A team of 10 staff and students from North America were off to Georgia \u2013 but not the one in the United States. They were heading for the Caucasus. They\u2019d been invited to join with IFES movements from across Eurasia for Formacion, a 10-day gathering for student leaders.
\n\u201cMissions\u201d just got real!
\n\u201cIt was an exciting way to walk and pray alongside our students and staff who were interested in cross-cultural exposure and seeking God\u2019s heart for every nation. It was a beautiful exploration opportunity \u2013 to learn firsthand from IFES movements in Eurasia, to serve them, to develop relationships with them.\u201d
\nSo says co-leader of the team, Liz Dolan, who previously spent two years serving in the region through InterVarsity/USA\u2019s 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.
\nOne team member commented:
\n\u201cThe 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: \u2018Why should I be afraid when I have brothers and sisters in Eurasia who are not afraid of what they\u2019re doing?\u201d
\nAnother added:
\n\u201cThat place in the Bible that talks about living by the law unless it gets in the way of what God says to do \u2013 now I\u2019ve met people who actually have to do that \u2013 do stuff that\u2019s illegal!\u201d
\nSergei, 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.
\n\u201cAt this Formacion, we rediscovered the beauty of short-term trips. For hosts, it\u2019s a great opportunity to receive visitors and share about our countries. For visitors, it\u2019s a listening journey, watching for how God might be developing a longer-term vision for international ministry.\u201d
\nIn addition to eye-opening conversations, Liz notes how God also spoke to their team through Scripture:
\n\u201cGod 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.\u201d
\nTeam 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 \u201cculture night\u201d; and, for one, the delight of worshipping in Russian with other Russian-speakers for the first time.
\nBeing part of a global fellowship became thrillingly real \u2013 a reality they\u2019re now eager to share:
\n\u201cWe can get absorbed in what\u2019s happening on our side of the world \u2013 except for when we have a slide at a conference saying \u2018pray for these people\u2019. So I want to bring a greater awareness of what God\u2019s doing.\u201d
\n\u201cMy 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 \u2013 real, specific prayer requests, actual faces and names. I’m really excited to bring that to our entire region.\u201d
\nIf you\u2019re in the USA and interested in serving locally or with another IFES movement, please visit InterVarsity Link and follow the prompts. Link is happy to help you discern God\u2019s invitation.
In Europe, you can explore cross-cultural student ministry with IFES InterAction.
The post It just got real appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "A team of 10 staff and students from North America were off to Georgia \u2013 but not the one in the United States. They were heading for the Caucasus. They\u2019d been invited to join with IFES movements from across Eurasia for Formacion, a 10-day gathering for student leaders. \n\n\n\n\u201cMissions\u201d just got real! \n\n\n\nA Beautiful Exploration \n\n\n\n\u201cIt was an exciting way to walk and pray alongside our students and staff who were interested in cross-cultural exposure and seeking God\u2019s heart for every nation. It was a beautiful exploration opportunity \u2013 to learn firsthand from IFES movements in Eurasia, to serve them, to develop relationships with them.\u201d \n\n\n\nSo says co-leader of the team, Liz Dolan, who previously spent two years serving in the region through InterVarsity/USA\u2019s 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. \n\n\n\nOne team member commented: \n\n\n\n\u201cThe 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: \u2018Why should I be afraid when I have brothers and sisters in Eurasia who are not afraid of what they\u2019re doing?\u201d \n\n\n\nAnother added: \n\n\n\n\u201cThat place in the Bible that talks about living by the law unless it gets in the way of what God says to do \u2013 now I\u2019ve met people who actually have to do that \u2013 do stuff that\u2019s illegal!\u201d \n\n\n\nSergei, 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. \n\n\n\n\u201cAt this Formacion, we rediscovered the beauty of short-term trips. For hosts, it\u2019s a great opportunity to receive visitors and share about our countries. For visitors, it\u2019s a listening journey, watching for how God might be developing a longer-term vision for international ministry.\u201d \n\n\n\nA Buoyant Return \n\n\n\nIn addition to eye-opening conversations, Liz notes how God also spoke to their team through Scripture: \n\n\n\n\u201cGod 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.\u201d \n\n\n\nTeam 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 \u201cculture night\u201d; and, for one, the delight of worshipping in Russian with other Russian-speakers for the first time. \n\n\n\nBeing part of a global fellowship became thrillingly real \u2013 a reality they\u2019re now eager to share: \n\n\n\n\u201cWe can get absorbed in what\u2019s happening on our side of the world \u2013 except for when we have a slide at a conference saying \u2018pray for these people\u2019. So I want to bring a greater awareness of what God\u2019s doing.\u201d \n\n\n\n\u201cMy 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 \u2013 real, specific prayer requests, actual faces and names. I’m really excited to bring that to our entire region.\u201d \n\n\n\nPray \n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for the cross-cultural fellowship at Formacion \u2013 both within and beyond Eurasia. Thank God for the North American team\u2019s eye-opening, faith-strengthening, relationship-building, and ministry-affirming experience. \n\n\n\n\n\nPray for each team member as they pass on what they learned \u2013 may the Lord greatly use them to inspire others towards a deeper concern for God\u2019s work on campuses across the world. \n\n\n\n\n\nPray for InterVarsity/USA\u2019s Urbana25 (28-31 December), when \u201cGen Z will be invited to see firsthand what God is doing globally and discover their role in his mission\u201d. Ask that final preparations will run smoothly so that a new generation \u201cfollow God, wherever he leads\u201d.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re in the USA and interested in serving locally or with another IFES movement, please visit InterVarsity Link and follow the prompts. Link is happy to help you discern God\u2019s invitation. In Europe, you can explore cross-cultural student ministry with IFES InterAction. \nThe post It just got real appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-09-16T04:55:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-16T13:32:00+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/2025/09/georgian_meal_team-scaled.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=46666", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/a-beautiful-partnership/", "title": "A Beautiful Partnership", "content_html": "\u201cWe\u2019re seeing beautiful things \u2013 the Holy Spirit is clearly at work in the lives of young people.\u201d
\nOn one campus in Canada, Tommy, a staff worker with GBUC (the French-speaking IFES movement in Canada) is working with Christina from Power to Change. They\u2019re experiencing an exciting season of curiosity and conversions as they partner with each other, with students \u2013 and with God.
\nIn the last couple of years, Tommy and Christina have noticed a spiritual shift. The campus group used to mainly comprise international students who were churched and familiar with GBU/IFES in their own countries. But, today, the majority are new Christians and those seeking faith.
\nTommy says it\u2019s like \u201ca huge discovery group\u201d. Students just turn up and say, \u201cI’m new to faith, I’m curious\u201d. A few times, students have come and asked for Bibles. Last year, they met a student who turned to Christ through TikTok:
\n\u201cWhen she started her spiritual search, she was open to everything except Christ. But for some reason, the Lord kept making sure the algorithm showed her Christian stuff. She started going to church in her neighborhood, and eventually, she and her mother became Christians!\u201d
\nAs Tommy and Christina follow God\u2019s lead, they\u2019re also listening to the students. Recently, Christina had designed different options for a poster to advertise the group\u2019s activities. When the students voted for their favourite, the winner was the one that Tommy and Christina liked the least.
\nBut God was at work again: \u201cI think we had about forty students contact us because of that poster. And three students even took a photo of it to show their mothers!\u201d. Christina adds, \u201cI love these students. I’ve never been so challenged. It\u2019s their different stories, their deep searching.\u201d
\nThe university administration here has been cautious about the activities of religious groups on campus, leading to the formation of an umbrella NGO-like group for Christians. This gave Tommy and Christina the impetus for their ministry partnership:
\n\u201cWe have the same vision, we understand each other: we want to serve all students, whatever their denomination.\u201d
\nTogether \u2013 with the students \u2013 the group now offers a suite of activities on a different theme each week, through prayer times, Bible studies, an outreach stand, and a dessert and discussion evening.
\nOne week, the outreach stand topic \u2013 \u201cTell us about a woman who inspires you\u201d \u2013 caused such a positive response from students that the story-sharing was noticed by university staff on an adjacent careers day stand. One of them said, \u201cI’m feeling so emotional. This is such a beautiful moment\u201d.
\nThe post A Beautiful Partnership appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "\u201cWe\u2019re seeing beautiful things \u2013 the Holy Spirit is clearly at work in the lives of young people.\u201d \n\n\n\nOn one campus in Canada, Tommy, a staff worker with GBUC (the French-speaking IFES movement in Canada) is working with Christina from Power to Change. They\u2019re experiencing an exciting season of curiosity and conversions as they partner with each other, with students \u2013 and with God. \n\n\n\nPartnering with God \n\n\n\nIn the last couple of years, Tommy and Christina have noticed a spiritual shift. The campus group used to mainly comprise international students who were churched and familiar with GBU/IFES in their own countries. But, today, the majority are new Christians and those seeking faith. \n\n\n\nTommy says it\u2019s like \u201ca huge discovery group\u201d. Students just turn up and say, \u201cI’m new to faith, I’m curious\u201d. A few times, students have come and asked for Bibles. Last year, they met a student who turned to Christ through TikTok: \n\n\n\n\u201cWhen she started her spiritual search, she was open to everything except Christ. But for some reason, the Lord kept making sure the algorithm showed her Christian stuff. She started going to church in her neighborhood, and eventually, she and her mother became Christians!\u201d \n\n\n\nPartnering with Students \n\n\n\nAs Tommy and Christina follow God\u2019s lead, they\u2019re also listening to the students. Recently, Christina had designed different options for a poster to advertise the group\u2019s activities. When the students voted for their favourite, the winner was the one that Tommy and Christina liked the least. \n\n\n\nBut God was at work again: \u201cI think we had about forty students contact us because of that poster. And three students even took a photo of it to show their mothers!\u201d. Christina adds, \u201cI love these students. I’ve never been so challenged. It\u2019s their different stories, their deep searching.\u201d \n\n\n\nPartnering in Campus Ministry \n\n\n\nThe university administration here has been cautious about the activities of religious groups on campus, leading to the formation of an umbrella NGO-like group for Christians. This gave Tommy and Christina the impetus for their ministry partnership: \n\n\n\n\u201cWe have the same vision, we understand each other: we want to serve all students, whatever their denomination.\u201d \n\n\n\nTogether \u2013 with the students \u2013 the group now offers a suite of activities on a different theme each week, through prayer times, Bible studies, an outreach stand, and a dessert and discussion evening. \n\n\n\nOne week, the outreach stand topic \u2013 \u201cTell us about a woman who inspires you\u201d \u2013 caused such a positive response from students that the story-sharing was noticed by university staff on an adjacent careers day stand. One of them said, \u201cI’m feeling so emotional. This is such a beautiful moment\u201d. \n\n\n\nPray \n\n\n\n\nPraise God for the \u201cbeautiful things\u201d that he\u2019s been doing on this campus in Canada \u2013 for the curiosity among students, the ministry partnerships, and the group\u2019s growing witness. \n\n\n\n\n\nPray that the spiritual awakening will continue and deepen: for more encounters with curious students, good engagement at the outreach stand, and new students to attend the dessert and discussion evenings. \n\n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for the partnership between Tommy and Christina and ask that a similar spirit of collaboration can be experienced everywhere on campuses where more than one student ministry group exists. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe post A Beautiful Partnership appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-06-10T11:00:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-06-13T15:54:28+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/2025/06/GBUC-iktus-e1749549836640.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=42246", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/renewed-in-30-seconds/", "title": "Renewed in 30 seconds", "content_html": "On the surface, Kristine seemed fine. Having known the gospel from an early age, she was now an active member in her InterVarsity/USA group at El Camino College, California. But inside, she was struggling.
\n\u201cService after service, my heart felt like it was being gutted right out of my chest,\u201d Kristine explains.
\n\n\n\u201cPursued perfection, cursed with comparison, burdened with sin, feared my future, and regret of the past \u2014 all this baggage was hindering me from seeing Christ\u2019s worthiness. I was spiritually exhausted.\u201d
\n
At the end of her \u201crollercoaster\u201d college year, she headed off to an InterVarsity/USA camp in the nearby mountains. She admits: \u201cI didn\u2019t expect much. I was simply looking forward to getting away\u201d. Along with two friends, she joined around a hundred other students from the area for five days of fellowship.
\nAt the first session, packets of printouts from Mark\u2019s Gospel were distributed. Their time in Scripture was going to focus on \u201cManuscript Study\u201d, a communal, inductive method used for decades by InterVarsity/USA and adopted in many other IFES movements.
\nThey opened their packs, and the first line was read out: \u201cThe beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.\u201d
\nThe Word came alive; something shifted in Kristine. She recalls:
\n\n\n\u201cIn that moment, I realised that the only source of what is good, what is new and true, is Christ, the Son of God. Nothing and nobody else. God can do a lot in six months, in a year, but in my case, God did the most in thirty seconds. The Holy Spirit was overflowing. I realised that I no longer have to live in shame and spiritual collapse.\u201d
\n
Camps like this have long been a fruitful accompaniment to termtime campus ministry in InterVarsity/USA. Last year, over 3,300 students attended such events. The blend of resting in creation, growing in loving community, and digging into Scripture has been life-giving for many.
\nThis summer break, the beginning of the gospel brought a new beginning for Kristine. As the new academic year starts on her campus, she\u2019s being hopeful and realistic about what lies beyond her 30-second renewal:
\n\n\n\u201cAlthough reading and soaking in the Word activates and enables faith, it only gets real when it\u2019s tested. But whatever comes, I can now boldly say that Jesus is my only constant.\u201d
\n
Let\u2019s pray for her and InterVarsity/USA ministry.
\nThe post Renewed in 30 seconds appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "On the surface, Kristine seemed fine. Having known the gospel from an early age, she was now an active member in her InterVarsity/USA group at El Camino College, California. But inside, she was struggling.\n\n\n\nLosing Sight\n\n\n\n\u201cService after service, my heart felt like it was being gutted right out of my chest,\u201d Kristine explains.\n\n\n\n\n\u201cPursued perfection, cursed with comparison, burdened with sin, feared my future, and regret of the past \u2014 all this baggage was hindering me from seeing Christ\u2019s worthiness. I was spiritually exhausted.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nAt the end of her \u201crollercoaster\u201d college year, she headed off to an InterVarsity/USA camp in the nearby mountains. She admits: \u201cI didn\u2019t expect much. I was simply looking forward to getting away\u201d. Along with two friends, she joined around a hundred other students from the area for five days of fellowship. \n\n\n\nRegaining Focus\n\n\n\nAt the first session, packets of printouts from Mark\u2019s Gospel were distributed. Their time in Scripture was going to focus on \u201cManuscript Study\u201d, a communal, inductive method used for decades by InterVarsity/USA and adopted in many other IFES movements.\n\n\n\nThey opened their packs, and the first line was read out: \u201cThe beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe Word came alive; something shifted in Kristine. She recalls:\n\n\n\n\n\u201cIn that moment, I realised that the only source of what is good, what is new and true, is Christ, the Son of God. Nothing and nobody else. God can do a lot in six months, in a year, but in my case, God did the most in thirty seconds. The Holy Spirit was overflowing. I realised that I no longer have to live in shame and spiritual collapse.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCampus and Camps\n\n\n\nCamps like this have long been a fruitful accompaniment to termtime campus ministry in InterVarsity/USA. Last year, over 3,300 students attended such events. The blend of resting in creation, growing in loving community, and digging into Scripture has been life-giving for many.\n\n\n\nThis summer break, the beginning of the gospel brought a new beginning for Kristine. As the new academic year starts on her campus, she\u2019s being hopeful and realistic about what lies beyond her 30-second renewal:\n\n\n\n\n\u201cAlthough reading and soaking in the Word activates and enables faith, it only gets real when it\u2019s tested. But whatever comes, I can now boldly say that Jesus is my only constant.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s pray for her and InterVarsity/USA ministry.\n\n\n\nPray\n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for Kristine\u2019s liberating and refreshing encounter with Christ and his gospel \u2013 and for all those who have experienced God\u2019s work through InterVarsity/USA camps during their summer break. As they return to campus, pray that they will not lose sight of Christ\u2019s worthiness and sufficiency.\n\n\n\nPray for the ongoing witness of the InterVarsity/USA group at El Camino College. The current group is small but strong in its love for God. As they meet new students and invite them to join, ask that God will be at work in hearts \u2013 that newcomers won\u2019t be intimidated by the smallness of the ministry but see it as an opportunity to grow and flourish.\n\n\n\nWhether at camp or on campus, pray that the Holy Spirit will overflow as students meet for the communal, inductive study of Scripture. Ask that the Word will come alive, speaking into hearts, mindsets, priorities, and lifestyles.\n\nThe post Renewed in 30 seconds appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-09-17T10:21:34+01:00", "date_modified": "2024-09-17T21:44:41+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/2024/09/KUtanes2mod.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=35202", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/engineering-a-resilient-faith/", "title": "Engineering a resilient faith\u00a0", "content_html": "\u201cSometimes I feel really vulnerable \u2013 like Nehemiah rebuilding the wall. He faced criticism and attacks from his enemies. But he didn\u2019t give up. He kept going. I\u2019ve been so encouraged by our small group Bible studies about this faithful \u201cproject engineer\u201d.\u201d
\nCharlotte, a project manager in civil engineering, and a handful of other students meet together at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al. They\u2019re part of Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Coll\u00e9giaux du Canada (GBUC), the French-speaking IFES movement in Canada. But meeting together isn\u2019t easy. Official student associations of a religious nature are not permitted on campus. So, they gather as a Book Club \u2013 to read and discuss the world\u2019s bestseller: the Bible.
\nGa\u00eblle, a doctoral student, was also struck by the way God spoke through his Word into her situation:\u00a0
\u00a0
\u201cThis was the first time I read Nehemiah in depth. I saw that he was a great engineer, a great visionary \u2013 someone who knew how to make the most of his assets. But, above all, he put God first. I was touched by this story, especially as an international student. For, we are here as foreigners, and we also need to have some projects \u2013 to go back to our countries, to rebuild, to celebrate together with our own people.\u201d\u00a0
The Bible studies have also helped the students grow in their experience of God\u2019s enabling. Like all IFES movements, GBUC champions student-led groups, so the Polytechnique students take it in turns to lead the studies. Samuel, a student in information engineering, had never led a Bible study before, but he says it was very positive:
\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. We all left the study with something new, with hearts refreshed, with hope.\u201d
\nToday\u2019s group is an answer to a prayer offered 10 years ago: \u201cLord, do something on our campus\u201d. A few international students had come to study at the Polytechnique. Since it lacked a GBUC presence at the time, they attended a group at the University of Montreal. Amazed by what the Lord was doing there, they prayed for their own \u2013 and a term later started the little \u201cBook Club\u201d.
\nWith the strict secular atmosphere and their demanding workloads, this group may still feel small and vulnerable. But the Lord is continuing to \u201cdo something\u201d: through fellowship in the Word, these engineers are building a resilient faith.
\nLet\u2019s pray for these students in Canada \u2013 and others like them:
\nThe post Engineering a resilient faith\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "\u201cSometimes I feel really vulnerable \u2013 like Nehemiah rebuilding the wall. He faced criticism and attacks from his enemies. But he didn\u2019t give up. He kept going. I\u2019ve been so encouraged by our small group Bible studies about this faithful \u201cproject engineer\u201d.\u201d \n\n\n\nCharlotte, a project manager in civil engineering, and a handful of other students meet together at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al. They\u2019re part of Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Coll\u00e9giaux du Canada (GBUC), the French-speaking IFES movement in Canada. But meeting together isn\u2019t easy. Official student associations of a religious nature are not permitted on campus. So, they gather as a Book Club \u2013 to read and discuss the world\u2019s bestseller: the Bible. \n\n\n\nGa\u00eblle, a doctoral student, was also struck by the way God spoke through his Word into her situation:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis was the first time I read Nehemiah in depth. I saw that he was a great engineer, a great visionary \u2013 someone who knew how to make the most of his assets. But, above all, he put God first. I was touched by this story, especially as an international student. For, we are here as foreigners, and we also need to have some projects \u2013 to go back to our countries, to rebuild, to celebrate together with our own people.\u201d\u00a0\n\n\n\nThe Bible studies have also helped the students grow in their experience of God\u2019s enabling. Like all IFES movements, GBUC champions student-led groups, so the Polytechnique students take it in turns to lead the studies. Samuel, a student in information engineering, had never led a Bible study before, but he says it was very positive: \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. We all left the study with something new, with hearts refreshed, with hope.\u201d \n\n\n\nToday\u2019s group is an answer to a prayer offered 10 years ago: \u201cLord, do something on our campus\u201d. A few international students had come to study at the Polytechnique. Since it lacked a GBUC presence at the time, they attended a group at the University of Montreal. Amazed by what the Lord was doing there, they prayed for their own \u2013 and a term later started the little \u201cBook Club\u201d. \n\n\n\nWith the strict secular atmosphere and their demanding workloads, this group may still feel small and vulnerable. But the Lord is continuing to \u201cdo something\u201d: through fellowship in the Word, these engineers are building a resilient faith. \n\n\n\nLet\u2019s pray for these students in Canada \u2013 and others like them: \n\n\n\n\nThank the Lord for the Book Club at Polytechnique Montr\u00e9al \u2013 for the way he is speaking through scripture and for the graduates and students who faithfully attend and invite their peers. \n\n\n\nAsk for the Holy Spirit\u2019s help: for creativity as they look to serve and interact with a strictly secular campus; for resilience as they carry a heavy workload, especially the international students facing further challenges of finance and immigration. \n\n\n\nPray for students like Charlotte, Ga\u00eblle, and Samuel in IFES movements all around the world \u2013 that they will experience God\u2019s enabling as they lead small group Bible studies, and hear God speak into their situations. \n\nThe post Engineering a resilient faith\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-04-02T05:04:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-28T21:06:36+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" } ], "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Poly.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=28911", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/graduate-students-hear-gods-call/", "title": "Graduate students hear God\u2019s call", "content_html": "\u201cLeave your comfortable, safe, secure life for the chance to live an extraordinary life, full of risk, stepping out into the unknown. I will be with you throughout it all, and as you go where I send you, the world will be changed forever!\u201d
\nA thoughtful quiet filled the room. At this Bible study, Trevor Kouritzin, a (post)graduate student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, had just paraphrased God\u2019s invitation to Abram (Genesis 12). Now, the dozen graduate students were processing what it meant for them to follow God in the risky places where they feel called.
\n\u201cGraduate students face very specific challenges,\u201d says Alan Chettle, staff worker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Canada. He notes how most are expected to work hours far beyond what is reasonable. And, despite their great achievements (the University of Alberta is one of Canada\u2019s top teaching and research institutions), many still struggle with imposter syndrome \u2013 the anxious belief that one’s success is undeserved or unrelated to one\u2019s efforts or skill.
\nHaving studied for a Master’s and PhD, Alan can identify with their pressures and offers spiritual direction on what rest and self-worth look like from a biblical perspective. He has also been able to share from his own experiences of talking about his faith as a graduate student. After one Bible study, he received a text message from Sarah, a PhD candidate in Human Nutrition: \u201cThese Bible studies have really ministered to my spirit… If we are present and available, God will open doors to share.\u201d
\nEvangelism is a challenge for graduate students: in contrast to the large number of undergraduates who have wide social interactions, they spend much of their time in labs or offices, behind locked doors. Yet this can have an upside: smaller research communities present an opportunity to forge deeper relationships and build the trust needed for any talk of faith.
\nIndeed, speaking about Jesus is one of the risky places that the graduate student group have felt called to embrace despite feeling ill-equipped to speak\u2014and anxious about how they might be perceived. Therefore Alan, along with three student leaders, will guide the group through some InterVarsity/USA training materials (which have been adapted for the Canadian context) in the coming weeks.
\nHere is a handful of students taking part in an ordinary campus Bible study. But this is where God is doing business \u2013 calling \u2018the brightest and the best\u2019 to step out and change the world.
\nYou can find out about graduate student ministry in Europe here.
\nThe post Graduate students hear God\u2019s call appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "\u201cLeave your comfortable, safe, secure life for the chance to live an extraordinary life, full of risk, stepping out into the unknown. I will be with you throughout it all, and as you go where I send you, the world will be changed forever!\u201d\n\n\n\nA thoughtful quiet filled the room. At this Bible study, Trevor Kouritzin, a (post)graduate student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, had just paraphrased God\u2019s invitation to Abram (Genesis 12). Now, the dozen graduate students were processing what it meant for them to follow God in the risky places where they feel called.\n\n\n\n\u201cGraduate students face very specific challenges,\u201d says Alan Chettle, staff worker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Canada. He notes how most are expected to work hours far beyond what is reasonable. And, despite their great achievements (the University of Alberta is one of Canada\u2019s top teaching and research institutions), many still struggle with imposter syndrome \u2013 the anxious belief that one’s success is undeserved or unrelated to one\u2019s efforts or skill.\n\n\n\nHaving studied for a Master’s and PhD, Alan can identify with their pressures and offers spiritual direction on what rest and self-worth look like from a biblical perspective. He has also been able to share from his own experiences of talking about his faith as a graduate student. After one Bible study, he received a text message from Sarah, a PhD candidate in Human Nutrition: \u201cThese Bible studies have really ministered to my spirit… If we are present and available, God will open doors to share.\u201d\n\n\n\nEvangelism is a challenge for graduate students: in contrast to the large number of undergraduates who have wide social interactions, they spend much of their time in labs or offices, behind locked doors. Yet this can have an upside: smaller research communities present an opportunity to forge deeper relationships and build the trust needed for any talk of faith.\n\n\n\nIndeed, speaking about Jesus is one of the risky places that the graduate student group have felt called to embrace despite feeling ill-equipped to speak\u2014and anxious about how they might be perceived. Therefore Alan, along with three student leaders, will guide the group through some InterVarsity/USA training materials (which have been adapted for the Canadian context) in the coming weeks.\n\n\n\nHere is a handful of students taking part in an ordinary campus Bible study. But this is where God is doing business \u2013 calling \u2018the brightest and the best\u2019 to step out and change the world.\n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for these formative Bible studies and pray for the graduate students at the University of Alberta \u2013 and others around the world \u2013 as they work through issues of culture (many are international students), rest, and self-worth.\n\n\n\nGive thanks for Alan and all IFES national movement staff who work with graduate students. Pray that they will be able to build deep and spiritually supportive relationships despite the time pressures faced by students.\n\n\n\nPray that IFES relationships and resources will help graduate students effectively integrate their faith with their study and research, bringing Christ\u2019s lordship and blessing to the cutting edgeof humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, and engineering.\n\n\n\n\nYou can find out about graduate student ministry in Europe here.\nThe post Graduate students hear God\u2019s call appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2023-09-05T09:30:53+01:00", "date_modified": "2024-02-29T08:43:21+00:00", "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/2023/09/U-of-A-Grad-Student-Leaders-Team-1-scaled.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=20606", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/understanding-urbana/", "title": "Understanding Urbana", "content_html": "The Urbana missions conference, hosted by IFES student movement InterVarsity USA, has an incredible legacy. Since 1946, Urbana has called thousands of students in the US to answer God\u2019s call on their lives, inspiring other student movements worldwide with a similar missionary vision. Many people around the globe can look back and point to their Urbana experience as a turning point, when they gave their lives to Jesus in a new way.
\nThe Urbana conference is coming later this month. However, Urbana 2022 takes place in a cultural landscape that is quite different to what precedes it. The years since the last conference in 2018 have been politically, socially, and economically tumultuous and divisive for America, and sadly, the church has not escaped this division. In this Prayerline, one of the conference organizers, Anna Lee-Winans, shares how we can pray ahead of the conference.
\nAnna is mindful of some complicated contexts. There is, for instance, the fact that \u201ca lot of Christian mission has the weight of colonialism\u201d. But Anna wants students to see that both God and the global church invite them to be witnesses to the gospel of Jesus \u201cto the ends of the earth\u201d (Acts 1:8). At this Urbana, there is an invitation to local Native American Christian leaders to come and show delegates how to \u201ccome in a good way\u201d. These are people with whom InterVarsity\u2019s dedicated ministry to Native Americans, Native InterVarsity, have built relationships for many years. It\u2019s important, says Anna, because \u201cappropriately discerning God\u2019s invitation and engaging humbly with a new culture is deeply honoring to the image of God\u201d.\u00a0
\nUrbana draws students to \u201ca key place for the American church to access the voice of the global church and the church on the margins. Through exposition of the book of Acts, multicultural services, testimonies, and leadership and coaching opportunities, our hope is that Urbana will be a discipleship experience.\u201d In a church fractured by political and cultural division, we can pray that students stuck in a polarized cultural moment would find the path forward in Christ; the hollows of their ideologies filled out by the wholeness of the gospel. \u201cFor students from both politically conservative and liberal backgrounds, including those who are \u2018deconstructing\u2019 their faith and those who have syncretized their faith with American culture, Urbana is a place to be powerfully discipled. We want students to be \u2018free indeed\u2019 (John 8:36), to engage this cultural moment well, trust Jesus for this season, and follow the Holy Spirit\u2019s invitation.\u201d
\nPlease pray with us for Urbana \u201822 and InterVarsity USA:
\nThank you for supporting InterVarsity USA in prayer. If you feel led to contribute to their movement financially, you can do so here.
\nThe post Understanding Urbana appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "The Urbana missions conference, hosted by IFES student movement InterVarsity USA, has an incredible legacy. Since 1946, Urbana has called thousands of students in the US to answer God\u2019s call on their lives, inspiring other student movements worldwide with a similar missionary vision. Many people around the globe can look back and point to their Urbana experience as a turning point, when they gave their lives to Jesus in a new way. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Urbana conference is coming later this month. However, Urbana 2022 takes place in a cultural landscape that is quite different to what precedes it. The years since the last conference in 2018 have been politically, socially, and economically tumultuous and divisive for America, and sadly, the church has not escaped this division. In this Prayerline, one of the conference organizers, Anna Lee-Winans, shares how we can pray ahead of the conference. \n\n\n\nAnna is mindful of some complicated contexts. There is, for instance, the fact that \u201ca lot of Christian mission has the weight of colonialism\u201d. But Anna wants students to see that both God and the global church invite them to be witnesses to the gospel of Jesus \u201cto the ends of the earth\u201d (Acts 1:8). At this Urbana, there is an invitation to local Native American Christian leaders to come and show delegates how to \u201ccome in a good way\u201d. These are people with whom InterVarsity\u2019s dedicated ministry to Native Americans, Native InterVarsity, have built relationships for many years. It\u2019s important, says Anna, because \u201cappropriately discerning God\u2019s invitation and engaging humbly with a new culture is deeply honoring to the image of God\u201d.\u00a0\n\n\n\nUrbana draws students to \u201ca key place for the American church to access the voice of the global church and the church on the margins. Through exposition of the book of Acts, multicultural services, testimonies, and leadership and coaching opportunities, our hope is that Urbana will be a discipleship experience.\u201d In a church fractured by political and cultural division, we can pray that students stuck in a polarized cultural moment would find the path forward in Christ; the hollows of their ideologies filled out by the wholeness of the gospel. \u201cFor students from both politically conservative and liberal backgrounds, including those who are \u2018deconstructing\u2019 their faith and those who have syncretized their faith with American culture, Urbana is a place to be powerfully discipled. We want students to be \u2018free indeed\u2019 (John 8:36), to engage this cultural moment well, trust Jesus for this season, and follow the Holy Spirit\u2019s invitation.\u201d \n\n\n\nPlease pray with us for Urbana \u201822 and InterVarsity USA: \n\n\n\nPray that at least 10,000 InterVarsity students will come to the conference with open hearts for their faith to be “reconstructed\u201d by the truth of the gospel. Pray that Urbana might be a place where divisions are healed; where those who have been struggling with cultural questions might see a glimpse of the real Jesus which helps everything else fall into place. \n\n\n\nPray that God would work through Urbana and through InterVarsity students to bring the good news of his real, everlasting, life-giving power through Jesus, both in the United States and the church globally. \n\n\n\nThank you for supporting InterVarsity USA in prayer. If you feel led to contribute to their movement financially, you can do so here. \nThe post Understanding Urbana appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2022-12-06T06:48:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2022-12-06T16:23:29+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" } ], "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2013.01.01_stuart-jones_0860.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=19022", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/a-foodbank-that-shows-gods-love-to-students/", "title": "A foodbank that shows God\u2019s love to students\u00a0", "content_html": "All around the world, students are displaying God\u2019s love in practical ways. In the DRC, they use sports, in Cuba, they use comedy, drama and sweets, and in Canada, students are using gifts of groceries to demonstrate God\u2019s love to students who are struggling financially.
\nNaomie is a final year student. Originally from Cameroon, she has been studying in Trois-Rivi\u00e8res in Quebec, Canada, for three years. She\u2019s part of GBUC, the Francophone student movement in Canada. She is also president of Le Bon Camarade, a GBU initiative which delivers food parcels to students in financial difficulties. The demand is high; already with over 100 beneficiaries, a new person is added nearly every week. Most of these are international students, who are less likely than domestic students to have support available from their families or home communities.
\nWhile most of the student beneficiaries work, they often don\u2019t earn enough to make ends meet. Helping students with the basics, explains Naomie, allows them to concentrate on their studies, while enabling them to save a portion of their earnings. One beneficiary testifies that if Le Bon Camarade hadn\u2019t helped him at university, he wouldn\u2019t have been able to start his business.
\n\u2018One of the pillars of GBU\u2019, shares Naomie, \u2018is to share God\u2019s love. We have a weekly table with Bibles and Christian books that anyone can take. It\u2019s great that we\u2019ve now been recognised as an essential service at the university. Something that also helps is the fact that our office is located very close to the cafeteria, so we get lots of people coming through. In addition to food, people also come to us for information about university life. We want to help create community.\u2019
\nIt\u2019s not always easy. \u2018The demand is very high compared to what we have to offer\u2019, says Naomie. \u2018We can\u2019t give very much, and we try to do a little bit extra at Christmas. We fundraise so that we can afford to give out gift cards, as well as New Testaments and other Christian books.\u2019
\nHowever, a commitment to the \u2018pillar\u2019 of God\u2019s love has, in the past, also caused problems for Le Bon Camarade. Their supplier was hesitant to work with them if they continued with religious elements, believing that the initiative was designed to trap people into Christianity. While this tension existed for several years, the whole team was adamant that Le Bon Camarade exists, first and foremost, to demonstrate the gospel. Finally, a few months ago, with misunderstandings worked through and one partner moving on, the future was secured. Naomie calls it a miracle. \u2018It really strengthened our faith to see how God is working in our favour.\u2019
\n\u2018When I first came here, I was afraid I would lose my faith in a new country. But praying together, seeing the beneficiaries happy, seeing the difference we can make, and seeing how God has helped us through challenges, has made me believe again that he answers prayers.\u2019
\nPray with us for Naomie, Le Bon Camarade, and GBUC Canada:
\nThe post A foodbank that shows God\u2019s love to students\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "All around the world, students are displaying God\u2019s love in practical ways. In the DRC, they use sports, in Cuba, they use comedy, drama and sweets, and in Canada, students are using gifts of groceries to demonstrate God\u2019s love to students who are struggling financially. \n\n\n\nNaomie is a final year student. Originally from Cameroon, she has been studying in Trois-Rivi\u00e8res in Quebec, Canada, for three years. She\u2019s part of GBUC, the Francophone student movement in Canada. She is also president of Le Bon Camarade, a GBU initiative which delivers food parcels to students in financial difficulties. The demand is high; already with over 100 beneficiaries, a new person is added nearly every week. Most of these are international students, who are less likely than domestic students to have support available from their families or home communities. \n\n\n\nWhile most of the student beneficiaries work, they often don\u2019t earn enough to make ends meet. Helping students with the basics, explains Naomie, allows them to concentrate on their studies, while enabling them to save a portion of their earnings. One beneficiary testifies that if Le Bon Camarade hadn\u2019t helped him at university, he wouldn\u2019t have been able to start his business. \n\n\n\n\u2018One of the pillars of GBU\u2019, shares Naomie, \u2018is to share God\u2019s love. We have a weekly table with Bibles and Christian books that anyone can take. It\u2019s great that we\u2019ve now been recognised as an essential service at the university. Something that also helps is the fact that our office is located very close to the cafeteria, so we get lots of people coming through. In addition to food, people also come to us for information about university life. We want to help create community.\u2019 \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s not always easy. \u2018The demand is very high compared to what we have to offer\u2019, says Naomie. \u2018We can\u2019t give very much, and we try to do a little bit extra at Christmas. We fundraise so that we can afford to give out gift cards, as well as New Testaments and other Christian books.\u2019 \n\n\n\nHowever, a commitment to the \u2018pillar\u2019 of God\u2019s love has, in the past, also caused problems for Le Bon Camarade. Their supplier was hesitant to work with them if they continued with religious elements, believing that the initiative was designed to trap people into Christianity. While this tension existed for several years, the whole team was adamant that Le Bon Camarade exists, first and foremost, to demonstrate the gospel. Finally, a few months ago, with misunderstandings worked through and one partner moving on, the future was secured. Naomie calls it a miracle. \u2018It really strengthened our faith to see how God is working in our favour.\u2019 \n\n\n\n\u2018When I first came here, I was afraid I would lose my faith in a new country. But praying together, seeing the beneficiaries happy, seeing the difference we can make, and seeing how God has helped us through challenges, has made me believe again that he answers prayers.\u2019 \n\n\n\nPray with us for Naomie, Le Bon Camarade, and GBUC Canada: \n\n\n\nPray for the long-term sustainability of Le Bon Camarade, and especially that over the summer new students would take over the work. Pray that it would remain a thoroughly Christian initiative.\u00a0\u00a0Pray for more partnerships with suppliers, and for more opportunities to share the gospel through food.\u00a0Pray that students in Quebec, both international and Canadian, would know and embrace the love of God that is being offered to them by the GBU. Pray for God to sustain and bless GBU Canada in every way.\u00a0\nThe post A foodbank that shows God\u2019s love to students\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2022-06-21T06:26:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2022-06-20T14:36:49+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" } ], "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GBU-Canada-2.jpeg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=17822", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/when-worries-overwhelm-us/", "title": "When worries overwhelm us", "content_html": "This edition of Prayerline is guest written by Tasia, a student from the InterVarsity Canada undergraduate student group in the University of Ottawa.
\n\u2018This year I have felt more confused and overwhelmed than I am happy to admit. Actually, I lost a lot of my joy and hope for the future. I desperately wish that I could say that my faith was so strong that the trials that came with this year didn\u2019t affect me, but that simply isn\u2019t true. I have spent most of it sad and overwhelmed. I\u2019ve been sad to see the world dividing, with so many people (especially within the church) arguing, and overwhelmed because I couldn\u2019t see a way out. I guess I knew the answer was Jesus, but I was so plagued by the issues that this didn\u2019t reassure me.
\n\u2018While I continued to pray, I stopped being open with God about my fears and worries. I was afraid he couldn\u2019t solve them. I couldn\u2019t bring myself to give it all over to the evermore capable hands of Jesus, because I had lost my faith in his ability to change things. I avoided the issues at all costs, which isolated me.
\n\u2018In my confusion, there was one Bible verse that kept reappearing to me – \u2018come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest\u2019 (Matt 11:28). It had to come up a million times over several months before I really understood, but one night, I heard God tell me these problems are too big for you to carry. Let me take care of them for you. Finally, everything became clear to me. I realized that even with my greatest efforts, I could not resolve problems between my friends and family, let alone in the whole world. So that night, I gave my worries, confusion, and sadness to God, and chose to let him resolve them for me.
\n\u2018The InterVarsity community were understanding and welcoming, encouraging me to stay connected to God, when I wanted to hide away. A leader regularly met with me, in some of the only times I felt I could unload my heavy thoughts. I was scared to bring them up elsewhere. My leader graciously listened to me, offered me unbiased and godly advice, and gave me the freedom to be honest without judgement. When school opened again, I was so encouraged to go to the worship nights and see that I wasn\u2019t the only Christian in the world. It was amazing to see a bunch of young people simply worshiping God, despite the state of the world. It reminded me who God is, and what his promises are for this world. He never leaves us alone.
\n\n\u2018Something began to change in my heart. Now I don\u2019t have that tension in my mind, or that knot in my stomach. I\u2019ve realized that I need to surround myself with other Christians, whose faith and hope in Jesus will encourage me to continue relying on him for everything. This year, I learned that Jesus carries my burdens and fights my battles, and that I need to continuously strive to rest in him.\u2019
Pray for students like Tasia, and the work of InterVarsity:
\nA version of this article was originally published on the InterVarsity Canada blog, which you can visit here.
\nThe post When worries overwhelm us appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "This edition of Prayerline is guest written by Tasia, a student from the InterVarsity Canada undergraduate student group in the University of Ottawa.\n\n\n\n\u2018This year I have felt more confused and overwhelmed than I am happy to admit. Actually, I lost a lot of my joy and hope for the future. I desperately wish that I could say that my faith was so strong that the trials that came with this year didn\u2019t affect me, but that simply isn\u2019t true. I have spent most of it sad and overwhelmed. I\u2019ve been sad to see the world dividing, with so many people (especially within the church) arguing, and overwhelmed because I couldn\u2019t see a way out. I guess I knew the answer was Jesus, but I was so plagued by the issues that this didn\u2019t reassure me.\n\n\n\n\u2018While I continued to pray, I stopped being open with God about my fears and worries. I was afraid he couldn\u2019t solve them. I couldn\u2019t bring myself to give it all over to the evermore capable hands of Jesus, because I had lost my faith in his ability to change things. I avoided the issues at all costs, which isolated me.\n\n\n\n\u2018In my confusion, there was one Bible verse that kept reappearing to me – \u2018come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest\u2019 (Matt 11:28). It had to come up a million times over several months before I really understood, but one night, I heard God tell me these problems are too big for you to carry. Let me take care of them for you. Finally, everything became clear to me. I realized that even with my greatest efforts, I could not resolve problems between my friends and family, let alone in the whole world. So that night, I gave my worries, confusion, and sadness to God, and chose to let him resolve them for me.\n\n\n\n\u2018The InterVarsity community were understanding and welcoming, encouraging me to stay connected to God, when I wanted to hide away. A leader regularly met with me, in some of the only times I felt I could unload my heavy thoughts. I was scared to bring them up elsewhere. My leader graciously listened to me, offered me unbiased and godly advice, and gave me the freedom to be honest without judgement. When school opened again, I was so encouraged to go to the worship nights and see that I wasn\u2019t the only Christian in the world. It was amazing to see a bunch of young people simply worshiping God, despite the state of the world. It reminded me who God is, and what his promises are for this world. He never leaves us alone.\n\n\n\n\u2018Something began to change in my heart. Now I don\u2019t have that tension in my mind, or that knot in my stomach. I\u2019ve realized that I need to surround myself with other Christians, whose faith and hope in Jesus will encourage me to continue relying on him for everything. This year, I learned that Jesus carries my burdens and fights my battles, and that I need to continuously strive to rest in him.\u2019\n\n\n\nPray for students like Tasia, and the work of InterVarsity:\n\n\n\nPray that Tasia would continue to be strengthened, that \u2018out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith\u2019 (Eph 3:16-17).Pray for staff from InterVarsity, that God would continue to work through them to encourage and disciple students.Pray that students everywhere would rest in \u2018the evermore capable hands of Jesus\u2019, giving their fears about the state of the world to him. Pray that God would continue to build students like Tasia into ambassadors for Christ who can make a real difference in the world for his glory.\n\n\n\nA version of this article was originally published on the InterVarsity Canada blog, which you can visit here.\nThe post When worries overwhelm us appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2022-01-18T06:08:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2022-02-11T15:26:13+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" } ], "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/220118-Canada-photo.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=15944", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/williams-decision/", "title": "William\u2019s decision", "content_html": "Have you ever been in a situation where no matter how hard you try, you feel like you will never succeed? That is how William felt as a student during the pandemic. An international student from Cote d\u2019Ivoire, William knew that receiving an education from a Canadian university would improve his prospects for the future\u2014if only he could pass his classes.
\nWilliam was an excellent student. He did his best to complete his coursework on time and with care. Even so, his classmates were creating a challenge. When classes moved online during the pandemic, several students resorted to cheating on their exams to pass their courses. This raised the class average, which drove up the mark needed to pass the course, so many other students started cheating just to be able to pass.
\nJust by keeping his integrity, William\u2019s mark on the midterm had fallen to below average. As a result, he was close to failing. With final exams around the corner, he needed a strong finish to recover his academic standing.
\nHe had a decision to make. He could take his academic career into his own hands by cheating, or he could uphold his values and honor God. It was a tough choice to make, but he did not have to make it alone. William brought his problem before his GBU and was touched by the way they prayed for him, encouraged him, and shared stories of their own difficulties. Strengthened by their fellowship, William decided not to cheat on his final exam. And by the grace of God, he passed.
\n\n\u201cI could not lean on my own abilities. I had no guarantee that I would succeed even by working hard. But I had this assurance that God, who can do everything and who knows everything, could help me get through this situation. I understood as well that if you choose to cheat, you show that you do not trust God. It is as if we put ourselves in God\u2019s place, that we believe that we know better than God. We need to abandon ourselves completely to God in all things.\u201d\u00a0
Students around the world frequently confront situations which test their integrity, in and out of the classroom. Pray with us for students like William who are choosing faith over momentary success.
\nThe post William\u2019s decision appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "Have you ever been in a situation where no matter how hard you try, you feel like you will never succeed? That is how William felt as a student during the pandemic. An international student from Cote d\u2019Ivoire, William knew that receiving an education from a Canadian university would improve his prospects for the future\u2014if only he could pass his classes. \n\n\n\nWilliam was an excellent student. He did his best to complete his coursework on time and with care. Even so, his classmates were creating a challenge. When classes moved online during the pandemic, several students resorted to cheating on their exams to pass their courses. This raised the class average, which drove up the mark needed to pass the course, so many other students started cheating just to be able to pass. \n\n\n\nJust by keeping his integrity, William\u2019s mark on the midterm had fallen to below average. As a result, he was close to failing. With final exams around the corner, he needed a strong finish to recover his academic standing. \n\n\n\nHe had a decision to make. He could take his academic career into his own hands by cheating, or he could uphold his values and honor God. It was a tough choice to make, but he did not have to make it alone. William brought his problem before his GBU and was touched by the way they prayed for him, encouraged him, and shared stories of their own difficulties. Strengthened by their fellowship, William decided not to cheat on his final exam. And by the grace of God, he passed. \n\n\n\n\u201cI could not lean on my own abilities. I had no guarantee that I would succeed even by working hard. But I had this assurance that God, who can do everything and who knows everything, could help me get through this situation. I understood as well that if you choose to cheat, you show that you do not trust God. It is as if we put ourselves in God\u2019s place, that we believe that we know better than God. We need to abandon ourselves completely to God in all things.\u201d\u00a0\n\n\n\nStudents around the world frequently confront situations which test their integrity, in and out of the classroom. Pray with us for students like William who are choosing faith over momentary success. \n\n\n\nPray for students who are taking exams after an unusual study environment due to COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Pray that students will not compromise their own standards\u00a0in order to keep up with the world around them. Pray that God will reveal to them his power to change and guide any circumstance he wants.\u00a0\u00a0Pray for student groups around the world which support and encourage students who must deal with difficult issues on campus.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe post William\u2019s decision appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2021-06-22T05:26:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2021-06-21T10:27:13+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" } ], "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/william.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=15544", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/breaking-fast-together/", "title": "Breaking Fast Together", "content_html": "Ella is a connector. An InterVarsity student from Florida, USA, she lives out what her group studies in the Bible but takes it one step further. She invites other Christians to step into relationships with Muslims, particularly around Ramadan.
\nRamadan is an annual fasting period for Muslims, lasting one month. Muslims break their fast at night, often partaking in large communal feasts, called iftaar. Students and leaders in InterVarsity have found great opportunity in planning \u201cpeace feasts\u201d which bring together Christians and Muslims for an iftaar meal in the evening.
\n\n\u201c[The peace feasts] have strengthened my relationships with Muslim friends. If nothing else, they see that our Christian community loves and cares for them enough to invest the time and resources into preparing a space for them to gather with us and connect meaningfully. It creates the perfect opportunity to invite a friend to continue a conversation, explore a topic in Scripture, or take any other next-step.\u201d
Ella, student, Intervarsity USA
Ella says the feasts also make an impression on Christians who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to make friends with a Muslim.
\n\n\u201cAt my first women\u2019s peace feast, a woman came from my church who was actually nervous because she had little experience with women of this background or with interfaith/intercultural dialogue. Despite this, she engaged with several Muslim women there- particularly with a pair of sisters who said that they wanted to see more of our town but did not know where to go or how to get there. She took them and their mother out for lunch and shopping a few weeks later. She also played tennis with me and several other Muslim women who wanted to learn. It was exciting that the woman who probably felt the most unprepared and equipped had one of the best follow-ups after the gathering.\u201d
Ella, student, Intervarsity USA
Ramadan is happening now and will continue until 12 May. Please pray for the students and leaders like Ella who are creating spaces for Christians to connect with Muslims during this time.
\nThe post Breaking Fast Together appeared first on IFES.
\n", "content_text": "Ella is a connector. An InterVarsity student from Florida, USA, she lives out what her group studies in the Bible but takes it one step further. She invites other Christians to step into relationships with Muslims, particularly around Ramadan. \n\n\n\nRamadan is an annual fasting period for Muslims, lasting one month. Muslims break their fast at night, often partaking in large communal feasts, called iftaar. Students and leaders in InterVarsity have found great opportunity in planning \u201cpeace feasts\u201d which bring together Christians and Muslims for an iftaar meal in the evening. \n\n\n\n\u201c[The peace feasts] have strengthened my relationships with Muslim friends. If nothing else, they see that our Christian community loves and cares for them enough to invest the time and resources into preparing a space for them to gather with us and connect meaningfully. It creates the perfect opportunity to invite a friend to continue a conversation, explore a topic in Scripture, or take any other next-step.\u201d Ella, student, Intervarsity USA \n\n\n\nElla says the feasts also make an impression on Christians who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to make friends with a Muslim. \n\n\n\n\u201cAt my first women\u2019s peace feast, a woman came from my church who was actually nervous because she had little experience with women of this background or with interfaith/intercultural dialogue. Despite this, she engaged with several Muslim women there- particularly with a pair of sisters who said that they wanted to see more of our town but did not know where to go or how to get there. She took them and their mother out for lunch and shopping a few weeks later. She also played tennis with me and several other Muslim women who wanted to learn. It was exciting that the woman who probably felt the most unprepared and equipped had one of the best follow-ups after the gathering.\u201d Ella, student, Intervarsity USA \n\n\n\nRamadan is happening now and will continue until 12 May. Please pray for the students and leaders like Ella who are creating spaces for Christians to connect with Muslims during this time. \n\n\n\nPray that Christian students around the world would find opportunities to engage with their Muslim friends during Ramadan. Many Muslims are particularly open during Ramadan and search for spiritual enlightenment. Pray that spiritual conversations with Christians would inspire Muslim students to reconsider who they think Jesus is. \n\n\n\nPray that Muslim students would feel cared for by their Christian friends during Ramadan. \nThe post Breaking Fast Together appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2021-04-27T06:43:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2021-04-26T17:25:17+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" } ], "author": { "name": "admin", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/3021a3e3433971d777b4933267a9b6db.jpg?ver=1760286604" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/deddy-yoga-pratama-FgN3JKkW3hI-unsplash-scaled.jpg" } ] }