{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://ifesworld.org/en/area/caribbean/feed/json/ -- and add it your reader.", "next_url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/area/caribbean/feed/json/?paged=2", "home_page_url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/area/caribbean/", "feed_url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/area/caribbean/feed/json/", "language": "en-US", "title": "Caribbean Archives · IFES", "description": "A movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. Locally. Nationally. Globally.", "icon": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ifeslogo.png", "items": [ { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=46804", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/heart-meets-vision/", "title": "Heart Meets Vision", "content_html": "
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When Kayley first encountered her local IFES movement \u2013 The Jesus Students, Suriname (JS) \u2013 she was quite young: 

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\u201cI first experienced the joy of student ministry in high school. When I started university, I knew I couldn\u2019t leave that behind!\u201d 

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But it wasn\u2019t that simple: she had no campus group to connect with. Despite JS groups thriving in almost 30 schools, the group at the University of Suriname had ceased some years ago. 

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A Tenacious Vision 

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This was a challenge that troubled Lorain, a JS staff worker. When she\u2019d been a student at the university two decades earlier, she\u2019d been involved in leading JS\u2019s \u201cGroups investigating God\u201d. So, when she returned as staff in 2017, she was deeply disappointed to hear of the group\u2019s demise. 

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In 2020, she hoped to start a group with high school students who graduated that year. But some started work, others went abroad for study, and others weren\u2019t interested. \u201cThe journey wasn\u2019t easy!\u201d, Lorain recalls.  

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But she wasn\u2019t ready to give up. In 2023-2024, under the leadership of a young new JS General Secretary, Lorain met a handful of promising high school students \u2013 including Kayley. \u202f\u00a0

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A Willing Heart 

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And Kayley was ready to give it a try: 

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\u201cI started as a small group leader at the campus not knowing what would come of it but trusting that God wanted his light to shine here, too. It hasn\u2019t been easy, but we\u2019ve seen him work, drawing together students across faculties and deepening our faith.\u201d 

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Kayley heads up the group in the Law Faculty, while two of her peers started groups in the Social Sciences and Technical Faculties. 

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Since then, those two groups have merged due to one leader stepping down \u2013 an indication of how challenging the role is. Lorain comments: \u201cI have to say, the work on campus is not for the weak! But Kayley is indeed brave. She is really holding on.\u201d 

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Hearty Resilience and Visionary Results 

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In addition to the general pressures of student life \u2013 like stress, the negative impact of social media, poor self-esteem, and poverty \u2013 the student leaders are also pressed for time. It\u2019s been hard for them to find opportunities to physically meet together, so next year many meetings will take place online.   

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Nevertheless, the coming together of heart and vision is enabling ministry to flourish \u2013 students are now leading groups weekly, offering prayer for students before exams, handing out Bible verses with candy, and even participating in a new podcast. 

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Pray 

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To learn more about high school ministry across IFES movements, keep an eye out for the next Conexi\u00f3n blog, due 3 July.

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The post Heart Meets Vision appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "When Kayley first encountered her local IFES movement \u2013 The Jesus Students, Suriname (JS) \u2013 she was quite young: \n\n\n\n\u201cI first experienced the joy of student ministry in high school. When I started university, I knew I couldn\u2019t leave that behind!\u201d \n\n\n\nBut it wasn\u2019t that simple: she had no campus group to connect with. Despite JS groups thriving in almost 30 schools, the group at the University of Suriname had ceased some years ago. \n\n\n\nA Tenacious Vision \n\n\n\nThis was a challenge that troubled Lorain, a JS staff worker. When she\u2019d been a student at the university two decades earlier, she\u2019d been involved in leading JS\u2019s \u201cGroups investigating God\u201d. So, when she returned as staff in 2017, she was deeply disappointed to hear of the group\u2019s demise. \n\n\n\nIn 2020, she hoped to start a group with high school students who graduated that year. But some started work, others went abroad for study, and others weren\u2019t interested. \u201cThe journey wasn\u2019t easy!\u201d, Lorain recalls.  \n\n\n\nBut she wasn\u2019t ready to give up. In 2023-2024, under the leadership of a young new JS General Secretary, Lorain met a handful of promising high school students \u2013 including Kayley. \u202f\u00a0\n\n\n\nA Willing Heart \n\n\n\nAnd Kayley was ready to give it a try: \n\n\n\n\u201cI started as a small group leader at the campus not knowing what would come of it but trusting that God wanted his light to shine here, too. It hasn\u2019t been easy, but we\u2019ve seen him work, drawing together students across faculties and deepening our faith.\u201d \n\n\n\nKayley heads up the group in the Law Faculty, while two of her peers started groups in the Social Sciences and Technical Faculties. \n\n\n\nSince then, those two groups have merged due to one leader stepping down \u2013 an indication of how challenging the role is. Lorain comments: \u201cI have to say, the work on campus is not for the weak! But Kayley is indeed brave. She is really holding on.\u201d \n\n\n\nHearty Resilience and Visionary Results \n\n\n\nIn addition to the general pressures of student life \u2013 like stress, the negative impact of social media, poor self-esteem, and poverty \u2013 the student leaders are also pressed for time. It\u2019s been hard for them to find opportunities to physically meet together, so next year many meetings will take place online.   \n\n\n\nNevertheless, the coming together of heart and vision is enabling ministry to flourish \u2013 students are now leading groups weekly, offering prayer for students before exams, handing out Bible verses with candy, and even participating in a new podcast. \n\n\n\nPray \n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for JS ministry in schools, for the way God brought together Kayley and Lorain, and for their faithfulness in the face of many challenges. \n\n\n\n\n\nThey ask for courage and strength to continue the mission and would like us to \u201cpray for the university students \u2013 that God will open and soften their hearts for his Word so that they will have the opportunity to personally encounter Christ as Saviour.\u201d \n\n\n\n\n\nPray that the Lord will provide more leaders who are willing and able to be trained to continue these groups and start others \u2013 especially for the new academic year at the beginning of October. \n\n\n\n\nTo learn more about high school ministry across IFES movements, keep an eye out for the next Conexi\u00f3n blog, due 3 July.\nThe post Heart Meets Vision appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-06-24T10:46:53+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-07-02T15:43:03+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Bryn Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/bryn-rickards/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/8672abde7ce0c7ed71f1b1cc3ec261a2.jpg?ver=1760274006" } ], "author": { "name": "Bryn Rickards", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/bryn-rickards/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/8672abde7ce0c7ed71f1b1cc3ec261a2.jpg?ver=1760274006" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JS-3.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=conexion&p=46149", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/blog/meeting-gen-z-students-worldwide/", "title": "MEETING GEN Z STUDENTS WORLDWIDE\u00a0", "content_html": "
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They are today\u2019s and tomorrow\u2019s university students: Generation Z (Gen Z). Born in the period 1997-2012, they form the world\u2019s largest single generation \u2013 around one third of its population.  

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

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

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GLOBAL TRENDS?   

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

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

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

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1: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Digital Generation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2: Gen Z Students \u2013 A More Aware Generation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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4: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Spiritually Open Generation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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REACHING GEN Z STUDENTS TOGETHER 

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

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

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

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

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WHAT\u2019S YOUR VIEW? 

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Do these four features resonate with your experience and context?

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

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Share your thoughts with us at hello@ifesworld.org 

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

\n", "content_text": "They are today\u2019s and tomorrow\u2019s university students: Generation Z (Gen Z). Born in the period 1997-2012, they form the world\u2019s largest single generation \u2013 around one third of its population.  \n\n\n\nIn western societies, this distinctive demographic has been thoroughly analysed. And Christian ministries \u2013 including IFES movements like InterVarsity USA \u2013 have tailored their outreach and discipleship accordingly. Later this year, UCCF Great Britain will launch a new version of Uncover Luke that\u2019s aimed at appealing to this generation\u2019s longing for beauty and transcendence. \n\n\n\nHowever, the vast majority of Gen Z students do not live in the west. In her talk \u201cEquipping Gen Z for Missional Living\u201d, Denise Margaret Thompson notes that a quarter of Gen Zers live in South Asia, with India’s cohort nearly three times that of all of Europe\u2019s.  \n\n\n\nGLOBAL TRENDS?   \n\n\n\nIn response to this, IFES has been eagerly exploring whether trends associated with Gen Z are apparent across our global fellowship. If they are, huge potential exists for collaborative ministry and mission among Gen Z students.  \n\n\n\nSo, last year, Peter Dray (formerly Director of Creative Evangelism at UCCF Great Britain) was commissioned to investigate. Through in-depth interviews and focus groups he\u2019s spoken to Gen Z students and staff in national movements from four IFES world regions.  \n\n\n\nIn this blog, he reflects on his field notes and identifies four global Gen Z characteristics that are significant for life and faith. \n\n\n\n1: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Digital Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn my travels, it felt like smartphones were everywhere, and especially on university campuses!  \n\n\n\nGen Z spends a huge amount of time online \u2013 communicating, watching videos, and handling everyday tasks on their phones \u2013 perhaps all at the same time. Some Singaporean students proudly told me how they were now experts in multi-tasking! \n\n\n\n\nDigital immersion means that Gen Z has vast amounts of information at its fingertips \u2013 far more than previous generations did.\n\n\n\n This is especially noticeable in lower-income countries, where mobile internet coverage has boomed. I was moved by interviewees who shared about their easy access to theological resources that their parents never had. \n\n\n\nPractically, Gen Zers can learn skills, make friends, and earn money in ways previous generations couldn’t \u2013 with many having a new sense of drive and entrepreneurialism. One student in rural Kenya shared how he’s paying for his education by selling photos (taken on his phone) to clients around the world.  \n\n\n\nDigital technologies seem to be encouraging greater individuality, immediacy, and spontaneity. \n\n\n\n\nMany people I talked to hate phone calls or long texts, preferring to communicate using short messages, GIFs, and stickers. This leads Gen Zers to communicate informally, even with older people or those in authority \u2013 a sign of their preference for flatter organisational structures that can hold leaders to account.  \n\n\n\nSocialising habits are changing too. Gen Zers prioritise time by themselves, even in countries with a historically communitarian mindset. They find waiting difficult, leading them to spur-of-the-moment decisions with a short-term focus. One student told me he’d rather buy single sachets of hot chocolate than a whole jar. He knew it cost more overall but preferred that it was less upfront! \n\n\n\nMany interviewees also talked about the dark side of constant connection and easy internet access. Online gambling is attractive to students desperate for quick cash, the use of porn is common, and plagiarism is tempting. Several interviewees shared struggles with gaming addiction. Students in lower-income countries seem especially vulnerable and in need of guidance \u2013 the sudden tech explosion has clearly caught parents and churches off guard. \n\n\n\nMany also felt overwhelmed by the complexity of digital life. Being ‘always on’ takes a toll. One student, who generally appreciates digital tech, said that, for Gen Z, life requires constant effort, with little mental downtime. He said that Christians could never afford to reduce their level of vigilance \u2013 meaning not only the temptations above but also the tug towards hours of endless scrolling. \n\n\n\n\nHe summed up what many felt: that constant connection is bringing Gen Z students a unique psychological burden, leaving them feeling mentally and emotionally drained. \n\n\n\n\n2: Gen Z Students \u2013 A More Aware Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis rise in easy access to internet technologies has been accompanied by increased personal mobility and swift urbanisation, especially in Africa and Asia. Gen Z students are widely exposed to people and ideas from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.\n\n\n\n This can create a \u2018shared vernacular\u2019 \u2013 one American staff member in the Middle East said a local student \u201ctalks just like my 18-year-old sister\u201d. It’s also causing Gen Z to dress more alike, no matter where they’re from.\n\n\n\n\nIn some places, exposure to people from other cultures is prompting Gen Zers to question deep-rooted assumptions. In Kenya, for example, those who have built relationships with those beyond their tribes find that tribal identity is less important to them than it is to their parents. Many have never learned their tribal language; some only use their English names. This sense of having \u2018more in common\u2019 is driving young Kenyans to unite in political activism, most notably in the so-called \u2018Gen Z protests\u2019 against the government in July 2024. \n\n\n\nIn some lower-income countries, the greater awareness brought about by digital technologies has exaggerated the generational gap. \u201cOur parents knew a lot about a little,\u201d one Gen Z student told me, \u201cbut we know a little about a lot.\u201d Some expressed frustration that their parents (and churches) couldn\u2019t handle questions they had from content they\u2019d seen online. The danger of blindly accepting answers offered by search engines, AI, or influencers was apparent. \n\n\n\nIn Ireland, I met a Gen Z volunteer whose experience illustrates how his cultural awareness has grown due to global mobility. He grew up in a homogeneous area and had no cross-cultural training. Yet at university, he met people from a range of nations and backgrounds. On one occasion, he met waiters from Sudan, greeting them with some Arabic phrases he’d picked up. He then impressed them with facts he\u2019d learned about Sudan (including that it has more pyramids than Egypt!). This cultural awareness created an instant connection, opening doors for meaningful conversation. \n\n\n\nDespite greater general awareness, it would be misleading to suggest that cross-cultural engagement is common. In many countries, students still mostly hang out with others from their own ethnic background. Students who’ve made friends beyond their ethnic group have often been challenged to do so or seen it modelled by others \u2013 very often by staff from local IFES movements.\n\n\n\n\nBut the opportunity for cross-cultural friendship, personal growth, and gospel ministry \u2013 both as students and later as graduates \u2013 is bigger than ever. \n\n\n\n\n3: Gen Z Students \u2013 The Post-Pandemic Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor Generation Z, the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly significant. As lockdowns swept the globe, most Gen Zers were in their teens \u2013 a vital stage in their development.  \n\n\n\n\nPeople I interviewed had mixed feelings about the pandemic. Some \u2013 often feeling quite guilty about it \u2013 admitted they actually enjoyed lockdown, especially if their families weren’t financially struggling. \n\n\n\nMany felt relieved about school being cancelled or not having to take exams! Quite a few talked about times of deep sadness, particularly if they lost loved ones or if their family faced money problems. Others were frustrated that they were still students, especially if they had to put their education on hold during the pandemic. \n\n\n\n\nLockdowns magnified and sped up the cultural trends described above. Families or individuals who didn’t have smartphones obtained them for the first time, while those who already had them spent much more time online. Around the world, many Gen Zers clearly felt incredibly lonely and without purpose, with only the internet for company. Once again, this appears to have been most acutely experienced in lower-income countries, especially among those who had recently moved to the city and felt uprooted from their traditional support networks. \n\n\n\n\nThe pandemic has made Gen Z students much more aware of mental health issues. Even in countries where mental illness is still somewhat taboo, students openly discussed struggles they’d seen in themselves and others.\n\n\n\n\n In Timor-Leste, the local staff who translated my interviews were shocked to discover how central this topic was in their students’ thinking. In some cases, Gen Zers\u2019 familiarity with mental struggles and their experience of human vulnerability seems to have weakened their resilience.  \n\n\n\nIn Singapore, local staff noted that lockdowns had impaired students\u2019 social skills, with fewer students feeling comfortable to meet or talk with an outside speaker before a meeting. Staff also noticed that students seem less confident in their own opinions \u2013 for example group leaders might send out online surveys to members to get reassurance on even small decisions. \n\n\n\nAlthough many Christian students I talked to are actively sharing their faith, they often lack confidence. That can be related to the gospel itself (especially when faced with the new questions asked by friends) or their ability to explain it well. \n\n\n\n4: Gen Z Students \u2013 A Spiritually Open Generation\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn every country, Gen Zers told me that their generation is more willing to change their beliefs than their parents were. In places where Christians have been the majority, Gen Z is now exposed to a range of new beliefs and voices. Questions about the compatibility of science and Christianity, for example, are being more widely expressed among Gen Zers in Kenya than ever before. They consider their parents\u2019 ignorance to this issue both frustrating and na\u00efve.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPeople I interviewed in every country also talked about the challenges Christians face around gender and sexuality. In many countries \u2013 including lower-income countries \u2013 new age spiritualities (like \u2018manifesting\u2019) are becoming popular. Christian Gen Zers are particularly vulnerable to new intellectual and personal doubts. \n\n\n\nThis openness to reconsider beliefs is also noticeable among those outside the church.  \n\n\n\n\nIn Timor-Leste, Gen Z students are more likely to seek modern medical care than visit a traditional healer. \n\n\n\nThey’re more generally willing to question the animistic and nominal Roman Catholic beliefs that have historically dominated their nation. Some Timorese Gen Zers have been drawn to evangelical churches and student groups because they had first watched evangelical worship online.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn the Middle East, staff described how internet use has made Muslim students more aware and curious about Christianity than they were even just a few years ago. Some are now more open to studying the Bible or experiencing Christian friendship. \n\n\n\nIn my own country, the United Kingdom \u2013 and in other countries across Europe and North America \u2013 surveys indicate that Gen Z is interested in spirituality and religion. The challenge is that Gen Zers are not just open to Christianity or to Jesus \u2013 they’re open to almost everything, often exploring multiple paths at the same time.  \n\n\n\n\nTo stay faithful in a world with so many competing beliefs, Gen Z needs to know that Jesus is unique and that faith in him makes real sense. \n\n\n\n\nREACHING GEN Z STUDENTS TOGETHER \n\n\n\n\nThese four recurrent themes have shown me that similar approaches can be taken to the reaching and discipling of Gen Z students worldwide, while also allowing for local variations. \n\n\n\nMy investigations have also caused me to reflect on how IFES movements throughout their histories have, at their best, shown an amazing ability to help students understand how the gospel connects to their cultural moment \u2013 and that this is just as needed today. \n\n\n\n\nSo, let’s explore how we can work together, seeking God’s wisdom, as we reimagine this task for a generation that\u2019s digitally immersed, globally connected, pandemic-affected, and spiritually open. \n\n\n\nThese field notes will be followed by a full report later in the year \u2013 stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp channels for more information. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nWHAT\u2019S YOUR VIEW? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDo these four features resonate with your experience and context? \n\n\n\nWe\u2019d love to hear your observations on Gen Z from where you are. \n\n\n\nShare your thoughts with us at hello@ifesworld.org \n\n\n\n\n \n \n SHARE NOW \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n IFES CONNECT \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nThe post MEETING GEN Z STUDENTS WORLDWIDE\u00a0 appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-05-08T16:09:35+01:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-07T13:25:33+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/0-banner-pete-in-kenya-scaled.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=45009", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/rising-above-the-ruins/", "title": "Rising above the Ruins", "content_html": "
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\u201cOur country is knowing a deeply difficult period in its history. It’s amid dire challenges that we\u2019re providing ministry. But we continue our work, training students to lead small groups and share the good news of Christ in our universities.\u201d 

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Descheny Laurent, staff in the IFES movement in Haiti (GBEUH), is determined to serve despite the devastating violence of recent months. 

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Ruined 

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Last year, Haiti\u2019s political instability and humanitarian challenges gravely worsened. Armed groups stormed prisons, set free thousands of gang members, and took control of large parts of the capital (Port-au-Prince) and the surrounding areas.  

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Since then, over 5,000 people have been killed and around one million displaced. Nearly half the population face acute food insecurity, and hospitals and schools are severely incapacitated. 

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Descheny shares how this has impacted them: 

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\u201cWe are deeply affected by the ongoing security crisis, particularly in Port-au-Prince, where many of our groups gathered. It\u2019s become very difficult to have a normal academic year. Exam periods are often rescheduled multiple times. All this has prevented students from holding weekly meetings in person.\u201d 

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Rising Above 

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But they haven\u2019t given up. The team now facilitates online Bible studies and leads discussions on how faith relates to the immediate and wider challenges they face. 

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Marc Pulvar, IFES Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, says: 

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\u201cDoing student ministry in Haiti means building and rebuilding in relentless adversity. Faced with severe economic hardship, pervasive social challenges, and a dangerous security situation, student leaders are persevering despite the odds. Even in these harsh conditions, there is a deep commitment to serve the campuses in their country.\u201d    

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Ony Pierre-Louis, studying social work, shares how GBEUH has helped him: 

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\u201cI\u2019ve gained a better understanding of God’s character and his plan for us as his creatures. And I love using the Bible study method I\u2019ve learned with the young people in my group at church.\u201d 

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As an expression of solidarity with what is now the poorest nation in the Americas, the IFES Caribbean team dedicated last November\u2019s Gift Week to raising funds for GBEUH Haiti \u2013 for outreach activities, office equipment, and staff salary. One of the regional team said: 

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\u201cThe \u2018Let us Rise up and Rebuild\u2019 Gift Week highlighted that support for student ministry in Haiti needs to be more than just facilitating \u2018spiritual growth\u2019. It\u2019s also about rebuilding lives, supporting communities, and holding out the hope of Christ.\u201d 

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Pray 

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The post Rising above the Ruins appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "\u201cOur country is knowing a deeply difficult period in its history. It’s amid dire challenges that we\u2019re providing ministry. But we continue our work, training students to lead small groups and share the good news of Christ in our universities.\u201d \n\n\n\nDescheny Laurent, staff in the IFES movement in Haiti (GBEUH), is determined to serve despite the devastating violence of recent months. \n\n\n\nRuined \n\n\n\nLast year, Haiti\u2019s political instability and humanitarian challenges gravely worsened. Armed groups stormed prisons, set free thousands of gang members, and took control of large parts of the capital (Port-au-Prince) and the surrounding areas.  \n\n\n\nSince then, over 5,000 people have been killed and around one million displaced. Nearly half the population face acute food insecurity, and hospitals and schools are severely incapacitated. \n\n\n\nDescheny shares how this has impacted them: \n\n\n\n\u201cWe are deeply affected by the ongoing security crisis, particularly in Port-au-Prince, where many of our groups gathered. It\u2019s become very difficult to have a normal academic year. Exam periods are often rescheduled multiple times. All this has prevented students from holding weekly meetings in person.\u201d \n\n\n\nRising Above \n\n\n\nBut they haven\u2019t given up. The team now facilitates online Bible studies and leads discussions on how faith relates to the immediate and wider challenges they face. \n\n\n\nMarc Pulvar, IFES Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, says: \n\n\n\n\u201cDoing student ministry in Haiti means building and rebuilding in relentless adversity. Faced with severe economic hardship, pervasive social challenges, and a dangerous security situation, student leaders are persevering despite the odds. Even in these harsh conditions, there is a deep commitment to serve the campuses in their country.\u201d    \n\n\n\nOny Pierre-Louis, studying social work, shares how GBEUH has helped him: \n\n\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve gained a better understanding of God’s character and his plan for us as his creatures. And I love using the Bible study method I\u2019ve learned with the young people in my group at church.\u201d \n\n\n\nAs an expression of solidarity with what is now the poorest nation in the Americas, the IFES Caribbean team dedicated last November\u2019s Gift Week to raising funds for GBEUH Haiti \u2013 for outreach activities, office equipment, and staff salary. One of the regional team said: \n\n\n\n\u201cThe \u2018Let us Rise up and Rebuild\u2019 Gift Week highlighted that support for student ministry in Haiti needs to be more than just facilitating \u2018spiritual growth\u2019. It\u2019s also about rebuilding lives, supporting communities, and holding out the hope of Christ.\u201d \n\n\n\nPray \n\n\n\n\nWill you pray in faith for a breakthrough in 2025? Ask \u2013 that the Father will bring an end to the fear and violence. Seek \u2013 that Christ\u2019s peace and justice will prevail. Knock \u2013 that the doors of heaven will be opened with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.    \n\n\n\n\n\nPray for Descheny and the students in GBEUH \u2013 that the Lord will protect, strengthen, and guide them so that their dedicated, hopeful witness will touch lives and communities.    \n\n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for those who generously supported the IFES Caribbean Gift Week. Ask the Lord to provide all the resources staff and students need \u2013 for living and ministry. And pray for wisdom for the IFES Caribbean team as it seeks to encourage and support them.\n\nThe post Rising above the Ruins appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2025-02-18T08:00:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-02-18T16:14:31+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Haiti-group-pic-could-be-banner.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=41370", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/a-life-changing-choice-caribbean/", "title": "A life-changing choice", "content_html": "
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It must have felt ironic for Yahel, a young student in French Guiana.

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He\u2019d been looking forward to joining the IFES Caribbean camp in Martinique, with its theme \u201cResist or succumb? The choice is yours\u201d. But his flight was cancelled. Twice. With the camp now already underway, he was facing a difficult decision: was there any point still going?

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The Immediate Choice

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As he stood at the airport desk, he was offered two options. He could wait two days for the next direct flight, leaving him with just two days at the five-day camp. Or he could fly that day via Paris, with an eight-hour layover, giving him three days at camp. He resisted the temptation to despair and give up; he chose to leave immediately, even though it meant travelling thousands of miles:

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\u201cIt was very hard \u2013 physically and mentally. My patience was stretched to its limit. But I held out. I was convinced that it would be worth it.\u201d

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One of the main attractions for Yahel was to meet other students from the French-speaking Caribbean. Due to the region\u2019s geography and limited transport links, they have few opportunities to connect with each other. The camp brought together 57 high school and university students from IFES movements in Martinique, French Guiana, and Guadeloupe. Yahel wasn\u2019t disappointed:

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\u201cArriving two days late, I was quite apprehensive. But as soon as I met the guys in my room, we bonded.\u201d

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Ongoing Choices

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Another reason Yahel wanted to take part in the camp was its theme: \u201cit speaks to our generation!\u201d

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Jean-Davy Frair, IFES Coordinator for the French-Speaking Caribbean, was one of the main organisers of the camp. He says they picked the theme of resisting or succumbing to temptation because it was so relevant to the needs of their young people, many of whom face pressures related to drugs, sex, alcohol, and social trends.

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By engaging with Scripture, the students considered the origins of temptation (James 1), examples of succumbing to it (Genesis 3) and resisting it (Matthew 4), as well as the choice involved (Genesis 4). They heard talks, inductively studied the texts, and explored the Word through acting and drawing.

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The Greatest Choice

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\u201cEven though I arrived late, the camp gave me so much \u2013 meeting other young Christians, studying the Word. And I also chose to accept Christ into my life! This is the start of something big.\u201d

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Yahel\u2019s brave choice at the airport desk changed his life.

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Pray

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The post A life-changing choice appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "It must have felt ironic for Yahel, a young student in French Guiana.\n\n\n\nHe\u2019d been looking forward to joining the IFES Caribbean camp in Martinique, with its theme \u201cResist or succumb? The choice is yours\u201d. But his flight was cancelled. Twice. With the camp now already underway, he was facing a difficult decision: was there any point still going?\n\n\n\n\n\n The Immediate Choice \n\n\n\nAs he stood at the airport desk, he was offered two options. He could wait two days for the next direct flight, leaving him with just two days at the five-day camp. Or he could fly that day via Paris, with an eight-hour layover, giving him three days at camp. He resisted the temptation to despair and give up; he chose to leave immediately, even though it meant travelling thousands of miles:\n\n\n\n\n\u201cIt was very hard \u2013 physically and mentally. My patience was stretched to its limit. But I held out. I was convinced that it would be worth it.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nOne of the main attractions for Yahel was to meet other students from the French-speaking Caribbean. Due to the region\u2019s geography and limited transport links, they have few opportunities to connect with each other. The camp brought together 57 high school and university students from IFES movements in Martinique, French Guiana, and Guadeloupe. Yahel wasn\u2019t disappointed:\n\n\n\n\n\u201cArriving two days late, I was quite apprehensive. But as soon as I met the guys in my room, we bonded.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Ongoing Choices \n\n\n\nAnother reason Yahel wanted to take part in the camp was its theme: \u201cit speaks to our generation!\u201d\n\n\n\nJean-Davy Frair, IFES Coordinator for the French-Speaking Caribbean, was one of the main organisers of the camp. He says they picked the theme of resisting or succumbing to temptation because it was so relevant to the needs of their young people, many of whom face pressures related to drugs, sex, alcohol, and social trends.\n\n\n\nBy engaging with Scripture, the students considered the origins of temptation (James 1), examples of succumbing to it (Genesis 3) and resisting it (Matthew 4), as well as the choice involved (Genesis 4). They heard talks, inductively studied the texts, and explored the Word through acting and drawing.\n\n\n\nThe Greatest Choice\n\n\n\n\n\u201cEven though I arrived late, the camp gave me so much \u2013 meeting other young Christians, studying the Word. And I also chose to accept Christ into my life! This is the start of something big.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nYahel\u2019s brave choice at the airport desk changed his life.\n\n\n\nPray\n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for the French-speaking camp in Martinique \u2013 for the friendships forged among the three movements and for the deeper understanding of Scripture. Pray that God will strengthen Yahel and his peers, helping them to choose to resist the temptations they face.\n\n\n\nPray for those at the camp who learned how to run Bible studies \u2013 that they will know the Holy Spirit\u2019s guidance as they lead groups in their schools and universities in September.\n\n\n\nGive thanks that despite the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in June, the in-person element of this year\u2019s inaugural IFES Caribbean Academy could go ahead (10-16 August in Trinidad). Pray that this leadership training program will prove instrumental in equipping godly students and staff across the region\u2019s 20 movements.\n\nThe post A life-changing choice appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-08-20T04:24:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2024-08-20T14:43:56+01:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Roja Jacob", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/roja-jacob/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/270fe6ae830fb4ad45dd518c8013666f.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CARIFES-Martinique-camp-all-students-Copy.png" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=34636", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/stepping-back-to-move-forward/", "title": "Stepping back to move forward", "content_html": "
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\u201cIt seemed like we were grasping at straws. We were praying and pursuing all our leads, but without any progress. I felt a real burden for the place, but I realised that we couldn\u2019t force it. We needed to take a step back and ask God to show us the way forward.\u201d

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And God did.

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With the IFES Caribbean (CARIFES) team, Kerwin Stuart, Associate Regional Secretary, was attempting to re-start student ministry on the island of Antigua. Many years ago, ministry was planted there as the Inter-School and Colleges Christian Fellowship (ISCCF). But when several key people, including some good board members, stepped away from their roles about five years ago, ISCCF activities died out.

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Over the last few years, Kerwin connected with some graduates and pastors who seemed to share his heart for campus ministry. But these promising developments all abruptly ended. Kerwin was \u201cperplexed but not in despair\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:8): \u201cwe continued seeking God\u2019s direction, asking him to lead us to the right people and show us where he\u2019s at work\u201d.

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And that\u2019s when Darlene made contact.

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She is the youth director at a local church and a lecturer at Antigua State College \u2013 and she\u2019d experienced IFES ministry as a student. Darlene wanted to let Kerwin know that she\u2019d started meeting with a few students from the college to read the Bible and pray together. The \u201csmall group\u201d is now consistently attracting 20-30 students each week.

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Prayers answered.

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Kerwin will soon lead an orientation on IFES and student-led ministry. The CARIFES team also hope that one or two of the Antiguan students may be able to attend this year\u2019s inaugural CARIFES Academy. This will not only give the students skills in leadership but also expose them to the region\u2019s rich network of national movements.

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For Kerwin, the frustrated efforts and persistent prayers highlight \u201cthe gift of getting aligned with God\u2019s plans\u201d. But the story also points to the vulnerability of ministry on the Caribbean islands \u2013 due partly to geographical distances and transient student populations. In recent years, several movements have needed \u201cre-pioneering\u201d or revitalizing, including St Martin and Martinique. Watch out for more details about pioneering in the Caribbean as we approach this year\u2019s Global Giving Day: Into All the World.

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For today, let\u2019s pray for staff and students in Antigua and the Caribbean:

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The post Stepping back to move forward appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "\u201cIt seemed like we were grasping at straws. We were praying and pursuing all our leads, but without any progress. I felt a real burden for the place, but I realised that we couldn\u2019t force it. We needed to take a step back and ask God to show us the way forward.\u201d\n\n\n\nAnd God did.\n\n\n\nWith the IFES Caribbean (CARIFES) team, Kerwin Stuart, Associate Regional Secretary, was attempting to re-start student ministry on the island of Antigua. Many years ago, ministry was planted there as the Inter-School and Colleges Christian Fellowship (ISCCF). But when several key people, including some good board members, stepped away from their roles about five years ago, ISCCF activities died out.\n\n\n\nOver the last few years, Kerwin connected with some graduates and pastors who seemed to share his heart for campus ministry. But these promising developments all abruptly ended. Kerwin was \u201cperplexed but not in despair\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:8): \u201cwe continued seeking God\u2019s direction, asking him to lead us to the right people and show us where he\u2019s at work\u201d.\n\n\n\nAnd that\u2019s when Darlene made contact.\n\n\n\nShe is the youth director at a local church and a lecturer at Antigua State College \u2013 and she\u2019d experienced IFES ministry as a student. Darlene wanted to let Kerwin know that she\u2019d started meeting with a few students from the college to read the Bible and pray together. The \u201csmall group\u201d is now consistently attracting 20-30 students each week.\n\n\n\nPrayers answered.\n\n\n\nKerwin will soon lead an orientation on IFES and student-led ministry. The CARIFES team also hope that one or two of the Antiguan students may be able to attend this year\u2019s inaugural CARIFES Academy. This will not only give the students skills in leadership but also expose them to the region\u2019s rich network of national movements.\n\n\n\nFor Kerwin, the frustrated efforts and persistent prayers highlight \u201cthe gift of getting aligned with God\u2019s plans\u201d. But the story also points to the vulnerability of ministry on the Caribbean islands \u2013 due partly to geographical distances and transient student populations. In recent years, several movements have needed \u201cre-pioneering\u201d or revitalizing, including St Martin and Martinique. Watch out for more details about pioneering in the Caribbean as we approach this year\u2019s Global Giving Day: Into All the World.\n\n\n\nFor today, let\u2019s pray for staff and students in Antigua and the Caribbean:\n\n\n\n\nGive thanks for the tenacious faith of the CARIFES team and God\u2019s work through Darlene; pray for good relations and a common vision as they help this fledgling group become established.\n\n\n\nPray for the Antigua State College students attending \u2013 that they will flourish together in their faith and be strengthened in their witness.\n\n\n\nAsk the Lord to lead the CARIFES team towards the right student(s) to participate in the CARIFES Academy \u2013 and pray that these potential leaders will have a formative experience with lasting impact.\n\nThe post Stepping back to move forward appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2024-03-05T09:30:51+00:00", "date_modified": "2024-03-05T09:37:53+00:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" } ], "author": { "name": "Tim.Boland", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/author/tim-boland/", "avatar": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/litespeed/avatar/2021787e4b2a866a6efcc474e3c84514.jpg?ver=1760274904" }, "image": "https://ifesworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Antigua-State-College-2-mod.jpeg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=27799", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/a-call-to-pray-for-mahdia/", "title": "A call to pray for Mahdia", "content_html": "
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This week\u2019s Prayerline is a modified version of an update originally shared in the 8 June edition of the CARIFES Prayer Bulletin. To receive the CARIFES Prayer Bulletin, sign up here. 

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On 21 May, the Caribbean region was shaken by the devastating news of a fire that broke out in the girls\u2019 dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School in Guyana. The fire claimed the lives of at least 19 children and injured several others.  

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This extraordinary tragedy has deeply saddened IS/IVCF Guyana, the Guyanese people, and the IFES fellowship in the region. Since the fire, the national movement has been working with staff and contacts from the Mahdia area, including a pastor from the area who has offered a home and given initial guidance regarding immediate needs. The CARIFES regional team has been active in reaching out and offering all possible support to the national movement. 

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IS/IVCF Guyana has sent a team to Mahdia for a five-day trip, during which they supported and served the residents in several ways. While in Mahdia, the IS/IVCF team hoped to make new connections and have a lasting impact. They have shared a full report in their own prayer newsletter here. 

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Pray for IS/IVCF Guyana & the town of Mahdia: 

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  1. Pray for the bereaved relatives of the 20 children who perished in the fire. Pray for all who are grieving, that they may find comfort and peace, and that they may also find God in the process. 
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  1. Pray for IS/IVCF Guyana as they continue to grieve and offer practical aid after the fire, and pray for the CARIFES regional team as they stand with the national movement at this time. 
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  1. Thank God for opening doors during the IS/IVCF visit to Mahdia. Pray that God will continue to grow relationships that were strengthened or started in the recent visit team visit.  
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The post A call to pray for Mahdia appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "This week\u2019s Prayerline is a modified version of an update originally shared in the 8 June edition of the CARIFES Prayer Bulletin. To receive the CARIFES Prayer Bulletin, sign up here. \n\n\n\nOn 21 May, the Caribbean region was shaken by the devastating news of a fire that broke out in the girls\u2019 dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary School in Guyana. The fire claimed the lives of at least 19 children and injured several others.  \n\n\n\nThis extraordinary tragedy has deeply saddened IS/IVCF Guyana, the Guyanese people, and the IFES fellowship in the region. Since the fire, the national movement has been working with staff and contacts from the Mahdia area, including a pastor from the area who has offered a home and given initial guidance regarding immediate needs. The CARIFES regional team has been active in reaching out and offering all possible support to the national movement. \n\n\n\nIS/IVCF Guyana has sent a team to Mahdia for a five-day trip, during which they supported and served the residents in several ways. While in Mahdia, the IS/IVCF team hoped to make new connections and have a lasting impact. They have shared a full report in their own prayer newsletter here. \n\n\n\nPray for IS/IVCF Guyana & the town of Mahdia: \n\n\n\n\nPray for the bereaved relatives of the 20 children who perished in the fire. Pray for all who are grieving, that they may find comfort and peace, and that they may also find God in the process. \n\n\n\n\n\nPray for IS/IVCF Guyana as they continue to grieve and offer practical aid after the fire, and pray for the CARIFES regional team as they stand with the national movement at this time. \n\n\n\n\n\nThank God for opening doors during the IS/IVCF visit to Mahdia. Pray that God will continue to grow relationships that were strengthened or started in the recent visit team visit.  \n\nThe post A call to pray for Mahdia appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2023-06-27T10:17:59+01:00", "date_modified": "2023-06-27T10:18:01+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/2023/06/Screenshot-2023-06-27-at-10.16.19.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=21522", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/latavia-leaves-home/", "title": "Latavia leaves home", "content_html": "
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\u201cPray for the Cayman Islands \u2013 please send workers\u201d. 

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Latavia, an experienced staff worker with ISCF, the student movement in Jamaica, had been praying for a new opportunity to serve overseas. When she saw this message posted during an online ISCF event, she wondered if she had found her answer.  

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After a few months, Latavia\u2019s calling to the Cayman Islands was confirmed when God gave her a dream about the landscape and geography of the island of Grand Cayman \u2013 even though she had never been there. This was also confirmed through a prophetic word from her Pastor. In June, she moved to the island as the first IS/IVCF Cayman Islands staff worker to be fully employed directly by the ministry.  

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A new place always brings new challenges. \u201cCayman is a Christian nation like Jamaica, and because I was only going to be supervising seven schools, to be honest, I expected it to be easier\u201d. In Jamaica, Latavia had personally overseen ministry in close to 100 schools and, in this new situation, she was looking forward to developing closer relationships with fewer students. But Latavia found the Caymanian culture far more indifferent to Christianity than she was expecting.  

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In the Cayman Islands, over 130 nationalities are represented in a population of just 70,000, and there are many students who identify as atheists or follow different religions. By contrast, Latavia explains that in Jamaica \u201ceverybody might not personally trust in Jesus, but there is a reverence for God, and a general support for the ministry.\u201d Student ministry in Jamaica is well established \u2013 over 70 years old. Groups are student-led, although supervised by a sponsor (Christian teacher). Christian students are less forthcoming in Cayman. \u201cLots of them seem to be in hiding\u201d, observes Latavia.  

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Nonetheless, she also went expecting to feel like a total stranger and foreigner in a new country. \u201cThe Lord has given me a lot of friends and a real community of Christians”, she says. Moreover, \u201cthe IS/IVCF board members are also really supportive.\u201d 

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As a financial centre, the Cayman Islands is an interesting and unique place for student ministry. \u201cHere\u201d, says Latavia, \u201cwe have the potential to impact the world. With so many students from other countries, we can impact the families they go home to worldwide.\u201d Latavia wants to make the most of this with the 2023 theme Igniting our Schools with the Gospel of Jesus. \u201cI\u2019ve been surprised to meet students who have never heard the gospel\u201d, she says. \u201cA student asked me \u2018What is Christ?\u2019 It\u2019s difficult to invest in students who are here for such a short time and can\u2019t make a great impact on the island, but I want the students to become bold witnesses in their words and conduct.\u201d 

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Let\u2019s pray for Latavia and students in the Cayman Islands: 

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The post Latavia leaves home appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "\u201cPray for the Cayman Islands \u2013 please send workers\u201d. \n\n\n\nLatavia, an experienced staff worker with ISCF, the student movement in Jamaica, had been praying for a new opportunity to serve overseas. When she saw this message posted during an online ISCF event, she wondered if she had found her answer.  \n\n\n\nAfter a few months, Latavia\u2019s calling to the Cayman Islands was confirmed when God gave her a dream about the landscape and geography of the island of Grand Cayman \u2013 even though she had never been there. This was also confirmed through a prophetic word from her Pastor. In June, she moved to the island as the first IS/IVCF Cayman Islands staff worker to be fully employed directly by the ministry.  \n\n\n\nA new place always brings new challenges. \u201cCayman is a Christian nation like Jamaica, and because I was only going to be supervising seven schools, to be honest, I expected it to be easier\u201d. In Jamaica, Latavia had personally overseen ministry in close to 100 schools and, in this new situation, she was looking forward to developing closer relationships with fewer students. But Latavia found the Caymanian culture far more indifferent to Christianity than she was expecting.  \n\n\n\nIn the Cayman Islands, over 130 nationalities are represented in a population of just 70,000, and there are many students who identify as atheists or follow different religions. By contrast, Latavia explains that in Jamaica \u201ceverybody might not personally trust in Jesus, but there is a reverence for God, and a general support for the ministry.\u201d Student ministry in Jamaica is well established \u2013 over 70 years old. Groups are student-led, although supervised by a sponsor (Christian teacher). Christian students are less forthcoming in Cayman. \u201cLots of them seem to be in hiding\u201d, observes Latavia.  \n\n\n\nNonetheless, she also went expecting to feel like a total stranger and foreigner in a new country. \u201cThe Lord has given me a lot of friends and a real community of Christians”, she says. Moreover, \u201cthe IS/IVCF board members are also really supportive.\u201d \n\n\n\nAs a financial centre, the Cayman Islands is an interesting and unique place for student ministry. \u201cHere\u201d, says Latavia, \u201cwe have the potential to impact the world. With so many students from other countries, we can impact the families they go home to worldwide.\u201d Latavia wants to make the most of this with the 2023 theme Igniting our Schools with the Gospel of Jesus. \u201cI\u2019ve been surprised to meet students who have never heard the gospel\u201d, she says. \u201cA student asked me \u2018What is Christ?\u2019 It\u2019s difficult to invest in students who are here for such a short time and can\u2019t make a great impact on the island, but I want the students to become bold witnesses in their words and conduct.\u201d \n\n\n\nLet\u2019s pray for Latavia and students in the Cayman Islands: \n\n\n\nPray for the discipleship retreat on 18 February, that students might become strengthened in their faith and equipped to live it out among their friends. \n\n\n\nPray for Latavia\u2019s efforts to bring more churches on board with the mission, that many churches will see and understand the strategic value of the ministry to students, and that they will support Latavia with finances, resources, mentoring, and pastoral care. Pray that as Latavia works to establish student ministry, build relationships, and make disciples, God will bless the work of her hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). Pray that he will raise up student leaders in the Cayman Islands. \nThe post Latavia leaves home appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2023-02-07T05:08:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2023-02-06T15:21:30+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/2023/02/IMG-20230125-WA0010.jpg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=19186", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/40-days-of-prayer-and-a-sovereign-god/", "title": "40 days of prayer and a sovereign God", "content_html": "
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\u2018So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.\u2019 (Ezra 8:23) 

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This was the verse with which Sister Anne, board member and prayer coordinator of IS/IVCF Belize, began the meeting. We\u2019ve just reached the final week of the CARIFES 40 Days of Prayer, with one more meeting planned for 7 July. Students, staff, graduates, supporters, and board members of the Caribbean movements have been praying individually and corporately online. For this Prayerline, let\u2019s join them, to pray for the points raised at their latest meeting, on the theme of \u2018Thriving on New Ground\u2019. Here are a handful of prayer requests from the meeting, for the whole global fellowship to lift before God. 

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Movements are being pioneered on the island of Saint Martin, on the French (Saint-Martin) and Dutch (Sint Maarten) sides of the island. Let\u2019s pray that God would give new contacts and provide new opportunities to begin ministry in Sint Maarten, and that in Saint-Martin God would renew the strength of existing leaders.  

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GBEUH Haiti needs prayer for greater structure, and for the ministry to be expanded throughout the country. Pray also for political, economic, and social stability. Thank God that he will make the GBEUH the light that shines in Haiti. 

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ISCF/UCCF Jamaica asks for prayer for a specific situation \u2013 for \u2018teachers who feel overwhelmed, and students who need comfort after the deaths of relatives\u2019. Pray for stability, wholeness, and healing, and that God would use this situation as an opportunity to draw them close to him. Pray for boldness of students to live out the gospel in a youth culture that looks down upon them.   

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Ministry is continuing in ISCCF St Lucia, but there is a specific need for more Christian teachers to serve in their schools. Pray also for the possibility of a student leadership training retreat in August. Pray for ISCCF to recommence face-to-face in schools in the next academic year. 

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\u2018Prayer is always our only viable option\u2019, says Brother Lawrence, ISCF/UCCF Jamaica board member, during the meeting. \u2018And student and schools ministry is so important. Our schools are the bottleneck of society. While many young people bypass the church, everyone passes through school.\u2019 

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Pray with us for the CARIFES region: 

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The post 40 days of prayer and a sovereign God appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "\u2018So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.\u2019 (Ezra 8:23) \n\n\n\nThis was the verse with which Sister Anne, board member and prayer coordinator of IS/IVCF Belize, began the meeting. We\u2019ve just reached the final week of the CARIFES 40 Days of Prayer, with one more meeting planned for 7 July. Students, staff, graduates, supporters, and board members of the Caribbean movements have been praying individually and corporately online. For this Prayerline, let\u2019s join them, to pray for the points raised at their latest meeting, on the theme of \u2018Thriving on New Ground\u2019. Here are a handful of prayer requests from the meeting, for the whole global fellowship to lift before God. \n\n\n\nMovements are being pioneered on the island of Saint Martin, on the French (Saint-Martin) and Dutch (Sint Maarten) sides of the island. Let\u2019s pray that God would give new contacts and provide new opportunities to begin ministry in Sint Maarten, and that in Saint-Martin God would renew the strength of existing leaders.  \n\n\n\nGBEUH Haiti needs prayer for greater structure, and for the ministry to be expanded throughout the country. Pray also for political, economic, and social stability. Thank God that he will make the GBEUH the light that shines in Haiti. \n\n\n\nISCF/UCCF Jamaica asks for prayer for a specific situation \u2013 for \u2018teachers who feel overwhelmed, and students who need comfort after the deaths of relatives\u2019. Pray for stability, wholeness, and healing, and that God would use this situation as an opportunity to draw them close to him. Pray for boldness of students to live out the gospel in a youth culture that looks down upon them.   \n\n\n\nMinistry is continuing in ISCCF St Lucia, but there is a specific need for more Christian teachers to serve in their schools. Pray also for the possibility of a student leadership training retreat in August. Pray for ISCCF to recommence face-to-face in schools in the next academic year. \n\n\n\n\u2018Prayer is always our only viable option\u2019, says Brother Lawrence, ISCF/UCCF Jamaica board member, during the meeting. \u2018And student and schools ministry is so important. Our schools are the bottleneck of society. While many young people bypass the church, everyone passes through school.\u2019 \n\n\n\nPray with us for the CARIFES region: \n\n\n\nThank God for this spirit of prayer; pray that CARIFES and the whole global fellowship might \u2018pray without ceasing\u2019 (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Pray for the strengthening and flourishing of all 15 affiliated student movements in the Caribbean, plus those being pioneered. Pray that more students would hear the gospel and commit their lives to Christ. Many places need more workers; pray that God would raise people to serve students in many ways. \nThe post 40 days of prayer and a sovereign God appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2022-07-05T06:38:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2022-07-01T17:15:43+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/2022/07/Untitled-design-12.png" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=18933", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/seizing-the-moment-for-high-school-ministry/", "title": "Seizing the moment for high school ministry", "content_html": "
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Most IFES ministry takes place in universities. But in some parts of the world, a high school ministry is the best way to reach young people for Christ.  

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In the St Vincent Grammar School in the Caribbean country of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mrs Nakita Boucher is a \u2018sponsor\u2019 \u2014a teacher who runs a Christian group at school\u2014for the national student movement ISCCF SVG. This year, the group faced a dilemma. The pandemic made the prospect of running a student group in the single-sex school more difficult than usual.  

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Nonetheless, Mrs Boucher felt that it was right to meet. As she explains, \u2018I was led by the Holy Spirit to focus on evangelism. We couldn\u2019t have allowed this time to pass us by, seeing what has happened around us in the last year, including the pandemic and the La Soufri\u00e8re eruption. I decided we should focus on making the students aware of what it means to be saved and how to live a Christian life.\u2019 

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Mrs Boucher read the moment well. The students were keen, and this term, the group multiplied from the usual 25-30 students to over 40 attending for half an hour every Thursday. They did Bible quizzes and discussed the students\u2019 perception of who God is. Two young pastors were invited to come and explain salvation and repentance. Students and teachers shared their personal testimonies. 

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One student shares the impact that the group has had on his faith: \u2018I do not get a lot of time to read the Word as much as I should, and ISCCF has been a devoted part of my week where I can read the Word and gain more knowledge about the gospel and about God\u2019s divine purpose for my life. At my church, I enjoy the beginner to youth class, filled with lots of activities, stories, and opportunities to connect with others of similar age about the same thing. Having something similar at my school feels so wonderful. I believe that ISCCF has made me gain confidence to spread the gospel and made me a more rounded student. I hope that more students can benefit as I have.\u2019  

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Six students gave their hearts to Christ this term, and ISCCF are hoping to follow up with those who won\u2019t be able to receive discipleship at church. Mrs Boucher says that \u2018overall, the group has been very vibrant, very interested, and our students are developing a love and appreciation for God. We hope that we can continue to share the gospel, and that these students will grow into the young men that God wants them to be.\u2019 

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Pray with us for this ISCCF group and other students in St Vincent and the Grenadines: 

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The post Seizing the moment for high school ministry appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "Most IFES ministry takes place in universities. But in some parts of the world, a high school ministry is the best way to reach young people for Christ.  \n\n\n\nIn the St Vincent Grammar School in the Caribbean country of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mrs Nakita Boucher is a \u2018sponsor\u2019 \u2014a teacher who runs a Christian group at school\u2014for the national student movement ISCCF SVG. This year, the group faced a dilemma. The pandemic made the prospect of running a student group in the single-sex school more difficult than usual.  \n\n\n\nNonetheless, Mrs Boucher felt that it was right to meet. As she explains, \u2018I was led by the Holy Spirit to focus on evangelism. We couldn\u2019t have allowed this time to pass us by, seeing what has happened around us in the last year, including the pandemic and the La Soufri\u00e8re eruption. I decided we should focus on making the students aware of what it means to be saved and how to live a Christian life.\u2019 \n\n\n\nMrs Boucher read the moment well. The students were keen, and this term, the group multiplied from the usual 25-30 students to over 40 attending for half an hour every Thursday. They did Bible quizzes and discussed the students\u2019 perception of who God is. Two young pastors were invited to come and explain salvation and repentance. Students and teachers shared their personal testimonies. \n\n\n\nOne student shares the impact that the group has had on his faith: \u2018I do not get a lot of time to read the Word as much as I should, and ISCCF has been a devoted part of my week where I can read the Word and gain more knowledge about the gospel and about God\u2019s divine purpose for my life. At my church, I enjoy the beginner to youth class, filled with lots of activities, stories, and opportunities to connect with others of similar age about the same thing. Having something similar at my school feels so wonderful. I believe that ISCCF has made me gain confidence to spread the gospel and made me a more rounded student. I hope that more students can benefit as I have.\u2019  \n\n\n\nSix students gave their hearts to Christ this term, and ISCCF are hoping to follow up with those who won\u2019t be able to receive discipleship at church. Mrs Boucher says that \u2018overall, the group has been very vibrant, very interested, and our students are developing a love and appreciation for God. We hope that we can continue to share the gospel, and that these students will grow into the young men that God wants them to be.\u2019 \n\n\n\nPray with us for this ISCCF group and other students in St Vincent and the Grenadines: \n\n\n\nPray for the six who received Christ for the first time this term. Pray that it would be the beginning of a lifelong, faithful and joyful devotion to Jesus and that God uses their lives powerfully. Pray that Christian students would be bold in proclaiming the gospel to their classmates, and that they would have a continual hunger and thirst for God.  \n\n\n\nPray that the ISCCF group at the St Vincent school would grow numerically and spiritually. Pray that students would get support in their Christian faith from peers and parents where possible. Pray that IFES high school ministry in different countries around the world would be more and more fruitful as students return to normal life after the pandemic. Pray that they would spend their lives living for Jesus. \nThe post Seizing the moment for high school ministry appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2022-05-24T05:01:00+01:00", "date_modified": "2022-05-24T09:12:56+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/2022/05/SVG-3.jpeg" }, { "id": "https://ifesworld.org/?post_type=prayerline&p=17404", "url": "https://ifesworld.org/en/prayerline/closed-borders-renewed-connections/", "title": "Closed Borders, Renewed Connections", "content_html": "
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As the world was shutting down, in\u00a0the Caribbean\u00a0new things were beginning.\u00a0\u00a0

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Bruce Fletcher and Francis Warner, two former leaders of IVCF in Trinidad and Tobago, were hatching a plan. Although the pandemic was just beginning and the Caribbean islands were closing their borders, Bruce and Francis saw a chance to remake some connections, reassembling those who were in IVCF alongside them.  

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If there\u2019s one thing that should never be underestimated, it\u2019s a WhatsApp group. Bruce and Francis quickly gathered 80 people, all IVCF students from the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies between 1977 and 1981. Many were not from Trinidad and Tobago\u2014Bruce himself is from Jamaica\u2014and many now live elsewhere. Now mostly-retired professionals, most had not been in touch for over forty years. Bruce and Francis were hoping that these alumni would use what God had given them over the years to benefit the current cohort of IVCF students. The results that came were unexpected and wonderful. 

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They began hosting events that would create conversation about the impact of the pandemic in the region, and some began to meet every Saturday night to support one another in prayer and intercede for current IVCF students. The impact of this has reached across the world already. Cherelle Thompson is a second-year Medical Sciences student, who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She praises God that the group \u2018undergirded my Olympic journey to Japan with their weekly prayers to heaven … Their petitions on my behalf were answered through relationships, resources and faith posture that I needed for every step of the journey\u2019. 

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Group members have also supported IVCF practically. As many participants have felt called to give financially, the movements across the Caribbean have been sustained through the hardships of the pandemic. Group members have also offered to mentor young graduates. Bruce emphasises that as needs are identified across countries in the region, someone from the group is usually able to step in and help. There is an appetite to bring projects that are working in one place to the rest of the movements. 

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\u2018Gladness and gratitude\u2019 are the words that Joel Chryskarsten, General Secretary of IS/IVCF Trinidad and Tobago, uses to describe \u2018Our Legends\u2019, which is how the group is fondly referred to. He says that the financial support of individuals in the group \u2018was vital in helping ensure our financial stability throughout the fallout period of the pandemic.\u2019 

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Where could this go in the future? There are almost 15,000 alumni of IVCF, which was founded in 1956. The \u2018Legends\u2019 have also been discussing with Regional Secretary Marc Pulvar how other Caribbean alumni could be better connected, even those now living around the world. They are excited about what this could lead to, in the Caribbean and beyond.  

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Please pray with us for IVCF Trinidad and Tobago, the Legends group, and the CARIFES region: 

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The post Closed Borders, Renewed Connections appeared first on IFES.

\n", "content_text": "As the world was shutting down, in\u00a0the Caribbean\u00a0new things were beginning.\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\nBruce Fletcher and Francis Warner, two former leaders of IVCF in Trinidad and Tobago, were hatching a plan. Although the pandemic was just beginning and the Caribbean islands were closing their borders, Bruce and Francis saw a chance to remake some connections, reassembling those who were in IVCF alongside them.  \n\n\n\nIf there\u2019s one thing that should never be underestimated, it\u2019s a WhatsApp group. Bruce and Francis quickly gathered 80 people, all IVCF students from the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies between 1977 and 1981. Many were not from Trinidad and Tobago\u2014Bruce himself is from Jamaica\u2014and many now live elsewhere. Now mostly-retired professionals, most had not been in touch for over forty years. Bruce and Francis were hoping that these alumni would use what God had given them over the years to benefit the current cohort of IVCF students. The results that came were unexpected and wonderful. \n\n\n\nThey began hosting events that would create conversation about the impact of the pandemic in the region, and some began to meet every Saturday night to support one another in prayer and intercede for current IVCF students. The impact of this has reached across the world already. Cherelle Thompson is a second-year Medical Sciences student, who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She praises God that the group \u2018undergirded my Olympic journey to Japan with their weekly prayers to heaven … Their petitions on my behalf were answered through relationships, resources and faith posture that I needed for every step of the journey\u2019. \n\n\n\nGroup members have also supported IVCF practically. As many participants have felt called to give financially, the movements across the Caribbean have been sustained through the hardships of the pandemic. Group members have also offered to mentor young graduates. Bruce emphasises that as needs are identified across countries in the region, someone from the group is usually able to step in and help. There is an appetite to bring projects that are working in one place to the rest of the movements. \n\n\n\n\u2018Gladness and gratitude\u2019 are the words that Joel Chryskarsten, General Secretary of IS/IVCF Trinidad and Tobago, uses to describe \u2018Our Legends\u2019, which is how the group is fondly referred to. He says that the financial support of individuals in the group \u2018was vital in helping ensure our financial stability throughout the fallout period of the pandemic.\u2019 \n\n\n\nWhere could this go in the future? There are almost 15,000 alumni of IVCF, which was founded in 1956. The \u2018Legends\u2019 have also been discussing with Regional Secretary Marc Pulvar how other Caribbean alumni could be better connected, even those now living around the world. They are excited about what this could lead to, in the Caribbean and beyond.  \n\n\n\nPlease pray with us for IVCF Trinidad and Tobago, the Legends group, and the CARIFES region: \n\n\n\nThank God that he provided for the Caribbean movements in the pandemic in this way. Thank God for the initiative and willing steps of faith of Bruce and Frank, and the servant-hearted spirit of all the alumni involved.  \n\n\n\nPray that the current IVCF students would continue to be blessed and helped by the care of alumni, and that this would have an eternal impact as they continue to study and move into their adult lives. Pray for the future development of alumni networks in the Caribbean and beyond, that God would use alumni to encourage, strengthen and bless student movements all over the world. \nThe post Closed Borders, Renewed Connections appeared first on IFES.", "date_published": "2021-11-23T06:06:00+00:00", "date_modified": "2021-11-23T16:08:43+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/2021/11/211109-TT-alum.jpeg" } ] }