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Where is God calling IFES? How does Daniel Bourdanné think we can get there? How can you be part of it?
On Thursday 14 August, IFES friends from Mexico to India, and Martinique to Italy, took part in a live online chat with Daniel Bourdanné (IFES General Secretary) and discovered some answers to these and other questions.
Question #1:
Pethuru (India): Dear Brother in Christ, Praise the Lord! I am a Medical Doctor actively involved with the Students ministry in India through UESI a part of IFES. India is next to Africa in the Burden of HIV/AIDS. We the evangelical Christians here look at this issue as an opportunity to tell the Gospel. We have just started discussing about Church's responsibility over the HIV issue... But I know in Africa 30-40% of people in some communities are already affected by HIV/AIDS and of course it will not spare the Youth. How you look at this issue in the global and in particular in South Africa's scenario?
Daniel: I do see HIV/AIDS as one of the biggest challenges in our world today. This is particularly important in our student work. The Global Church should take this seriously. It is an opportunity to demonstrate God's love. The Student Movements in Africa are already taking this challenge onboard. Good initiatives are going on in many places, working with the students on this but also helping the church to involve.
Question #2:
Jonathan (South Korea): How is the students’ ministry in Africa?
Daniel: Generally speaking, the student ministry in Africa is growing. The largest national movement is in Nigeria. NIFES has 40,000 members. The work is growing but we need to see more impact. The student ministry should have a visible impact on the church and society in Africa. This is happening more and more now.
Question #3:
Becky (USA): Many of us have a wonderful memory of you receiving a basketful of blessings, promises, and ideas at World Assembly a year ago. As you've read through all of those, I'm wondering if you saw any common theme that seemed to be God's direction or encouragement? Or some collection of ideas that inspired you?
Daniel: It was exciting to receive all the commitments, mainly to see that everybody want to contribute to this ministry. Yes I can see this excitement taking place. I see more people praying for IFES. It is wonderful to see this prayer movement taking more and more roots. I hope that this will lead IFES to be a leading prayer movement through what is going on now.
Question #4:
Alejandra (Mexico): Hello Daniel, I am a student leader from COMPA in México, I just came from an event of Formación from our region. We talked a lot about the context in which we do mission, the disillusion that our generation lives because a lot of what has said from everyone (government, religion, etc) has not been done, so we are living with the sense that words are empty in a way, and this affects also the way the Word of God is received. We also talked and thought a lot about our ways of sharing the gospel to others, and how the forms of the past do not address the real need of our generation. What can you tell us about how to recuperate the meaning of words and to share to the gospel to this generation?
Daniel: You are right. There is a sense of disillusion among students. I just come from Tokyo yesterday night. I met with around 400 students from all east Asia. They share the same thing. But we believe a God who is the God of Hope. We need to think of new ways to share the gospel. Of course it will depend on the context of each nation. But there is a real desire to be community people. I suggest that we share the gospel through relations. Please make friends, make friends, make friends and the Good News will follow. Any strategy or technique will work only if we depend on God and if we share the gospel in this community context. We need to recover from our individualistic approach and engage non believers through a new way: community, friendship.
Question #5:
Jonathan (South Korea): Is there any initiatives to build bridges between the students of different inter varsities, at the students’ level, rather than at the organisation level?
Daniel: Students have to take initiative. They are the one on campuses, called by God to this specific and great task. For this to happen, students need to be connected, share their challenges, their joys. I think that the internet is one of the tools enabling students to work together around the world and in their local contexts. One of the ways to be connected is for students to work together on projects initiated by them, not waiting for the organisation to bring something on board.
Question #6:
Emile (Benin): But the student ministry cannot develop without implication, without consideration of the condition of the graduates. Which strategies you think we can implement to reach that point?
Daniel: I remember my student days. Our student group was able to grow because of the support of our graduates. Their lives were for us a source of inspiration. Our graduates were key to us. It is therefore important for students and graduates to be integrated, working in close relationship. Graduates should open their homes to students so that students can see what it means to be involved in a family life, in market place.
Question #7:
Scott (France): As I work with IFES, I try to promote true partnerships with local churches (well beyond simply asking them to support our work), yet there many obstacles and challenges in doing so. Church structures sometimes seem to be inefficient or even counterproductive to people who work in a parachurch movement like IFES. Can you tell us what you think our priorities should be in working with local churches, even if our partnership with them might sometimes seem burdensome to us?
Daniel: We are not just working with local churches as external people. We are part of the church. We are the arms of the local churches on campuses. It is therefore vital for IFES movements, local groups to work in close relationship with churches. I know that it is sometime hard. Some local churches do not understand IFES but we need to keep working with them.
Question #8:
Natasha (UK): Is there any news on your visa situation?
Nancy (USA): I have been praying for some time about your visa, and I would like background information on why it was originally denied. Is racism involved, do you think?
Macklann (USA): Daniel, from Saint Louis we say hi and ask God to use this appeal to give glory to his name. We also thank God for you and the whole Family.
Daniel: I am very touched by how people around the world stand in prayer. Thanks a lot. This morning, (14 August) the appeal process took place in UK. We will hear soon about the outcome. I am very confident to the Lord.
I don't know if racism is involved. It will be sad if it was the case. From the biblical perspective, I do not have to suspect someone unless things are expressed openly. I don't want to condone such a view.
I don't understand the denial reasons. But God is at work through all circumstances. I believe that at the end, the name of our Lord will be glorified and IFES ministry will grow through this painful process. Please pray for the outcome of the appeal process. Thank God for keeping my family in peace. Pray that the Fellowship will continue to experience God's grace and peace.
Question #9:
Marc (Martinique): After a year as IFES General Secretary, what do you see as major challenges for the fellowship?
Natasha (UK): What has been your biggest encouragement in your first year as General Secretary? And the biggest challenge?
Daniel: Working together to build a common vision was for me one of the most exciting things. I hope all national movements will move forward with the new vision. The biggest challenge is to see students around the world committing themselves to this exciting journey: engaging their campuses with the Good news of Jesus. I believe that this challenge is a unique opportunity to serve the Lord in this generation and to impact Universities around the world with the Gospel.
Question #10:
Becky (USA): And what is that vision? As you've prayed and learned and discussed and travelled this year, where do you believe that God is calling IFES? And how do you think we can get there?
Daniel: I had a chance to travel in some places around the world. I was excited to see the potential of students when I was with 2,000 students together in Europe, and just last week with 400 students in East Asia. I believe that we should invest in building students into communities of disciples, transformed by the Gospel and impacting the university, the church and the society.
As IFES, at all level, we will need to work building those students through different means: prayer, support and giving them best training as the better they are trained the best they will take initiatives on their campuses.
Question #11:
Davide (Italy): Hi! So, Daniel, do you think it is important for leader to see and encourage the potential that students have?
Daniel: It is even vital. Leaders themselves need to be encouragers and good facilitators. But first they need to be models to students that they are serving, not their bosses.
Thank you! - for your questions and comments - and to Daniel for sharing some more with us about your thinking and ideas and vision and passion. There are lots more questions that we just don't have time to answer now.
We would love to have your comments on the issues we've discussed and to know what other topics you'd like to discuss with Daniel in the future. You can add a comment [below] or email us on 
Daniel: Thank you all for your time. I am sure you will take fully part in this exciting opportunity God is calling us for. With all the blessing. God bless you.
