running seminars, and giving Bible talks. We\u2019ve been so blessed to see them grow!\u201d 

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Natalie, a student leader in CEC Panama, was inspired by a session called The University: What Will We Do There. She reflects: \u201cIt was filled with practical tips that have helped me engage with my university \u2013 like asking intentional questions to my classmates to find out their thoughts on God and the Bible. Asking questions and listening more has opened the door for me to share my testimony about Jesus.\u201d 

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LASTING IMPACT 5: ENHANCED GLOBAL MINISTRY 

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A distinctive feature of IFES World Assembly as a conference is that it\u2019s also a \u201ccongress\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s the setting where the IFES General Committee convenes so that delegates from affiliate national movements can decide on matters relating to the life and governance of the Fellowship. 

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An important aspect of the General Committee is the official reception of new member movements \u2013 four in 2023. This was particularly impactful for one movement in a sensitive country in the Middle East and North Africa region. The board chair of the fledgling ministry shared about the perils of being a Christian in that land and described their experience at World Assembly as \u201ca time of restoration, being part of a new family\u201d. 

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Since then, as part of that family, five board members have received intensive training from the MENA regional team. They were able to discuss board roles and responsibilities and explore IFES\u2019s governance training manual. 

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LASTING IMPACT 6: ENGAGEMENT WITH RESOURCES

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In fact, World Assembly served to expose participants to a wide range of IFES resources and programs available to them beyond the conference high. On return to their national movements, many have opted to utilise such ministry tools. 

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Erica, a university professor and IS/IVCF Cayman Islands board member, was inspired by sessions that considered how universities can be influenced by the presence and worldview of Christians. She says that it was \u201cas a follow up to the World Assembly experience\u201d that she took the Engaging the University (ETU) e-course and learned much about how to impact her campus.\u00a0

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Desi and BCSU were also stirred by conference sessions that focused on engaging the university. They were challenged to become \u201cmore present\u201d on campus and started the introductory ETU e-course with a group of students. They also incorporated ETU into the annual cycle of their mentoring program. 

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Nayra, now volunteer staff with CCU Bolivia, heard about IFES\u2019s Logos and Cosmos Initiative amidst the buzz of World Assembly. At the time, she was just one month away from graduating in architecture, wondering how to integrate her faith and future profession. She explains: \u201cI applied with fear and hope \u2013 and I was accepted! I will now be learning to challenge and unify my faith with the science I studied.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0

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The relationship between science and faith was also a topic of interest for Dominique, General Secretary of GBUSS Senegal. With the various resources available, he tells us he\u2019s been inspired to pursue independent learning.  

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SEE THE CONTENT, GROW THE IMPACT 

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Watch talks and testimonies that have helped the momentary high of IFES World Assembly 2023 to have lasting impact.  

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AN INFLUENTIAL CONFERENCE 

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In these six ways (at least), World Assembly influenced not only heads and hearts in August 2023, but also lives and ministries in the twelve months since. Therefore, the results of a recent survey of IFES national movements are not surprising: when asked \u201cWhat were some ways that the IFES Fellowship helped you and your movement to thrive in 2023?\u201d, more than 40 movements named World Assembly. 

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Some \u2013 like GBEU Switzerland and GBEEG Guinea \u2013 focused solely on World Assembly. But the majority noted it as part of a wider array of support. GBECA Angola mentioned it alongside digital resources, governance training, and regular email communication. UCU Columbia valued it in conjunction with training in graduate ministry and scripture engagement. 

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This highlights a final lesson to draw from our investigation: the large Christian conference will have lasting impact when its momentary high is embedded within a framework of support networks, resource ministries, and ongoing relationships. 

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Whether it\u2019s an enlarged view of God\u2019s work that\u2019s being enthusiastically shared with others, a new impetus for prayer, fresh inspiration for ministry, or a deeper hunger to engage with people and projects, the Christian conference can have a vital influence on local, national, and global ministry as part of a wider strategy. 

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So, as many nations prepare to gather in South Korea for the fourth Lausanne Congress in September, as many IFES movements plan national and regional conferences for the year ahead, we can be hopeful. By God\u2019s grace, the joy, excitement, and buzz that will be momentarily enjoyed can have lasting impact for God\u2019s kingdom.  

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PLAN FOR LASTING IMPACT 

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Questions to consider when planning your next Christian conference: 

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How will the event give participants a larger view of the world and God\u2019s work within it?

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How can your content and line-up of speakers fully embody your organisation’s values and mission? 

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In what ways can the program facilitate new, organic, and prayerful relationships that will last beyond the conference? 

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Can your conference include a brainstorming, discussion, or decision-making element that will influence future ministry? 

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What practical ministry models, resources, and tips can participants take away to adapt and apply in their own contexts?  

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How can your program link to, showcase, and signpost resources and support to help participants grow in faith and ministry in the weeks and months ahead? 

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How will the conference fit within your overall ministry strategy? How can it reflect on what\u2019s gone before and lay the groundwork for what\u2019s ahead?\u00a0

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The post CHRISTIAN CONFERENCES: MOMENTARY HIGH OR LASTING IMPACT? appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "You love it. But you know it won\u2019t last. \n\n\n\nThe joy of worshipping with hundreds of other believers. The excitement of sensing God\u2019s presence and hearing him speak. The buzz of meeting and sharing with fellow Christians.  \n\n\n\nThe sensations you feel at a Christian conference \u2013 they can\u2019t last. Because, in the end, we must go home. We still worship with other believers, sense God\u2019s presence, and share with others. But that spiritual high was momentary. \n\n\n\nSo, what\u2019s the value of those few days together? Is the large Christian conference a quick shot to boost us until the next fix, or can it have lasting impact? Indeed, such important questions have been asked about the worth of leadership conferences, missions conferences, inter-church gatherings, and even academic conferences.  \n\n\n\nIn this Conexi\u00f3n blog, we investigate the ongoing influence of last year\u2019s IFES World Assembly.\n\n\n\nBy listening to feedback and testimonies from attenders, we\u2019ll consider six ways in which the conference has impacted them, well beyond its momentary high.  \n\n\n\nTHE MOMENTARY HIGH: LAST YEAR\u2019S GLOBAL CONFERENCE \n\n\n\n\nEvery four years, the IFES World Assembly brings together delegates from over 160 national student movements. It\u2019s an exciting time to reflect on campus ministry, foster partnerships, and discern God\u2019s leading.  \n\n\n\nIn August 2023, around 850 participants were hosted in Jakarta for eight days by Perkantas Indonesia.  \n\n\n\nStudents, staff, and board members enjoyed the expected elements of a good Christian conference: stirring worship, moving testimonies, and buzzing conversations. As the conference closed, participants shared how \u201dtouching\u201d the theme was and that they were \u201cencouraged\u201d in their witness. \n\n\n\n\nIn many ways, the conference content offered promising prospects for the momentary high to have lasting impact. The theme centred on remaining resilient and the whole program was marked by a deep honesty that was far from \u201ca transient bubble of glory-story hype\u201d. \n\n\n\nHowever, the feeling of being touched, inspired, or encouraged is just that \u2013 a feeling. So, we reached out to participants to see if their feelings had translated into practice. What impact had they observed over the last twelve months? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLASTING IMPACT 1: A LARGER VIEW \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne of the inescapably impactful elements of World Assembly was encountering the world and gaining a larger view of it and God\u2019s work within it. \n\n\n\nReflecting on the conference, staff from UCCF Great Britain noted that \u201cit offered their staff and students a much broader and deeper vision of IFES ministry around the world\u201d. Similarly, CUI Ireland shared that \u201cwe had our eyes opened massively to the wider IFES world\u201d. It was a momentary high that has had a tangible and ongoing effect, with the movement stepping forward to host the next World Assembly in 2027.\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor many participants, their view expanded as they heard first-hand of the sacrificial suffering and defiant faith of fellow students and staff in hostile contexts. \n\n\n\nFrida, a board member of Credo Sweden, recalls, \u201cOne of the things that touched me most during the World Assembly was meeting people from sensitive countries, those who were willing to risk their own safety to bring students to Christ.\u201d  \n\n\n\nMae, a supporter from ISCF Grenada, agrees: \u201cI was tremendously impacted by the stories of our brothers and sisters in countries where publicly acknowledging that you\u2019re a follower of Jesus is often a death warrant. What moved me was their declaration that they would not have it any other way.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLASTING IMPACT 2: A VIEW TO SHARE  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA natural outcome of this larger view of student ministry in the world was to share it with others. Frida shared it in her church, whilst Mae told her Christian friends and invited them to pray (see below).  \n\n\n\nStudents also passed on what they\u2019d experienced to their campus groups. Zuzana, from VBH Slovakia, gave a presentation about World Assembly to her movement. She incorporated two videos sent to her by delegates from the USA and Indonesia (whom she’d made friends with through her small group). This seemingly small step embodied what staff from IVCF Canada observed about the conference \u2013 that \u201crelationships across movements were born and strengthened.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLASTING IMPACT 3: PRAYER FOR OTHERS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHappy, a Perkantas staff worker in Indonesia\u2019s Surabaya region, has also seized the opportunity to pass on her enlarged view and develop new relationships \u2013 through prayer: \n\n\n\n\nI invited my students, as part of the IFES family, to pray for student ministry in another region and country once a month. It\u2019s really helped me to keep in touch with my new friends from World Assembly. This prayer helps my students to know student ministry as a global ministry, beyond their regional or national movement.\u201d \n\n\n\n\nHaving been touched by the testimonies of persecuted believers, Mae (ISCF Grenada), encouraged a few friends from IFES Caribbean to join her in praying for them: \u201cIt began with us praying for those brothers and sisters, and it has since evolved into praying for movements in IFES and for countries experiencing war and natural disasters\u201d.  \n\n\n\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t say I\u2019ve managed to pray every day for students and staff in those nations that are hostile to Christians, but I pray for them more often than I did before World Assembly.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLASTING IMPACT 4: STRENGTHENED LOCAL MINISTRY  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDalin, a student leader in SONOKO Cambodia, believes \u201cWorld Assembly was a transformative experience that has greatly influenced my approach to ministry over the past year\u201d.  \n\n\n\nAt the personal level, \u201cothers\u2019 stories were inspiring, encouraging, and life-giving \u2013 they strengthened me and cheered me on in this journey of faith\u201d. For wider ministry, the \u201cinsights gained, connections made, and experiences exchanged have enhanced our strategies and initiatives.\u201d What does that look like in practice? \n\n\n\n\n\u201cOne new idea we\u2019ve brought back is for our monthly student gathering. It brings together all the small group members from different campuses. But now we\u2019re also inviting non-Christian students to join in, not to preach at them but to build healthy relationships with them and show the gospel in action. So, as student leaders we think carefully about a topic that will benefit them in university life and help them towards putting God first in everything.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDesi, the General Secretary of BCSU, the national movement in Bulgaria, points to numerous ways in which their ministry has been influenced by what they experienced \u2013 from increasing the use of the arts in their programs to building a \u201cwelcoming culture\u201d at national events. One of the most significant impacts has been the strengthening of student initiative:\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\u201cWe saw how student-centred World Assembly was \u2013 with students even giving some of the Scripture talks! So, we\u2019ve entrusted more responsibilities to our students and started seeking their testimonies and feedback even more. Now, BCSU students are part of almost every element of our national conferences \u2013 emceeing, leading worship, running seminars, and giving Bible talks. We\u2019ve been so blessed to see them grow!\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNatalie, a student leader in CEC Panama, was inspired by a session called The University: What Will We Do There. She reflects: \u201cIt was filled with practical tips that have helped me engage with my university \u2013 like asking intentional questions to my classmates to find out their thoughts on God and the Bible. Asking questions and listening more has opened the door for me to share my testimony about Jesus.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLASTING IMPACT 5: ENHANCED GLOBAL MINISTRY \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA distinctive feature of IFES World Assembly as a conference is that it\u2019s also a \u201ccongress\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s the setting where the IFES General Committee convenes so that delegates from affiliate national movements can decide on matters relating to the life and governance of the Fellowship. \n\n\n\nAn important aspect of the General Committee is the official reception of new member movements \u2013 four in 2023. This was particularly impactful for one movement in a sensitive country in the Middle East and North Africa region. The board chair of the fledgling ministry shared about the perils of being a Christian in that land and described their experience at World Assembly as \u201ca time of restoration, being part of a new family\u201d. \n\n\n\nSince then, as part of that family, five board members have received intensive training from the MENA regional team. They were able to discuss board roles and responsibilities and explore IFES\u2019s governance training manual. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLASTING IMPACT 6: ENGAGEMENT WITH RESOURCES\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn fact, World Assembly served to expose participants to a wide range of IFES resources and programs available to them beyond the conference high. On return to their national movements, many have opted to utilise such ministry tools. \n\n\n\nErica, a university professor and IS/IVCF Cayman Islands board member, was inspired by sessions that considered how universities can be influenced by the presence and worldview of Christians. She says that it was \u201cas a follow up to the World Assembly experience\u201d that she took the Engaging the University (ETU) e-course and learned much about how to impact her campus.\u00a0\n\n\n\nDesi and BCSU were also stirred by conference sessions that focused on engaging the university. They were challenged to become \u201cmore present\u201d on campus and started the introductory ETU e-course with a group of students. They also incorporated ETU into the annual cycle of their mentoring program. \n\n\n\nNayra, now volunteer staff with CCU Bolivia, heard about IFES\u2019s Logos and Cosmos Initiative amidst the buzz of World Assembly. At the time, she was just one month away from graduating in architecture, wondering how to integrate her faith and future profession. She explains: \u201cI applied with fear and hope \u2013 and I was accepted! I will now be learning to challenge and unify my faith with the science I studied.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\nThe relationship between science and faith was also a topic of interest for Dominique, General Secretary of GBUSS Senegal. With the various resources available, he tells us he\u2019s been inspired to pursue independent learning.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSEE THE CONTENT, GROW THE IMPACT \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWatch talks and testimonies that have helped the momentary high of IFES World Assembly 2023 to have lasting impact.  \n\n\n\n\n \n \n WATCH NOW \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAN INFLUENTIAL CONFERENCE \n\n\n\nIn these six ways (at least), World Assembly influenced not only heads and hearts in August 2023, but also lives and ministries in the twelve months since. Therefore, the results of a recent survey of IFES national movements are not surprising: when asked \u201cWhat were some ways that the IFES Fellowship helped you and your movement to thrive in 2023?\u201d, more than 40 movements named World Assembly. \n\n\n\nSome \u2013 like GBEU Switzerland and GBEEG Guinea \u2013 focused solely on World Assembly. But the majority noted it as part of a wider array of support. GBECA Angola mentioned it alongside digital resources, governance training, and regular email communication. UCU Columbia valued it in conjunction with training in graduate ministry and scripture engagement. \n\n\n\n\nThis highlights a final lesson to draw from our investigation: the large Christian conference will have lasting impact when its momentary high is embedded within a framework of support networks, resource ministries, and ongoing relationships. \n\n\n\nWhether it\u2019s an enlarged view of God\u2019s work that\u2019s being enthusiastically shared with others, a new impetus for prayer, fresh inspiration for ministry, or a deeper hunger to engage with people and projects, the Christian conference can have a vital influence on local, national, and global ministry as part of a wider strategy. \n\n\n\n\nSo, as many nations prepare to gather in South Korea for the fourth Lausanne Congress in September, as many IFES movements plan national and regional conferences for the year ahead, we can be hopeful. By God\u2019s grace, the joy, excitement, and buzz that will be momentarily enjoyed can have lasting impact for God\u2019s kingdom.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPLAN FOR LASTING IMPACT \n\n\n\nQuestions to consider when planning your next Christian conference: \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow will the event give participants a larger view of the world and God\u2019s work within it?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can your content and line-up of speakers fully embody your organisation’s values and mission? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn what ways can the program facilitate new, organic, and prayerful relationships that will last beyond the conference? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCan your conference include a brainstorming, discussion, or decision-making element that will influence future ministry? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat practical ministry models, resources, and tips can participants take away to adapt and apply in their own contexts?  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can your program link to, showcase, and signpost resources and support to help participants grow in faith and ministry in the weeks and months ahead? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow will the conference fit within your overall ministry strategy? How can it reflect on what\u2019s gone before and lay the groundwork for what\u2019s ahead?\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post CHRISTIAN CONFERENCES: MOMENTARY HIGH OR LASTING IMPACT? appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-08-08T14:36:02+01:00", "date_modified": "2024-08-08T16:39:15+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Photo1-WA23-Worship-4-scaled.jpg" } ] }