Pain, fullness, and hope.  

When three Arabic letters are “rearranged”, they can make these three different words. It was this emotive blend that infused content for around 200 students at a recent regional conference in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

Amid war, violence, political instability, economic insecurity, and persecution, the students from nine different countries had much to lament. But they were also encouraged that the fullness of Christ brings hope and healing. 

These candid comments give a sense of their experiences:   

“I was a very committed member of another faith. So, when a pastor I met gave me a Bible, I only read it to prove it all wrong. But Jesus opened my eyes. Now I’ve become his follower, and my goal is to bring to Jesus the many people around me who are also searching and dissatisfied. Even though it’s very dangerous, I’m constantly seeing people put their trust in Jesus.”  (Hassan from B city) 

“In one of the talks, we were encouraged as a Christian minority not to leave our country so that the Christian presence doesn’t further decrease. I agree with that. But it seems impossible – as an English teacher working two jobs, I don’t even earn enough to make ends meet.” (Malika from Cairo) 

“I love Jesus more than anything and want to be a witness for him in my community. But the suffering I experienced as a child in my family, a terrible explosion in my city, and recent months of bombing – all this has left its mark on me. I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety disorders. Can Jesus heal me?” (Rabiaa from Lebanon) 

“I was allowed to come here with some other female students. All men under 40 were denied visas. For most of us, this is our first trip outside the country. It’s the first time we’ve seen the sea or touched sand, even though it’s not that far from our hometown. Our lives are really complicated, and our presence as Christians in the West Bank is made very difficult. How long can we endure? Which of our brothers and sisters outside our region are interested in us?” (Selima from Palestine – pictured above) 

“With two fellow believers, I made the dangerous journey from our country. We drove through the desert for 33 hours so that we could leave without attracting attention. And what a special experience it has been to praise God together with so many Christians, to listen to his Word, to share with one another. Please pray for us, for our safety as Christians, and for our witness to Jesus to bear fruit.” (Karim from a country on the Arabian Peninsula) 

(Names changed to protect identities) 

If you’re 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?   

Where do you start? 

It may feel a little like that with IFES – a family of 163 affiliate member movements, with “founding” great grandparents and “pioneering” newborns. How do you put your finger on the pulse of this global fellowship? 

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 “national movement survey”.  

The IFES Ministry Strategy & Impact team then collates this data and summarises the findings in an “insights report”.  

So, how’s our family doing?  

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

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

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 “students come to Christ” (IS/IVCF Belize) and “thousands of students give their hearts to Jesus” (ISCCF St Vincent & Grenadines), and ABU Puerto Rico noted “students converted to Christ”.  

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

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

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

And movements in sensitive countries in East Asia shared:  

The majority of movements (61%) reported that students were in the “growing” or “maturing” stages of “taking the initiative to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them”.  

Almost all movements (96%) said they focused on “empowering students to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ” – 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.    

Nonetheless, some movements did note progress:  

One movement mentioned a “growing awareness and desire to influence the thought life of the university through the application of Christian truth to academic study” (UCCF Great Britain) and another that the “students 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)” (GBU Portugal).  

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

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

The vast majority of movements (85%) reported that students were in the “growing” or “maturing” stages of “meeting regularly to study the Bible”. And almost all movements said “nurturing students towards resilient discipleship rooted in the Bible” had been a ministry focus.  

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

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

NBCBS Nepal shared:  

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’s “challenging graduates to transform society wherever they are”.  

It was heartening to see that around two-thirds of movements considered themselves in the “growing” or “maturing” stages of being “engaged with other like-minded organisations”. And almost three-quarters said that “strengthening existing partnerships with churches and like-minded organisations” was a focus area.  

MUC El Salvador has promoted collaboration with two other organisations that work with students and young people in the country: “There’s 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.” And 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.  

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

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

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

In many ways, our pulse echoes that of our early church family’s. 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).  

Nevertheless, it was possible to say that the church was growing (Acts 21:17-19). Sure, there were issues that needed addressing, but Christ’s 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). 

A team of 10 staff and students from North America were off to Georgia – but not the one in the United States. They were heading for the Caucasus. They’d been invited to join with IFES movements from across Eurasia for Formacion, a 10-day gathering for student leaders. 

“Missions” just got real! 

“It was an exciting way to walk and pray alongside our students and staff who were interested in cross-cultural exposure and seeking God’s heart for every nation. It was a beautiful exploration opportunity – to learn firsthand from IFES movements in Eurasia, to serve them, to develop relationships with them.”   

So says co-leader of the team, Liz Dolan, who previously spent two years serving in the region through InterVarsity/USA’s Link program. She mentions that the North American team was struck by how the Eurasian movements were finding creative ways to overcome various barriers to evangelism. 

One team member commented: 

“The way that staff workers in sensitive countries had faith and still went about doing what they were doing really impacted me. It made me wonder about our situation in the US and think: ‘Why should I be afraid when I have brothers and sisters in Eurasia who are not afraid of what they’re doing?”   

Another added: 

“That place in the Bible that talks about living by the law unless it gets in the way of what God says to do – now I’ve met people who actually have to do that – do stuff that’s illegal!” 

Sergei, Regional Secretary for Eurasia, says it was a blessing to watch the North American team take part in all the activities, making friends and sharing lives. 

“At this Formacion, we rediscovered the beauty of short-term trips. For hosts, it’s a great opportunity to receive visitors and share about our countries. For visitors, it’s a listening journey, watching for how God might be developing a longer-term vision for international ministry.” 

In addition to eye-opening conversations, Liz notes how God also spoke to their team through Scripture:  

“God very personally met our team, with many finding clarity and direction in their lives. Some were affirmed in their current ministry, while others were spurred on to explore how to engage more deeply with the nations.”  

Team members, including a staff worker and student from IVCF Canada, took many memories home: students from warring nations reconciled through Christ; the joyous diversity of “culture night”; and, for one, the delight of worshipping in Russian with other Russian-speakers for the first time. 

Being part of a global fellowship became thrillingly real – a reality they’re now eager to share: 

“We can get absorbed in what’s happening on our side of the world – except for when we have a slide at a conference saying ‘pray for these people’. So I want to bring a greater awareness of what God’s doing.” 

“My university group prays for one of these sensitive countries using the same picture and prayer requests every time. But here we got to shoot 16 minutes of video – real, specific prayer requests, actual faces and names. I’m really excited to bring that to our entire region.” 

Around one quarter of the world’s population live in it. And most of its countries have a thriving IFES ministry. Yet, due to security concerns, it’s often difficult to convey God’s work in and through students there. This is the South Asia region.  

So, in this Prayerline, we bring you words from four national movements, given in response to an IFES worldwide ministry survey. 

Here are some snapshots of challenges and joys within the region. 

The movement in a Muslim-majority country says: 

“Legally, there is freedom to share the gospel. However, in practice, doing so is extremely sensitive due to deeply rooted cultural and social norms. When someone calls on Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they often face significant persecution. This can come in the form of rejection, verbal or physical abuse, social isolation, or even expulsion from their own family or community. The emotional and relational cost is high, making it a major challenge for new believers to stand firm in their faith.” 

“Yet, many of our students actively share their faith with their friends and invite them to events. As a result of their bold witness and personal relationships, several new students have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.” 

In different movements, students are witnessing to Christ through their actions: 

“Through our regular blood donation program, student groups have received appreciation from local government.” 

“Youth migration has become a critical issue in our country, with thousands leaving in search of employment abroad. This trend also affects Christian youths, many of whom are influenced by the same aspirations. However, some of our students made a different choice. Inspired by the vision and encouragement of our movement, they decided to remain and pursue a career in government service – a field with very few Christian representatives. Last year they successfully became government employees, setting a remarkable example of faith and service.” 

“Students from two communities that were once divided by decades of civil war are learning to understand and appreciate each other’s backgrounds, forming meaningful friendships rooted in Christ.” 

And movements testify to the formative impact of the ministry: 

“S started as a student with very little confidence, but she has grown as a leader with good spiritual disciplines. She takes initiative and contributes significantly to the growth of the fellowship. She led the 40 days of national prayer initiative.” 

One student leader says: 

“I was so busy in my daily life, striving for my studies and my career. I’d thought that I couldn’t completely serve God. But at the leadership camp he taught me how I can serve him by my life in my community. Through the teaching sessions at camp, God helped me to rebuild a strong relationship with him again.” 

Interested to learn more about what IFES movements shared in the worldwide ministry survey? Watch out for September’s Conexión blog! 

It’s a growing ministry. 

FOCUS, the IFES movement in Uganda, now serves 132 Christian Union groups (CUs) across 100+ campuses. But, with just 11 full-time staff and limited resources to hire more, the task of supporting student leaders with personal presence felt insurmountable – until they revived the Short-Term Experience in Ministry (STEM) program. 

This year, STEM has given seven graduates the opportunity to receive hands-on training while ministering among students. “It was an inevitable responsibility that we needed to pursue,” says Patrick Barasa, FOCUS General Secretary. 

Now, both students and staff are growing. 

The impact of the program is already evident. On campuses where STEM staff have been deployed, student ministry is thriving. At the Allied Institute of Health Sciences, Samuel, the CU Chair, sees the difference: 

“Thanks to the expertise and mentorship of STEM staff, we’ve been much more effective in planning and implementing our activities. As they’ve walked alongside us, we’ve developed as leaders – in knowledge and practical skills. And their active participation in outreach events has boosted our capacity to reach out to peers.”  

Such positive relationships are typical. The immediate staff presence on campus means that CU leaders can easily access FOCUS support and receive guidance on championing witness and discipleship in ways that are relevant for their situation. 

And it’s not just the students that are benefiting – STEM staff are also experiencing personal and spiritual growth. Maureen Nabwire, serving in the Busoga region, notes:  

“Over the past few months, I’ve been able to learn how to associate and communicate with people from different societies, how to relate to and engage with students. I’ve realized that I can truly rely on God as my provider even through the challenges of mobilizing resources.” 

At the start of the year-long program, the carefully selected graduates are prepared for service with training on personal care and development as well as ministry skills, like how to faithfully handle Scripture and effectively engage in mission. This is supplemented by regular mentoring and care from senior staff and volunteers. 

STEM staff have grown in other ways, too. Robert Wabulimbo, who’s been serving Samuel’s CU, adds: “I’ve learned to raise ministry funds and to be accountable for writing reports on finances and activities.” 

General Secretary Patrick concludes: 

“With the growing number of CUs, this strategy not only gives us the best shot at effectively discipling students. It’s also a way of nurturing graduates who will impact our churches and society.” 

If you’d like to partner with the students and associates in Uganda who’ll be giving to FOCUS, you can donate here. 

“I never realized that sex could be positively taught about from up front. I was always told that it was wrong, something to be ashamed of.” 

This young woman was not alone. The other 150 students attending TSCF Papua New Guinea’s Bible Summit in June also welcomed the opportunity to talk about intimate relationships and receive guidance from Scripture.  

Juliette, a TSCF staff worker, notes: 

“In Port Moresby (the capital), young people are strongly influenced by western cultural trends. This has forced some churches to address relationship issues. However, most of our students come from rural areas, where the only teaching they’ve had is from ‘personal development class’.”   

So, the team decided that this year’s Summit should help students gain a biblical perspective and see Christ as Lord over sexuality and marriage.  

One third-year law student described the experience as “deeply eye-opening”. He felt challenged about walking into a relationship and just “winging it”. He wants to be more intentional. 

“The summit made it clear that love is not about satisfying your desire, but about commitment, sacrifice, and helping the other person grow closer to God. If I truly care about someone, I must help guard their heart, mind, and body from the damage of ungodly intimacy. That means setting clear boundaries and walking in accountability.” 

He also left with a solid understanding of worth and integrity:  

“I’ve come to recognise that my worth, security, and identity come from Christ alone, not from relationships, approval, sexual experience, or cultural expectations of ‘being the man’. I now see this not as a restriction but as freedom – a joyful, powerful way of living that honours God and protects what he values most: his image in me and others.” 

The summit’s teaching not only addressed how students approach relationships now. It also prepared them for marriage by helping them reassess cultural norms and expectations. Juliette explains: 

“In this culture, so much is assumed rather than discussed. This means high levels of domestic violence continue, along with a poor understanding of family roles and responsibilities, including many ‘absent fathers’. And polygamy is widespread, generally accepted as a sign of male strength.” 

David Walter, IFES Regional Secretary for the South Pacific, points out how strategic this Summit has been: 

“It’s superb to see the national movement tackling something that’s rarely talked about in the churches. Intimate partner violence, marriage breakdown, and sexual assault are widespread problems. So, exploring the biblical perspective like they did is also a great way of serving society.”  

The midsummer boat trip wasn’t a typical outreach event (but it’s now a tradition!). And the upcoming European Student Festival won’t be your typical IFES conference either. So, what’s going on in Latvia?  

The IFES national movement, LKSB, is creating space – and waiting to see what God will do in it. 

The midsummer boat trip – three days’ camping down a river – started a few years ago. COVID restrictions and lack of enthusiasm for large organized events led the team to choose a simple approach. LKSB students invited their non-Christian friends to join them on a boat trip – with no “agenda”. No pre-planned devotional, no Bible studies, no talks.  

Ulvis Kravalis, LKSB General Secretary, explains: 

“It’s about experiencing adventure on a river with Christians. It’s an organic way of connecting with each other and God. Through friendship, round the campfire, deep and meaningful conversations open up. We’ve even had six people come to Christ through it!” 

One summer under the stars, two Christian students naturally shared their testimonies. Ulvis recalls: “the atmosphere became so thick that we felt like we could touch God’s love”. When a LKSB staff worker asked if anyone wanted prayer, a female student responded. As they were praying, someone had a picture: she was chasing around, seeking value in men’s opinions of her rather than in the beauty that Christ sees in her. That night, she surrendered her life to Jesus. 

It’s this desire for organic, personal interactions that has also been incorporated into a regionwide student conference in August. Latvia will host the European Student Festival (ESF) in Jelgava, bringing together around 500 students from 40 movements across the continent. 

With the theme “Kingdom Come”, it will have the usual elements of an IFES event – quality Bible teaching, hands-on workshops, and cross-cultural sharing in small groups. But it’s more than a typical conference. Students will also be able to enjoy sports, art, music, dance, good food – and the beach!  

Christian Pichler, Associate IFES Regional Secretary for Europe and Director of ESF, says:  

“We believe in the power of people meeting people. We learn so much simply by meeting other individuals and hearing their stories. We want to create space for these encounters. So, this is the idea – it’s more of a festival with people choosing activities, hanging out together, and having time for conversations.” 

Ulvis agrees: 
 

“There’ll be talks of a very high quality – even life–changing – so, I’m really looking forward to that. But what excites me most is the potential for those unplanned, ‘accidental’ conversations – standing in a line for food, passing by at a stall in the exhibition hall, or chatting after playing ball together.” 

Hear more about Christian’s and Ulvis’s hopes for the European Student Festival in this Voices of IFES podcast episode:

Evangelism is religious propaganda.  

This is the view of many students in Moldova. On campus, talk of Jesus isn’t often taken seriously. Veaceslav Tușinschi, Director for CSC, the IFES national movement, explains: 

“Student life is marked by materialism and individualism. Some students may agree to a brief discussion on Christian topics, but that’s usually out of politeness, mild curiosity, or a desire to contradict you.” 

So, CSC students in Chișinău were deeply encouraged when invitations to their “Serios?” mission week led to serious interest from peers. 

Christina first met Gabriel at the beginning of the events week. She was on an internship at the hospital with several other medical students. While offering invites to friends, she felt prompted to offer one to Gabriel too. He was shy – and busy – and didn’t come all week. But he turned up for the final evening, when 70 students gathered at an Uzbek restaurant for games, live music, a kebab, and a talk. 

To follow up the week, various groups were planned  – socials, discussion groups, and a seeker’s Bible study. Gabriel chose the Bible study! 

Veaceslav reports, “He’s come each week open and interested in learning more about God, grace, salvation, and forgiveness of sins. His questions are sincere and his heart is open to receive.”    

Eugenia, a first-year philosophy student, was also committed to inviting friends to Serios? events. Three coursemates were willing to attend. They too joined the final evening, with one leaving his details to find out more.  

But he couldn’t wait. When the program ended, he hung around chatting with Veaceslav and two others. 

“After we’d left the café, we had a long conversation with him. He was amazed that such evenings were being organised. It was getting late, so we started to head for our homes. But he insisted on walking each of us to our trolleybus stops – it seemed like he was so intrigued that he wasn’t yet ready to part ways.” 

Eugenia also followed up with her coursemates. For Easter weekend, she hosted a picnic in the park so that they could read about Jesus on the cross and she invited them to the Sunday celebration at her church. 

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

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

Within IFES, and elsewhere, this is often called “high school ministry”, although the use and meaning of “high school” differs from country to country – as do the ages at which young people attend it. In this blog, we’ll use it to refer to the stage of schooling that precedes university education. 

We talked to three IFES movements with a thriving high school ministry – 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. 

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 – formed just eight years prior – felt a deep concern for these youngsters.  

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’s way rather than the harmful options all around. 

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. 

In Canada, Vanessa Kordupel, Director of Youth and High School Ministry in IVCF, has noticed that churches are deeply worried about her country’s “changing landscape”, with its increasingly secular and digital environment. She sees this as a pressing opportunity: “They’re an amazing generation – they just need equipping!”. 

Campus ministry to high school students isn’t solely motivated by the idea of reaching students “before university” 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. 

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 “give God space in everyday school life”. They currently work with around 200 groups and provide resources for starting a new SBK.  

(c) SMD 

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

(c) InterVarsity Canada 

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

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.

Students are also the ones to plan and execute “service projects” 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.  

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

Vanessa (IVCF Canada) sees such students as “a gift” to campus staff – “from 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.” 

Rabea (Perkantas Indonesia) agrees: “We 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.” 

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: “The 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.” 

The benefit of an IFES movement’s high school ministry is not only felt “at home”. 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 “a gift” 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. 

When you visit some IFES movements’ 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).  

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

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. “It’s very unlikely that they wouldn’t join the fellowship at university – they’re already hooked!” 

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’s 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. 

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 “cultural prophets” – they represent what’s coming to the university in four to five years’ 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.  

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.  

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

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. 

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 “IS/IVCF” label – Inter-School and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. 

“It was amazing to hear what they’re doing – and encouraging to think that as a movement we can now learn from them!”, Vanessa says. 

(c) Students Christian Fellowship & Scripture Union 

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

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 “no time to waste” reason feels particularly pertinent: 

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