September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 23 - Southern Asia - IFES: Give thanks for God’s provision of laptops for IFES national movement staff to stay in touch with students not just during lockdown, but also where students live in cities without staff. Being able to stay in touch online can be hugely important for Christian students in places where they are often alone, and allows them to access training opportunities run by their IFES national movements or the IFES South Asia team.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 21. India – UESI - IFES: UESI India in Sikkim state shared this encouraging story: “Thank God for the evangelistic retreat held on the 13th & 14th June. Seven accepted the Lord, ten rededicated their lives, five friends from other faith attended the program.” Please pray for the follow up discipleship activities with these students, and for the regular online fellowship groups for students and graduates.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 16. Haiti - IFES - GBEUH: Recent years have been difficult for GBEUH Haiti due to the pandemic and ongoing political instability, and the recent earthquake has only made life more challenging. Descheny, the only staff worker, praises God for his protection for their ministry and asks for prayer for peace, stability and security for their country. Pray too for comfort for those mourning family and friends and provision for all who have lost homes.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 12. Australia - AFES: AFES Australia are preparing for their National Training Event “To the ends of the earth” in November/December. Usually a national event, this year NTE is meeting in seven locations around the country to allow for in person gatherings which avoid state border closures, meeting for four-five days for Bible teaching and training. Ask God to bless speakers and open the hearts of students to follow Christ more faithfully.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 6. Solomon Islands - SIU-CF: Praise God with SIU-CF Solomon Islands for a local church who have provided funding for the movement to take on staff for the first time. Pray for the new staff members to be able to inspire and train Christian students to share Christ with their course mates and disciple new believers.
September - October 2021 - 4. Caribbean - IFES Caribbean: Students, staff and volunteers of IFES movements across the Caribbean gathered online for 40 days of prayer this summer. Praise God for the encouragement of praying together for ministry and the emphasis of the foundational nature of prayer for ministry. Ask God to keep the IFES Caribbean community praying faithfully, for God to open doors for students, schools and ministry across the region.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 24 - Americas - IFES: Pray with the many IFES students, staff and graduates who have lost friends and families to COVID. Pray that God would comfort and strengthen them, and help them to share the message of hope with family members and friends at this time.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 25 - Mexico - Compa Mexico - IFES: Compa Mexico hosted online student leader training in July, to provide biblical-theological tools which contribute to their integral formación and their participation in the student mission, especially in times of uncertainty and mourning. Kyong-Jin Lee shared about Deuteronomy, inviting participants to navigate history to understand our present that will serve us in the future, and to know God's great story, recapturing the hope of resurrection in the fearless student missionary call to give up everything to make Christ's name known. Pray for long term impact in the lives of student leaders and their groups.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 27 - Sri Lanka - IFES: FOCUS Sri Lanka have found that online meetings have increased language divides in their Christian student groups, with shorter meetings and not having a neighbour to provide whispered translation making groups much more monolingual. Pray that ways would be found to overcome this and other barriers to allow students from different backgrounds to worship and learn together in Christian unity.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 29 - Middle East - IFES: An IFES movement recently hosted “Study Parties” during the exams, with quiet slots for studies and fellowship over meals and breaks. Praise God that “Many students expressed how the events both encouraged them to study, but also encouraged them as believers. Rather than feeling like God was waiting on the other side of the exam period (or that they would get back to God on the other side of the period), they found that God and their fellow believers were right there with them, even in the stressful exam period.”
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 10. USA - InterVarsity/USA: InterVarsity/USA are partners of everycampus, an initiative to see the gospel in every campus. They recently shared a prayer request for work among students in the fraternity houses, particularly in Sigma Chi, where two InterVarsity staff were able to get to know a student while prayer walking the UCLA campus. Praise God for encouraging conversations and ask God to work in BIG ways there this year.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 13. North Africa & the Middle East - IFES: A number of IFES movements in North Africa & the Middle East are in leadership transition. Please pray for wisdom for movement Boards and selection committees, and that the right people would be appointed to head up the student ministry in these countries.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 17. Cambodia – SONOKO: Give thanks for R, a Christian student in a strongly Buddhist university. Three years ago she and three other students set up a Christian Union in their university, which has now grown to six students. She now leads a small group in her dorm and in her church. She and the other leaders are discipled and trained by Sophear, a SONOKO Cambodia staff worker. Pray that they would be salt and light in their university.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 19. Bangladesh - IFES - BSFB: BSFB Bangladesh praise God for 38 Zoom Fellowship meetings each Friday this year. Online meetings have also allowed graduates in remote areas to join, like Rita in Bandarban who shared: “I have been receiving opportunity to get blessings and a lot of joyful fellowship. Truly, I get a lot of lessons and encouragement from every Friday Zoom fellowship. I even can share my challenge, sorrow and prayer points here.” Pray for these groups to continue to bless and encourage.
September - October 2021 World Prayer News - 21. India - IFES - UESI: UESI India in Sikkim state share this encouraging story: “Thank God for the evangelistic retreat held on the 13th & 14th June. Seven accepted the Lord, ten rededicated their lives, five friends from other faiths attended the program.” Please pray for the follow up discipleship activities with these students and for the regular online fellowship groups for students and graduates.
Student ministry: IFES South Pacific and North America regions are working together to support Sam, a student ministry pioneer from Tonga who has recently moved to Guam to start student ministry there. Give thanks for a global fellowship seeking to reach new areas for Christ and pray for Sam as he settles into his new home and gets to know students and church communities.
Students in NZ: TSCF New Zealand have broken ground on the site of ‘The Well’ in Lincoln. This project is to establish a residential, missional community, housing eight Lincoln students, that seeks to encourage encounters with Jesus and to see students cultivate an undivided life, wholeheartedly living for Jesus in every area of life. Pray that once built, it would be a true witness of Christ through hospitality, evangelism and building community, and that it might ultimately be life-changing for generations to come.
Students in Chile: Praise God for the cohort of students who have recently completed “Euangelion”, a four-week evangelism training course run by GBU Chile. They have been looking at the Bible to understand the gospel and taking steps in the preparation of a 10-13 minute evangelistic talk. Pray for the students who will hear the gospel through these young people to have open hearts.
Caribbean students: IFES movements across the Caribbean have been gathering for prayer as part of a 40-day prayer campaign. Pray for students to be faithful in prayer and to be prepared for God to use them to answer the prayers they are voicing for their friends to meet with or grow in Christ. Pray for the work in Francophone countries and territories to be strengthened.
Student Ministry on the Pacific Islands: The Covid-19 pandemic has hit student ministry hard on some Pacific islands. Fear of the pandemic kept some universities closed for a long time. Pray for students who have had their education paused and whose family incomes have been hit by economic recession to be able to return to their studies. IFES plans to pioneer ministry in Tonga have had to be put on hold, but it is hoped that a pioneering volunteer can be redeployed elsewhere. Please ask God to open doors and show the best way to do this.
New initiative in Latin America: The IFES Logos and Cosmos Initiative has launched in Latin America, with 21 catalysts now chosen from across the region who will be mentored and encouraged to foster dialogue between Theology and the Sciences (both social and natural). The selected catalysts include under- and postgraduate students, faculty members and movement staff. Please pray with co-ordinator Alejandra Ortiz “that they may become resources and mentors for others in how they relate their disciplines to their faith. We aim to see staff, students and movements who engage with the whole of the university and to invest in key people to model and inspire.”
Evangelism in the Caribbean: 65 years ago Trinidadian graduate Ruby Thompson started Inter-School/InterVarsity Fellowship of Trinidad and Tobago. She had witnessed the transformative work of the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship in the lives of students at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and was encouraged to start a similar group at home. Today, there are still some islands without Christian witness in the universities, colleges and schools. Give thanks for graduate volunteer Tonia from Jamaica, currently pioneering ministry in St Kitts and Nevis where she works as a pharmacist. Pray for pioneering graduates seeking to follow Ruby and Tonia’s examples in Saint Martin and Sint Maarten.
Student Ministry in Colombia: The uncertainty over restrictions, closures and curfews make student ministry challenging. Please pray for UCU Colombia staff who are mentoring students across the country, training them to lead Bible studies, disciple younger students and share their faith with course mates in person and online.
Theological and Scientific Education in Universities: Discussions about science and religion are dominated by scholars working in elite Western universities and seminaries. Their work has greatly enhanced the quality and richness of these dialogues but does not benefit from the diverse experiences and perspectives of scientists in the Majority World. IFES has just launched the Logos and Cosmos Initiative to equip roughly 80 ‘catalysts’ from Latin America and Francophone Africa to plan and run projects drawing together theological and scientific perspectives. Pray for the applicants, the team supporting them and that this programme would have a long-term impact on individuals, movements, the university, church and society.
Students at political protests in Myanmar: Christians in Myanmar are joining with their neighbours in political protest, but also calling for prayer from their Christian brothers and sisters outside Myanmar for divine intervention, wisdom and discernment for national and international leaders; that God would restore peace, law and order in Myanmar and that the suffering of people would end. Students are often at the forefront of political protests, so please hold them in your hearts.
Event in Australia: Praise God for the National Training Event in early December. While the usual national event with international visitors from other IFES movements was impossible, more than 2,000 students gathered in one of 19 university or combined city groups or watched the livestream from home. Pray for students who studied the “Gravity and Glory” of the Gospel to be bold in telling others about what Christ means to them.
New programme in Central Asia: IFES Eurasia is launching a new programme to help train students and staff as Bible Expositors. Pray for K., based in Central Asia, who is coordinating the program, and for participants as they learn how to share God’s word faithfully in ways which speak into their own cultural and religious contexts and the issues they face on campus and in society.
International Students: Pray for international students in the USA struggling with anxiety and loneliness to find peace and comfort in Christ. Pray that they would feel well supported during this time. With so much time being spent connecting with those back home, pray that Christian international students would be boldly sharing stories of Jesus with their family and friends.
IFES movement in Syria: Pray that God would raise up qualified leaders and local funding for the IFES movement in Syria. Pray for them as they continue to adapt ministry for online during the pandemic. Pray for Syrian students who have had to flee their homes. Pray that they would encounter Christians who will introduce them to Jesus.
New Christian students facing spiritual pressures: The IFES movement in Cambodia – SONOKO, ask us to pray with them: “Praise God that the staff and students have encouraged one another by praying together and sharing the word of God online despite the Covid-19 pandemic. As all the schools have been closed since last March, the students went back to their home town. Most of them are new believers and the only Christian in their families and face various spiritual pressures. Pray that God protects their faith and they can boldly share the gospel with their families.”
Student movement in Solomon Islands: SIU-CF Solomon Islands, one of the new Christian student movements which affiliated to IFES in July 2019, have been hit hard by recent events. Not by Covid-19 itself, which has not touched their islands, but by preventative lockdown, university closures and very slow, expensive and unreliable internet connectivity. Student ministry is in ‘hibernation’, so please pray that God will grant wisdom to movement leaders as they seek to restart ministry.
Online webinars for students in Japan: IFES East Asia team have been running a series of webinars to support the student movements in the region. KGK Japan share this prayer request: “We are grateful for the IFES East Asia webinar series. We thank God for over 30 KGK-related participants signing up for the 1st and 2nd webinars. Please pray that the webinar series may give students a taste of the IFES fellowship, a sense of solidarity with brothers and sisters around the world, and a desire to be a part of God’s global work.” Please also pray for the KGK team as they have had to move their summer camp content online, making it more like series of lectures. Please pray for wisdom in recruitment and organisation.
Students exploring faith in lockdown: Give thanks for seeking students across Europe who have taken advantage of the freedom and reduced pressure offered by online events to listen to Christian speakers, to join Bible study groups or to accept invitations from Christian friends to find out more about Jesus Christ. Pray for IFES movements across the region (and globally) as they seek to support seekers and students who have made a commitment to follow Christ during lockdown. This is made more challenging by the realities of social distancing, physical geography and the many complications of life in a COVID-19 world, but we praise God that his work continues unabated.
Sinhalese students encouraged in their faith: The Fellowship of Christian University Students (FOCUS) Sri Lanka have noted over the last few years that most Christian leaders are from English or Tamil speaking communities, not from the majority Sinhala-speaking community. Give thanks for FOCUS efforts to encourage students from this community to grow and develop in their faith and to take on leadership responsibility, including a conference in October last year. Pray that the students who have been equipped will pass this desire to serve on to others, who will catch the vision for reaching their community for Christ.
Breaking New Ground project for students: Please pray for IFES national movement students and staff in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and in one other country who are pioneering student ministry in new cities and on new campuses with resources from the IFES Breaking New Ground* initiative. Please pray that God would provide local Christian students who will get involved in this ministry and invite friends to study the Bible, and for protection and energy for staff and volunteers travelling long distances to support the new groups. *The Breaking New Ground project was launched in 2018 to support and resource pioneering ministry by awarding grants, by identifying and training people and by mobilising prayer across IFES’s global network.
IFES support in Caribbean schools: International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) movements in the Caribbean often support outreach in many schools, both secondary and primary. Praise God for good relationships with local authorities and for Christian teachers who provide the opportunity for such groups to exist. Give thanks for older pupils who serve as leaders in the groups, and pray for those in their final year as they prepare to make the transition into tertiary education. As many end up studying far from home, it can be a challenging time for young Christians and connecting with the IFES ministry in their college or university can be an important factor in whether they continue to follow Christ.
Student revival for Christ in universities: More than 3,000 students, graduates and staff met in Germany for the IFES Europe student evangelism conference, Revive, in December 2019. Delegates came from 38 European countries as well as Africa, Asia, and closed countries. It began with a dream of seeing a generation come together from every corner of Europe to pursue revival in the university world and beyond. More than 20 other Christian student ministries in Europe partnered with IFES Europe in dreaming, planning and praying. Please pray for revival and for the young people inspired by the event to seek opportunities to share Christ with their friends.
IFES students help those from conflict areas: Give thanks for the growth in the number of students involved in an International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) movement in a country in the Middle East. With a strong ministry in the capital city and Bible study groups meeting in two other cities, pray for the staff and volunteers working with students who have faced many challenges in recent years, including the loss of loved ones and injuries sustained as a result of the conflict in their country. The Christian message of hope is very powerful in their context, so ask that it would minister to them. Praise God that these students are working hard to show God’s love to those around them not just in their classes, but across their communities, including having held a Christmas party for street children.
Expanding ministry on campus: The IFES movement in Vanuatu, Gud Nius Yunivesiti Felosip (GNYF), praises God that permission has been granted for their groups to meet on campus at the University of the South Pacific. Please pray for them to be able to expand their ministry into seven tertiary colleges and a new bilingual French-English university opening next year. Pray also for Australian Joel, who leads the movement, to be able to remain in the country, and for local graduates to be able to take on leadership, particularly challenging as most of their graduates move to Vanuatu to study from other Pacific Islands, and then move home after graduation.
Practical ministry in South and central Asia: An IFES movement in Central Asia praises God that, with the help of local churches, they have been able to get permission to import gospels designed for students into the country. Pray for Christian students as they invite friends to study God’s word. In a neighbouring country, God is helping IFES to share the gospel with international students from South Asia and elsewhere in Central Asia. The South Asian students had been very badly treated, so the witness of Christians who loved and served them was very powerful. IFES spoke to police, landlords and even hired a lawyer to defend them. This practical ministry showed students the reality of gospel truth. Ask God to continue to bless this growing ministry.
Strength in Christ for students in Jamaica: Jamaica has the most churches per square mile than any other country in the world, but widespread poverty means that there is pervasive scamming and dishonesty. Volunteer Winsome asks for prayer that Christian students would stand for integrity on campus and in society and trust God to provide for them. Student Kenneka shares that she and her peers also face a lot of peer pressure to be sexually active, and to find their identity far from Christ. She would appreciate prayer for God to give them strength to live pure lives and that Jamaican students would reject confusion caused by campus society and social media about identity and values. Instead may they seek God’s approval.
Living for Christ in the Workplace: In October, Christian graduates from IFES movements across the Middle East & North Africa will gather for Bible teaching & training on living for Christ in the workplace. Pray they acquire the necessary visas & finances. Many face very challenging circumstances.
Students bringing Christ to New Calendonia: Two students attended an IFES South Pacific Regional Conference in August 2018 and were inspired by the stories of student ministry, particularly in the Solomon Islands, a movement started just a few years before. They returned inspired to start Christian student witness there. By the end of 2018 they had students interested and in the new term of 2019 the first meeting of Groupe Biblique Universitaire de Nouvelle Calédonie (GBU-NC) took place. Ten students gathered, predominantly from the indigenous people group. Pray that they would be able to reach out to other communities and make GBU-NC a place where students from different backgrounds feel welcome.
Christian student groups sharing faith: Students in Colombian universities face many challenges, but established University and College Union (UCU) Christian student groups in Armenia, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bogotá and Popayán are sharing their faith. Pray also for pioneering groups in Ibagué, Cali and Pereira. Pray that student leaders would be equipped and manage their time well. Pray for Christian students to be bold in sharing the gospel, for non-believing students to be open to study God’s word, and for God’s help for students facing challenges like drug addiction and riots on campus.
Christian students experience isolation: In Muslim majority countries, heavy restrictions, isolation and fear can lead to Christians feeling that they are very much in the minority, yet God is at work and followers of Christ show great courage and boldness. For Christian students, loneliness can cause them to feel isolated, and with that comes discouragement. Pray that Christian students will find places where they can meet, and that those who are truly alone will know God’s presence. In Jordan, showing hospitality to students is an important witness. Pray for Jordan Universities Christian Students as they seek to find ‘father’ and ‘mother’ figures who can open their homes to students.
IFES holding four regional camps: The IFES movement in Bangladesh is holding four regional camps in March - June. The theme for each is “Be Shining – Isaiah 60v1”. Pray that each Christian student would shine on their campus, that their friends would turn to Christ and that this would bring glory to God in Bangladeshi universities. It is a complex place to share Christ, so the movement also ask for prayer for protection for their country “from political complexity and violence. Also please pray for security, economic development, and political stability.”
IFES movement bearing fruit across South America: IFES movement in Chile recently employed Pablo as staff in Punta Arenas to support student ministry there and, working with the Argentinian movement, to pioneer across Patagonia. In January, Pablo and a team travelled 4000km around Argentinian Patagonia, making contact with many believers, including Matias, soon starting university in Comodoro who is keen to start a group there. He organised a meeting to encourage believers to start Christian groups on campus, and his friend’s non-believing girlfriend came. Pablo writes: “It wasn't the most appropriate place, maybe it wasn't the most appropriate talk for a non-believer, but that young guest gave her life to Jesus. It was not within our plans, but God is full of grace.” Ask God to continue to draw students to him across Patagonia.
Students pray for economic crisis: Johanna from MUEVE Venezuela shares: “pray that Christian students here will show a different attitude towards the crisis our country is in. Pray that we would transmit hope, peace and a desire to continue fighting for a better future.”
Courageous students in Latin America: Without a doubt, the greatest strength of students in Latin America is their initiative to be involved in mission. In many of the movements there are only one or two workers, who support students in various universities and even in cities. Students are the main protagonists of the university mission! Poverty, corruption and violence are huge challenges for students in Latin America. However, perhaps the greatest challenge is for students to not be ashamed of their faith, but instead to share and connect with the academic and social world. Please pray for courageous communities of students who know and live in God’s word, who share their love for Jesus, who are serving the needs of the vulnerable, and who enter the academic and ideological discussions of the university from the perspective of a mature and complete faith.
Caribbean International Student Ministry: In recent years, numbers of international students across the Caribbean have increased significantly. Many are coming to study and find themselves in a new culture with a new openness to form their identity as individuals, away from their home and family. Pray for IFES Caribbean’s International Student Ministry, ask that students would be welcoming and keen to share their faith with others. Pray too for the appointment of the next IFES Caribbean Regional Secretary and for financial provision for the work to continue.
A presence on campus: Christian student groups in Israel usually struggle to advertise their events on campus due to strict rules limiting religious activities. However, in March, Haifa University organised a fair for student groups on campus and allowed the Christian students to have a booth. The students took it seriously and wore special T-shirts. It was a great opportunity for them to be known on campus and for conversations with students at neighbouring booths. Some interested students left their contact information to continue to talk about faith. The Haifa group is arranging a trip to Jerusalem to walk the Via Dolorosa and has invited these students to join. Please pray for this trip and for students’ conversations there to be full of the person of Christ.
Catching the vision: The IFES student groups across Europe have been holding mission weeks over the last few months. Their format varies widely depending on context and culture, but God is making his name known at many universities. These outreach events are a great chance for students to catch a vision for sharing the gospel, both in their own context now, and in the future. Please pray for students who came to events – for ongoing discipleship for those who chose to follow Christ and for seeker Bible studies. Pray also for God’s word to grow in the hearts of those who didn’t express an interest at the time.
Persistence in hostility: Felipe shares that being a student in Uruguay is difficult: “Tertiary education is free, but there’s only one state public university with many students. Many claim to be atheists, but have never thought about it. It’s a hostile place to share the gospel. We must be very careful not to clash with university laws to avoid suspension. It can take years for someone to open up to the gospel. Pray for more students to be open to the Word. Pray for the university, for wisdom for course organisers, and for overcrowding not to stop students getting a good education. Pray for Christian student groups, for persistence and for God to continue working in friends who have heard the Word.”
Student Ministry: Give thanks for non-Christian students in a Central Asian country who are keen to study the Bible with their believing friends. Ask God to open their eyes to the God of love as they read the gospels and talk about the big questions of life. Also praise God for the expansion of IFES student ministry into a new city in this country - church leaders there are enthusiastic about supporting their students to be evangelists in their universities.
Emerging Leaders: Lebanon is the smallest country in the Middle East and has maintained a Christian identity with some religious freedoms. Give thanks for the training of 25 emerging leaders held in Lebanon in February for students and graduates from the IFES movement from another country in the Middle East. Pray for participants as they use their training to help lead student Bible studies, organise events and share Christ with their friends. Ask God to open the hearts of students in this unnamed country to see, in the midst of many challenges, that there is hope and true peace to be found in relationship with God. For visa reasons they were unable to attend training last year, but the group has now expanded significantly, which is wonderful.
International Students in the Caribbean: Many students from Africa, Asia and North America come to study in the Caribbean. Give thanks for Rodney McIntyre, who leads the IFES movement in Grenada, but he also serves as International Student Ministry (ISM) champion in the region, helping to equip student leaders and student groups to better serve, reach and disciple the international students on their campuses. Pray for international students far from home, perhaps from countries closed to the gospel, to feel Christ’s love as students around them welcome them into Christian community.
Christian Students Sharing their Faith: Ross works with InterVarsity USA serving students at Kansas State University. In such a secular context, there are many challenges for Christian students sharing their faith, but also many encouragements. Ross writes: “We're seeing new students draw near to God, especially in the LGBTQ community, among arts students, and in fraternities and sororities [student societies]. Pray that our students would embrace sacrifice for the sake of the gospel.”
Central Asian Campuses: We are encouraged that in a Central Asian city three non-believing students have continued to read the Bible with our staff, and also attended seminars on the Bible’s big picture. They have been to church a few times; please pray that they would accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. We are thankful for an increase in relationships with churches; please pray this would lead to more work with believing students and prayer groups on campus - one has started already. We are thankful for a new partnership with a large university. Please pray for our plans to run a big project there next semester.
Austrian Students: Petra from the Czech Republic is serving students in Austria: “In Austria people think that Christianity is becoming out of date and doesn't matter. There is a group present in every major city, a few in smaller ones and sparks of pioneering international student ministry. God is helping the students to long to truly understand his word, gain a passion for evangelism and is blessing us with students willing to take responsibility. Please pray that I would understand God's purposes, get closer to him and understand him better. Pray for new passionate students, better community, and growth for the international student ministry.”
Christian Celebrity: IFES Hong Kong student leader Esther writes: “In Hong Kong society, some Christian celebrities stand on moral high ground, disconnected from the citizens. It makes people think Christians hypocritical. God gathers our group as a testimony of unity through God's love (Ephesians4:2). We learn from and pray for each other, cooperate in God’s work. The number of participants and committees is declining. Ask God to rouse more Christian freshmen to be devoted to evangelism in college and think of different ways to spread the good news... Ask God to grant politicians wisdom and bravery to bring justice. We pray that our youth does not lose hope in the government and in our God.”
Poverty for a Week: For a weekend, a week, or a summer, students step into the lives of those living in poverty in cities, to learn their stories and see the faces behind the social issues being debated in the USA. Pray for the students as they not just serve practically, but through reading scripture and examining life through the lens of the marginalised and oppressed, are brought to a place to confront their own sense of entitlement, materialism, greed and cultural prejudices. Pray that they would experience repentance, forgiveness, and healing in the context of community.
Cyprus Summer Outreach: Pray for Christian international and national students involved with CYFES Cyprus who attended Presence, an IFES Europe evangelism conference at Easter. Give thanks for their enthusiasm and pray for them to be both bold and wise as they share the love of Christ with their classmates and invite non-Christian friends to study the Bible in small groups or one-on-one with them. Most of all, pray for students at their university to be touched by and respond to the good news of Christ, and to keep thinking about what they heard over the summer break.
Mission Week: Polina is a student at a university in Kyiv (Kiev) where she leads a Bible study group. She writes: “In Ukraine some people are very religious and for them Christianity is all about rules and traditions. They think that if a church is not Orthodox, it is probably a sect. Our Ukrainian group of nine students (called CCX) only started in September 2016, so now we have become closer as friends and as a team. Pray for courage to share the gospel and for the university administration to be open to our group so we can get official permission. Pray for more non-Christians to come to our meetings, and that we can do a mission week in our university in the next academic year.
Suspicious of Christianity: As in most post-Christian European societies, Lithuanian students are very suspicious of Christianity and build their opinions on misleading assumptions. Yet it would be wrong to think that they are not interested in religion or spirituality. More and more they are open to different spiritual experiences. One problem is that Evangelical churches in Lithuania are small, divided and often inward-looking, due to a lack of understanding of the surrounding culture. Please pray for the university students to hear the truth of the gospel and for a spirit of perseverance and hope for church leaders.
Student Evangelism: Pray for ongoing fruit after the Forum conference, that those who have been equipped will continue their ministries with boldness, strength, and wisdom to the student community.
Spiritual Students: The Union of Evangelical Students of India in Jammu and Kashmir praise God for 47 students and a graduate who came to faith this academic year. Give thanks for students from other faith backgrounds who are accepting Christ and growing spiritually. Pray also for pioneering student ministry in several sensitive locations in South Asia. God is working in amazing ways in closed countries. Pray for students to be both bold and wise in their evangelism.
Students 'Unburden': Just before World Student Day in October, a student group held a National Evangelization Week. While they wanted to proclaim the name of Jesus during this time, they had realised that most students simply don’t want to hear what they have to say. This year, student leaders decided to make a big change: instead of speaking, they would listen! They decided to do something we called ‘Unburden’. They chose a location outside and put chairs in pairs. In one chair sat a blindfolded ECU student leader. Several students who attend Bible studies invited passers-by to sit opposite a blindfolded leader and talk. Those who were blindfolded were told to respond only when and if the other person asked. Although most people said they had nothing to say, those who sat down discovered they had a lot to say! We thank God for what he is doing in the university and for using us as his missionaries there. Please pray that we will continue to listen and by God’s grace know how to respond.
Students missional enthusiasm: Without a doubt, the greatest strength of students in Latin America is their initiative to be involved in mission. ABUA Argentina have been looking back at their beginnings, and thinking about how best to equip students to pass on the ministry baton. Pray for God’s wisdom for this and future generations.
Students in Sri Lanka: A staff member of Fellowship Of Christian University Students (FOCUS) says, “I love student ministry because it is the one ministry in Sri Lanka that addresses every sphere of life and because these young men and women can so influence a bruised and broken society towards shalom”. Please pray for students to see that Jesus should impact every sphere of life: personal, economic, social and political.
Political instability: Paraguay lived under more than three decades of dictatorship until 1989 and has long been one of the Latin America’s poorest and most isolated countries. Despite rapid economic growth in recent years, the country still suffers political instability. GBUP, the Christian student movement, has seen an awakening of Christian students. Student workers have been visiting cities in the interior of the country where there are universities but where Christian students are unaware of the ministry of GBUP. Many are being challenged to be agents of reconciliation in their context. Pray for continued growth and for passion and commitment for all involved in student ministry.
Armenian student ministry: Armenians are predominantly Orthodox Christians, but many have little knowledge of Scripture or a personal relationship with Christ. The evangelical community is often persecuted and considered untrustworthy. Christian student groups are not officially allowed to enter universities because any Christian group outside the state church is considered to be a cult. However, that has not prevented the movement from implementing their vision through evangelistic camps, leadership conferences and training events for students. They also have weekly Bible study groups, movie clubs and other evangelistic activities. Give thanks that, by the grace of God, the gospel is making an impact on the students’ lives and on the society.
A 'challenge to action': It is challenging to be a Christian in Bangladesh but there are many opportunities to share the gospel with other faiths. Christians are not allowed to establish Bible study groups on campuses so most groups are located in Christian hostels, school compounds and churches. The Christian student movement has been issuing a ‘challenge to action’ through its leadership training events to encourage student leaders to establish new Bible study groups. Pray that they will see lifelong, committed graduates to support the ministry sacrificially, as many are so involved with their professions that they forget the blessing of student ministry.
Overcoming corruption and poverty: Bolivia is a multicultural country that has experienced various social changes over the last ten years and is starting an economic stabilisation process, the impacts of which will only be seen in the long run. The level of corruption is still high and it is one of the poorest countries of Latin America. Most students can only get into state universities, which generally offer teaching of lower quality. The challenge for Christian students is to contribute to their society through their faith in two areas: the academic excellence and the fight against corruption and poverty. Pray for students to be moved by God in both mind and heart to share his message with passion and with tenderness to a suffering nation. Pray also for continued financial provision for CCU, the Christian student movement.
Student ministries without restrictions: Lebanon has maintained a Christian identity – around 40% of the population is Christian. Freedom of religious practice, speech and human rights are protected under the Lebanese constitution. Religious freedom allows LIVF to work with students without any restrictions. They thank God that they are seeing new students committing their lives to Christ and new leaders stepping forward to serve the Lord through the movement. They are also grateful for the continuity of the ministry over many decades, a result of hard work and prayer. Their major challenge is that graduating student leaders have a tendency to leave the country to work abroad so the movement loses out on their experience and support. Pray for the continued growth and discipleship of students coming to faith and for the equipping of student leaders to minister to the next generation.
Pressure to conform: Malta is a popular holiday destination and tourism is the main source of income. It has a community-based culture with a lot of pressure to conform. Christians therefore have a hard time because others think that they have rejected their culture. Student ministry in Malta is just beginning but creative ways are being explored to reach out to students. For example, students were invited to post their questions to God on a wall on campus. The leaders are seeing the power of the gospel as they read the Bible with students in small groups. Students’ eyes are being turned from their own good works onto Christ's good work in their place and they are seeing that salvation, and the freedom that follows, comes through Christ alone.
Students embracing God: There have been encouraging signs of God’s power at work in the Caribbean over the past year. The movement in St Vincent & Grenadines has been strengthened. Across the region non-Christian students are being saved, while Christian students are making a commitment to deeper study of God’s word as they embrace various bible study methods. One of the greatest strength of students in the region is the zeal that many have to share their faith.
Growth in ministry: Student movements in the South Pacific region face a wide range of challenges: from rampant secularism in Australia and New Zealand to economic and political instability in Fiji; from the geographic isolation of Tonga to the challenge of indigenous practices in parts of Papua New Guinea. Particularly encouraging is the growth in partnerships of Australia and New Zealand with other IFES movements in the Pacific region as well as with Africa. Please pray for small island movements where there are very few or no staff workers and for growth in the ministry to international students, especially in Australia and New Zealand.
Ruled by fear: Tajikistan is a mountainous, landlocked country in central Asia. Until the twentieth century there were no known Christians in the area. Now the Holy Spirit seems to be at work, and many believe that this is God's time for spiritual breakthrough in Tajikistan. A number of Tajiks have heard the gospel and believe, but fearing their families’ and communities' reactions they don’t acknowledge their decision to follow Christ. This greatly hampers the growth of the church and of those individual Christians who are ruled by fear rather than faith and perfect love. Give thanks that God is at work and pray for Christians living in this difficult situation.
'Different Christians': Christianity came to Georgia in the fourth century; today 90% of the population consider themselves to be Orthodox Christians and most of them think that orthodoxy is only true way to God. It is challenging, therefore, to be a ‘different Christian’ - for example, an evangelical or a Roman Catholic. The greatest strength of student groups is the caring relationships among Christians. This positive atmosphere attracts students. The main challenge to students is the hostile attitude of many people towards evangelicals. Pray for more faithful student leaders and for a vision for student work in churches.
Greater freedom: It is illegal in Belarus to read the Bible in homes or dormitories, although you are allowed to in church buildings. Religious activities at educational institutions are considered to be illegal. Furthermore, Belarusian students receive little support from local churches - either because they have non-Christian friends, which is frowned upon, or because the pastors don’t approve of interdenominational gatherings. Pray for greater freedom for Belarusian Christians and for church leaders to see the importance of supporting Christian students.
Discipling Christian students: St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a scenic multi-island state. It is predominantly a ‘Christian’ state where there is freedom of religious practice. However, many students have a lot of problems - broken families, low moral values, the carnival culture and easy availability of marijuana. ISCCF is a movement seeking to disciple Christian students there. Pray for new investment as the group seeks to establish a much-needed national leadership team and to put in place more role model leaders to challenge and encourage students. Pray too for students themselves, that they would be godly examples to those around them.
Making a positive impact: East Timor became independent in 2002 following a bloody struggle against Indonesian occupation. Today, unemployment is very high, as is alcohol abuse and gang involvement. Many women and children carry a history of physical and sexual abuse. The Roman Catholicism followed by 99% of the population often incorporates animism and other folk religions. Protestants are generally accused of bringing in a foreign religion, can be the victims of violence and are not permitted to gather on campus. Pray for Christian students to remain strong and not to be ruled by fear of curses that may be invoked on them, even by their families. Pray too for lecturers and principals of schools to see the positive impact Christians make on the campus. Finally, pray for peace and reconciliation for a country torn apart by gangs and violence and for healing from abuse and trauma.
Full of energy, passion and hope: The greatest strength of the student ministry in Azerbaijan is a staff team full of energy, passion and hope. Because of restrictions, it is not possible for Christians to meet at universities, so they have formed city groups. Presently, there are groups in three of the four cities, with steps being taken to start in the fourth city. The main challenge is to connect with students, whether Christian or not. The number of Christian students is falling, as they often avoid going to study at university, where there tends to be a lot of corruption.
Creative outreach: The Christian student movement in America is experiencing a new excitement about evangelism. In particular, many groups have been successfully using creative outreach ideas such as artistic displays designated to help initiate conversations on spiritual issues. However, one particular challenge facing InterVarsity/USA is the rising number of American students studying online, or commuting to campus and returning home each day. Pray for the leaders as they consider how to meet these students where they are.
A lack of commitment: 83% of people in Lithuania claim to be Catholic, yet an overwhelming majority of them are nominal. There is a tiny minority of evangelical Christians (1.1%). The younger generation of Lithuanians think Christianity is mostly irrelevant and interest in other forms of spirituality is growing. To be an evangelical Christian is seen as too radical, intolerant and sectarian. LKSB, the evangelical student movement, is small, without many resources, and facing many challenges. On some campuses the movement has contacts with one or two interested students, but regular meetings are not held. In general there is a lack of commitment from students to get involved in ministry, a symptom of the general youth climate in Lithuania. The leaders can see many opportunities, but lack the numbers to reach out. Please pray for students to grow in love for Christ, and to become more committed to ministry.
Gospel teaching in schools: Tolerance is valued in Denmark, so it is safe to talk about faith in public. On the other hand it is widely believed that religion is a private matter. In 2009 KFS, the evangelical student movement, set a goal of reaching every single educational institution in Denmark with more than 100 students within a three-year period. Staff or student leaders gained permission to visit high schools and speak to students between lessons or attend lessons and give an introduction to the gospel. By 2012 only two places remained closed of KFS. A strength of KFS is the high school students’ strong commitment to the movement. The main challenge is that so few stay involved with KFS at university. Some think that student ministry in the university is unnecessary, others are not aware of KFS. Please pray that Christian university students will see the need for ministry among their peers and the value of KFS.
Suicide bombing: Many have been saddened by the suicide bombing of All Saints' church in Peshawar, Pakistan, in September which killed 85 people. Philip Chandi of PFES (Pakistan Fellowship of Evangelical Students) writes: “We do not have words to express our grief… We have lost many shining stars of our community: successful and dedicated young people… We are encouraging people to remain peaceful and keep praying. We are also motivating students to write about this incident and the experiences of victims.” Pray for those directly affected and also for the student ministry throughout Pakistan. If ever there was a time for Pakistani students to stand firm and be equipped as leaders, it is now.
The message of reconciliation: The instability and fear currently gripping the country did not deter LIVF Lebanon from recently holding a student conference halfway between Beirut and the Syrian border tackling the issue of reconciliation. A former member of UCCF in the UK who is volunteering with LIVF, shared: “Lebanon is a country that is divided both politically and religiously. So this message of reconciliation is incredibly important. We looked at 2 Corinthians 5, how God reconciled us through Christ, and now we have become his ambassadors who follow his example. We can only become reconciled with others because God reconciled us to him first… This message has never been more apt than in these uncertain times.”
Sense of hopelessness: Although Guyana is home to beautiful scenery and rich natural resources, it is rife with corruption, drug trafficking, political instability and racial tension. This has resulted in a sense of hopelessness, especially among the nation’s youth. IS/IVCF Guyana believes that it is important to reach students and give them hope when they are young, and there is therefore a strong focus on work among secondary school students. In fact, while IVCF is present in seven out of ten tertiary institutions, ISCF sponsors bible clubs in over 240 secondary schools. Praise God for these valuable opportunities and pray that Christian students will be eager to share the hope that is within them.
Disillusioned by God: "When I was 15 years old, I began to discover the ugliness of the world and of life and I abandoned faith in God.” Disillusioned by a God, Gianluca decided that God was not there – or if he was, he just didn’t care about people. “So I searched for more ‘mature’ alternatives because I thought that faith was something for fools. I started to meet my need for meaning through science, culture and philosophy. I was convinced that life had no meaning other than what we give it, that mankind was a tiny speck of dust in pain.” Gianluca’s words could be those of any number of students in universities around the world. But Gianluca’s story doesn’t end there. Thanks to the power of the Holy Spirit and the faithful witness of Christian students, Gianluca is now a follower of Jesus. Pray for Christian students to live distinctive lives and to be bold in sharing their faith with those who are searching for the truth.
Thinking about Jesus: ‘Think… about what you have never thought of before’ - this was the motto of the recent outreach of SMD Germany at Tübingen University. On three evenings, between 400 and 500 people came to discuss issues rarely raised on campus: finances, advertising, and incarnation in art, music and entertainment. Mission weeks like this one have happened throughout Germany on university campuses since the summer. Activities vary but the goal is always the same: to make Jesus the subject of conversation on campus. Pray for Christian university students as they seek to live lives that motivate people not only to think and talk about Jesus, but most importantly, to get to know him.
Dramatic growth: EvaSUE, the Christian student (IFES) movement in Ethiopia, has experienced dramatic growth in the last 10 years. Since 2002 almost 280,000 people have heard the gospel through them and an astonishing 23,000 people have come to Christ. In addition, more than 1,000 student leaders are trained by the movement every year. Praise God for this important ministry of evangelism and discipleship and for the impact that its graduates are making.
Meeting together: In some European universities, there is a growing reluctance to allow Christian groups to meet on campus. In others, just coordinating timetables of students and staff with room availability is a logistics nightmare. Christine Bourgeois, a staff worker for GBU Switzerland in Geneva, had become increasingly aware of these problems. During the spring term she decided to open her home to students, offering a meal and a bible study in a more relaxed setting. These studies have been well attended by students from a variety of backgrounds including many international students. Please pray that Christian students would continue to find the time and space to study God’s word together. Pray too that the Swiss educational authorities would continue to accept the presence of chaplaincies on campus - they are currently the only Christian body that is officially recognised by the universities.
Part of something bigger: The Antigua State College is the only place of higher education on this small Caribbean island. Groups of Christian students meet in the college as well as in eight state-run secondary schools, but for a long time the groups remained small and isolated from each other. However, this has all changed in the last few years. Times of shared worship and discussion as well as events such as Testimony Tuesdays and a trip to a deprived community in Dominica have encouraged and energised the students. They are starting to realise that they are not alone and are part of something bigger than themselves, giving them the boldness to reach out to their peers. Praise God for this work through ISCCF Antigua. Pray that God will continue to stir up Christian students in Antigua to have an impact on their schools and ultimately their country.
Ignoring God: Many Latvian students have some sort of belief in God, but it has little influence on their day-to-day existence. Ignoring God, they focus on what they hope will lead to successful and happy lives, such as doing well in their studies or developing a career. Kentija, who recently attended a Christianity Explored Bible study course, describes the transformation that took place in her life: “A year ago I believed that God exists, but I couldn't feel his presence in my life and thought that Jesus was only a myth. I thought that God was out of my reach. But then through LKSB (the IFES movement in Latvia) I learned that God is the only one that I can always rely on. I started to appreciate everything he has done in my life, for it all has led to something good.” Please pray for students attending universities in Latvia, that God will open their hearts as he did Kentija's. Pray too for LKSB members as they seek to help others come to see Jesus as their only hope in life.
Human trafficking: Children and young adults forced to beg, sold into domestic service, used as labourers in mines and agriculture, and sexually exploited - this is the grim reality of trafficking in Niger and other countries in Africa. Students and graduates are not immune from these dangers and, sadly, young people who go against their parents' beliefs and convert to Christianity are particularly at risk. Christian students in Niger long to respond to the injustices of society and to be part of helping others to see God's kingdom come on earth. Please pray for them as they work to encourage church members to join with NGOs who are fighting people trafficking, inspire graduates to sustain this ministry, and equip students to help rescued children re-integrate into society.
Reconciliation through Christ: Checkpoints and blockades, violence and death - from the outside it is easy to wonder how anyone could study in such a situation. Pray for Christian students in the Palestinian Territories and elsewhere who are struggling to live the reality of our reconciliation through Christ in the midst of deep-rooted divisions along political, ethnic or social lines. Give thanks with us that our God is a God in whom there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Pray that others will see how followers of Christ think and behave in these situations of conflict and be drawn to our powerful God, who has demolished the dividing wall of hostility between him and us, and can do the same for the divisions among people.
A country of extremes: Guyana is a country of extremes - from the richness of its natural beauty to the drug trade, prostitution, gun crime and corruption that are evident both in public and private life. Most of the population lives below the poverty line and many graduates and qualified professionals migrate in pursuit of lucrative jobs. Students go to university for many reasons, but nearly all are at a crucial point in their lives when they are making choices that will affect not only their future but the future of their society. Join us in giving thanks for Christians on campuses across Guyana and continue to pray for students to be transformed by the power of the gospel. Pray for Guyana's Christian students to be diligent in their studies as well as in their relationship with God, that they may lead the way as leaders of integrity and character in an era of compromise and duplicity.
First Nations people: In the sub-arctic regions of Canada, reserves have been set aside for the exclusive use of First Nations people, the indigenous peoples of Canada. The situation for many of Canada's indigenous people is a difficult one. Abuse of children by close family members is common and according to a government website, suicide rates are five to seven times higher for First Nations youth than for non-Aboriginal youth. Suicide rates among Inuit (indigenous arctic peoples) youth are among the highest in the world, at 11 times the national average. Pray for wisdom for those attempting to deal with these deep-rooted problems, and for God to raise up Christians who would speak words of hope and change into this situation.
Violent crime: Jamaica, the largest of the English-speaking Caribbean islands, has a strong democratic tradition. The gospel is preached without hindrance and Christianity is the dominant religion. Yet, despite the presence of many Christians, violent crime is a major issue, with Jamaica having one of the world's highest murder rates. The violence since late May is a result of the attempts of law enforcement groups to arrest a drug baron wanted in the United States and the army has recently been investigated for possible human rights violations. Pray for peace and order in the land and for progress in addressing the complex social and moral issues that give rise to violence.
Hidden problems: Puerto Rico is a beautiful island in the Caribbean and about 97% of its population would call themselves Christians. Yet it is also a country that suffers much violence, alcoholism, drug-addiction, mental illness and corruption. These situations affect the whole of life and Puerto Ricans often respond with resignation and silence, an attitude which can also be found in the Church. For students, the current economic crisis has also caused them to question their motives for studying and has led many of them to hopelessness and a lack of direction. Pray for Christian students to be wise and diligent as they balance their different responsibilities and to honour God in how they live their whole life.
City of archbishops: Braga is one of the biggest and oldest cities in Portugal, known as the 'city of the archbishops' because of its huge churches. It is also one of the most youthful cities of Europe with two universities and a student population of about 17,000. GBU-Braga, the local IFES student movement, is very small - only about eight to ten students. Nevertheless, they meet together regularly, holding Bible study groups which are open to all students as well as building relationships with international students. Praise God for the eagerness of Christian students to study the Bible and learn more about what it means to be a Christian and pray that their outreach, both to Portuguese and international students, may bear much fruit.
