IFES news: Africa

senegal: a life less ordinary

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Think about what extraordinary things God might want you to do to change the world into a place that truly reflects who he is.

In 1997 a film came out entitled A Life Less Ordinary. The plot centres around a cleaning man who takes his boss's daughter hostage after being fired and replaced by a robot. Two not very successful 'angels', who are in charge of human relationships on earth, offer some unsolicited help to bring this unlikely couple together.

The theme of this film is that fate draws people together, and that irrational forces are responsible for success in relationships, not hard work or commitment either to one another or God. Is this really what makes a life less than ordinary??

A post graduate in Africa has a different idea about living a life less ordinary. He writes:

'As I look back in my life, I cannot even believe what has happened so far. One day though as I was going through a difficult time in my life struggling with doubts, God asked me a simple question: 'Look at your life and tell me what is so ordinary about it. What have I done for you that is at all ordinary?' And I realized that it was true.

'My mother had not planned to have me and most people had asked her to abort me because she was very young. The night of my birth, all the other babies were stolen from their mothers while they slept in the hospital - I was the only child who was not stolen! I am an adopted child by a father whom I love very much. However my future was very uncertain because from the beginning my biological father's relatives did not accept me – though that has changed, praise God!

'I was always the youngest in my class during my studies from primary school all the way through my PhD. I passed my Baccalaureate very young, at age 16. And yet, I did not get any scholarship from the Cameroonian state to pursue further education. At a time when I thought I was going to commit suicide because my life did not seem to bear any meaning, the Senegalese government granted me a scholarship and I studied medicine.

'Once in Senegal, I met a student who was a member of GBU (the IFES movement in Senegal) in Dakar, the capital. God had started his work in me in Cameroon where I had seen the Jesus film and heard testimonies of brothers and sisters there. However, in Dakar, I saw the life of that GBU student and I decided to do like him. He was so serious in his relationship with God and the love of God shone through him. He would welcome us in his room in the hall of residence and we would spend lunchtime with him. I saw his Christian literature. I saw that he was a godly man who hated sin. And I decided to give my life to God. I had no idea that Jesus could grant such a pure heart and transform in such a way one's life.

'I remember praying in my room on my knees and asking Jesus to take control of my life. And that's where things started! I joined the GBU group and a local church: through them, God worked in me. More recently, I met my wife who came from the USA to Senegal to serve in the GBU and we got married here.'

Praise God for his wonderful deeds! Pause for a moment and think of what God has done in your life. Praise the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, praise his holy name. (Ps 103:1)

Perhaps you can locate the film A Life Less Ordinary and use it to start a discussion with friends about life, God, and what an 'un-ordinary' life might look like. Look back and see how God has been at work in your life, but also look ahead and think about what extraordinary things God might want you to do to change the world into a place that truly reflects who he is.

francophone africa: habits and attitudes that touch the hearts

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Are you ready not only to speak to those in despair, but to include them in your life, to come alongside them in love?

The panafrican conference of IFES Francophone Africa is an opportunity for the 19 movements in that region to spend time with each other, to encourage and learn from one another. The first conference of this kind was held in 2007 in Rwanda. Zach, who was there then, shares with us what he learned:

'The conference in Rwanda enabled me to spend time with students, to share with them to be able to better understand the realities of their lives in our different movements. We actually have similar experiences and contexts.

'What I remember most from that conference was the teaching brought by our brother Vinoth Ramachandra (Secretary for Dialogue and Social engagement). The analysis that he gave of the Bible passage found in Luke 24 really impacted me. In that text, he talked about the disciples of Emmaus who were in the presence of Jesus in a world of despair. Jesus came into their lives and walked with them. Jesus' example teaches us that we have the right to intrude into the private space of people who have lost hope. It is only when Jesus shares the bread and says grace that their eyes are open. There was something in the way Jesus said grace that woke them up. There are habits and attitudes that touch the hearts.'

Interestingly, even after Jesus explained the scriptures to these men, they still did not really 'see' him. It was only in a home, in the context of a meal, when Jesus prayed, that their eyes were opened. Sometimes the best way to reach out to others may be in simple acts of love and community.

The panafrican conference (5 to 13 August) will be held in Cameroon. Its aim is to foster training, exchange of experiences and synergy of action for Francophone movements to build new strategies. The conference will look into the theme of mission in the university. The university is the mission field and the university is a place where many cultures mingle on campus. Please pray for students to see themselves as missionaries sent by God into their campuses – proclaiming the gospel not only in word, but also in action. Pray too that they will develop habits and attitudes that will touch the hearts of those in despair needing hope and salvation.

What about you? Are you ready not only to speak to those in despair, but to include them in your life, to come alongside them in love?

Read Vinoth Ramachandra's blog - prepare to be challenged!

mena: involving graduates

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Money, money, money. Students the world over never seem to have enough of it. But while young people in some countries are able to find resources when they are needed, finding the extra cash for camps or other training events is not always possible in all parts of the world.

An IFES student movement in the Middle East holds five camps throughout the year which are amongst the major events in the life of the movement. Through these camps, the movement reaches out to students from all sorts of backgrounds. However, funding for the camps is often a problem.

Two years ago, the members of the student movement realized that graduates of the movement wanted to be more proactive in the ministry. They started to write letters to the graduates giving information about the camps and offering them the opportunity to be involved.

Many graduates responded positively and now, 250 graduates have been involved in this scheme. In fact, for the last two years and for the first time in the life of the movement, 80% of ministry expenses have been covered by graduates of the movement, with the remaining 20% covered by local churches.

This wave of graduate generosity has enabled students in the student movement to be generous as well. In the constitution of the movement, they have committed to give 10% of their income to support student ministry outside of the country, focusing on two countries within the Middle East.

nigeria: unleashing student initiative

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

'Expect great things from God, Attempt great things for God': This was the motto of William Carey, known as the father of modern missions. And this is what NIFES (the IFES movement in Nigeria) students have exemplified recently.

In spite of the many challenges that they face, ranging from a disrupted academic year to difficult financial conditions for several students coming from poor families, they decided to raise funds locally to purchase a meeting tent for the NIFES missions conference centre called 'the land of promise'. NIFES holds a missions conferences there which have proved to be strategic events for students to hear God's call to them to serve within their own country and beyond in a cross-cultural context.

'Those who took the initiative in the first place were able to raise US$14,500 within a year before leaving office. This was unprecedented in our region. We need to bear in mind that this amount is being raised entirely by students for NIFES. This does not include what students have raised within for their campus group activities. This is truly commendable.' shares enthusiastically Gideon Para-Mallam, the Regional Secretary for IFES EPSA (English-and –Portuguese speaking Africa).

Praise God for we can expect great things from him. So with this in mind, please pray for NIFES students as they attempt great things for God. Please pray for peace in Nigeria as the country suffers with ongoing violence and unrest.

Pray that many students in NIFES and around the world will give generously.

guinea: fear

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Politics has once again become a key topic of discussion for students in Guinea (West Africa) as the country waits for the results of its presidential elections which took place over the past weekend. Although outside observers have said they are satisfied with the elections, there are reports of dissatisfaction within the country about some irregularities.

Last year, Guinea went through deep political upheaval and now, because of the current tense situation in the country, the authorities decided that the academic year should finish a month early because they feared students might be the target of political campaigns.

David, a friend involved in student ministry in the country, asks us to pray for peace in Guinea at this time as some fear further violence. He says: 'Many students do not know what to do: either go back to their village or to stay and try to look for a work placement. They feel there is no way out.'

Please pray for wisdom for the students involved in GBEEG (the IFES movement in Guinea) in their response to these current elections and to the wider political context of their country. As in many places, the decisions of the authorities have a real impact on the day-to-day lives of students.

A few years ago, the state stopped providing accommodation for students in the capital, Conakry. David says: 'The fact that there is no hall of residence anymore makes it really hard for students who come from remote villages because people do not trust that they will pay rent. Sometimes GBEEG can offer to be their guarantor. This is a way for us to serve students, whether they are Christian or not. This was how we met Aboukar, who comes from a Muslim background. Over the past years, his interest in the gospel has grown. The problem is that he fears to be rejected and excluded by his family and community if he follows Jesus.'

Please pray for Aboukar – and for each student in Guinea who does not know Jesus yet – that they come to know Christ and not fear men. 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.' Proverbs 9:10

angola: a time for everything

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

In Angola, as in many countries, there are sayings about time: 'Time does not wait for anybody. Time is money. Time goes and time never stops'. The start of the academic year in many countries is in September, and although it might feel as if that was only yesterday, for many students the academic year has just ended. Recently, an IFES group in Angola was discussing the topic of time. They talked about the little time they had during their university year, the little time they had to see their dreams come true and the little time they had to take up the challenges ahead of them.

They also asked themselves: 'What legacy do I want to leave as an imprint on the university?' As they reflected upon this issue, they looked back at the previous term. Seeing time from that perspective, the small student group in Lubango (a city in Angola) that meets twice weekly suddenly realized they had forgotten that the previous week should have been their last meeting! The student leader encouraged them to praise God for the past term, asking God for his protection and leading for them during the time when they would 'pause' from their studies and also from meeting together.

The end of the academic year is here for many students around the world. For some, it will mean having to find a job. For others, it will mean leaving their Christian friends at university and perhaps returning to live again with non-Christian families. For all, it will mean change. Please pray that in this time of change, each student in Angola and elsewhere will look up to the unchanging God.

As we all reflect on our own use of time, let us pray for God to help each of us to use our time wisely, to discern in what times we are living and to act accordingly so that we might leave a legacy that brings glory to God's name.

'Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.' (Ephesians 5: 15 – 16)

Comment: What kind of legacy do you want to leave as a student? What Kingdom impact would you like to make?

mena: the cost of following Christ

Thu, 27 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

What is the price you pay for following Christ? Maybe when you tell your friends the good news of Jesus or discuss how being a Christian relates to your academic discipline, they laugh at you; maybe you fear speaking out for the truth and for justice; perhaps you have reluctantly given up your former lifestyle or maybe you will not find a job easily after graduation because of your Christian values. Whatever it might be, there is a cost.

The following story tells us the price that some of our brothers and sisters have to pay for following Christ.

M is a student from a Muslim country who migrated into another Muslim country of North Africa for his studies. Whilst in that country, he got in touch with some followers of Christ, went to church and started attending a student group with like-minded people. However, the police got to know about him attending a church and he got arrested. What was the reason? He had a Muslim name and was associating with followers of Christ. After his arrest, he finally got expelled from the country and sent to his home country. And yet, his brothers and sisters in Christ knew that this would put him in great danger. So they helped him to go to another destination.

In the eyes of the world, M is without any future, and with no hopeful prospects of a job because he is outside his country, away from family and friends, and has not finished his studies. Please pray for him, and for others around the world who are persecuted for their faith, that each day they will be sustained by God's grace and assured of his presence and guidance. Pray too that they will receive good support from their brothers and sisters in Christ and that God would meet all their needs. Pray that through them, others might know God and follow him. Finally, let us give thanks to God that he does not leave us alone but, as we were reminded recently celebrating Pentecost, Jesus has sent us his Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the Spirit that brings us comfort, guides us and admonishes us.

Jesus said: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.' (John 14:27).

cote d'ivoire: convinced of the truth

Thu, 20 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The IFES movement in Côte d'Ivoire (GBU-CI) regularly organizes mission weeks, where Christian students visit the halls of residence, meeting and talking with the students, and showing an evangelistic film. At the end of a mission week in April at the University of Abidjan, 20 students came to faith in Jesus Christ, including Kouamé (not his real name).

Kouamé shared his room with his girlfriend, a situation which is not uncommon at the university. Although each room is designed for one person, students often share rooms because of lack of accommodation or financial difficulties. Sometimes, up to eight students share one room. Kouamé had heard the gospel before and had been reluctant to consider Christ, but, during this mission week, he came to the evangelistic talk and brought his girlfriend along too. That night the Spirit of God convinced him of the truth and Kouamé committed his life to Christ.

Give thanks to God for his saving grace and for Kouamé and the 19 others who gave their life to Christ at this event. Please pray for them to be faithful ambassadors for Christ in all that they are and do. Pray too for others, like Kouamé's girlfriend, who have heard the truth, but who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

Our friends in GBU-CI also ask us to pray for the economic situation to improve so that students will have more space and better living and studying conditions. In that light, please pray that God would grant wisdom to the minister of Education and all those in authority as they make decision that impacts the lives of many students in Côte d'Ivoire. There are six state universities in Côte d'Ivoire and GBU-CI is present in three of them: in Abidjan, Yamoussoukrou, Daloa.

We also continue to pray for ongoing freedom for the Christians, that they would be able to lead peaceful lives and share the good news of Jesus with others. Côte d'Ivoire is a secular country of West Africa, with 40% Muslims and 40% Christians, 20% traditional religion followers.

francophone africa: uniting francophone africa

Mon, 17 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Did you know? – There are more French-speaking countries in Africa than English-speaking countries. The dominant religions in Francophone Africa are Islam, traditional religions and Christianity (Roman Catholicism). Often you will find syncretism, a merging of various religions.

Every three years, IFES holds a conference for all of Francophone Africa. The first Pan African Conference was held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2007 and gathered people from the 19 movements. The next one will be hosted by the GBEEC (the IFES Cameroonian movement) from 5 to 13 August.

Alphonse Teyabé, the General Secretary for GBEEC writes: 'The aim of the gathering is the foster fellowship between students and graduates of the region. It is an opportunity to share ideas between participants of different movements. It is a time when people are built up in their faith, when they have a chance to hear from international speakers. It is a time when the participants can be envisioned to build new strategies for the years to come. It is a moment to give missionary plans for Francophone Africa. It is a time of prayer for all movements.'

Please pray for the students in each country of the IFES French-speaking Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Maurice, Chad, Central African Republic, and Madagascar. These are the countries of IFES Francophone Africa.

Pray for God to help GBEEC members as they work towards this event, that the Lord will help them in their planning and give them joy in serving him. Pray that God will use this conference greatly to bring about his kingdom throughout universities in French-speaking Africa.

You can watch this video of Daniel Bourdanné to have more prayer topics about Francophone Africa.

benin: the joy of serving students

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Benin, previously known as Dahomey, is a West African country that has been independent from France since 1960. It has a population of 8.9 million (2009) and the literacy rate is 34.7%. The Church in Benin has experienced significant growth since the 1990s.

The student movement in Benin, the Groupe Biblique des Elèves et Etudiants du Bénin (GBEEB), was founded in 1977 working among high-school and university students. Emile is a staff worker with GBEEB and shares with us some of his joys in serving students recently:

'I am so encouraged by the commitment of students to reaching out to their friends in their respective colleges. Despite the strikes that recently disrupted classes, they have been able to overcome the difficulties and find alternative solutions as they have not been allowed to meet on campus for Bible studies and evangelistic events.

'Last week, a student from a Muslim background came to know the Lord. Praise God! This morning, I had a conversation with a student leader who found herself tangled up in a particular sin. How wonderful to see that she was so willing to obey God and therefore change her lifestyle. It was very moving to see her repent. I am thankful to work with them!'

Praise God for his power to change lives and to open people's eyes to his truth. Pray for the student who has come to know Jesus and the other student who has decided to repent and change her lifestyle: 'that love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.' (Phil 1:9-10)

the gambia: a new approach to student ministry

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

There have recently been some new developments in the University of the Gambia. The government agreed that all colleges and tertiary institutions be brought under the administration of the University of the Gambia. They made it clear that they want only one Christian student group on campus. That means all other Christian student groups will be dissolved.

Noble, the leader of the IFES movement there, writes:

'This directly affects us as a movement and consequently is leading us to rethink our approach and strategies. This new development is good because the students we train through small groups will be able to positively affect and give leadership and direction to the single larger group.

'Do join us in praying as we seek to encourage unity amongst the Christian students, that we will not do it at the expense of maintaining scriptural integrity. Pray for us as we work to develop good training resources to put in the hands of student leaders.'

'Join us in giving thanks for the students who are taking more initiative and are becoming more involved in the ministry. For example, the ladies at the School of Nursing began to meet in the early hours of the morning to pray together. This has also spilled over to the School of Education where students are meeting to pray together every evening. Praise God that eyes are becoming more and more open to the great need of personal bible study and consistent prayer life.'

epsa: standing firm

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

In Liberia we publicly share our faith in God.

Although once ravaged by civil war, Liberia, a country on the west coast of Africa, now has Africa's first democratically elected female president. Nicknamed The Iron Lady, she is working hard to bring stability and reconciliation.

Moses is one of many students, staff and associates who suffered dearly throughout the turbulent years but who are now bringing hope to the university and the nation. Moses started his college education in 2001 but the civil war forced him to flee in 2003 to a refugee camp in Sierra Leone. Still keen to study and, if possible, find work whilst there, Moses found somebody who gave him tutorial classes in accounting, and his interest in that subject grew. Moses tells us: 'In 2005, I returned to Liberia and applied for readmission into the university. All my chemistry and biology grades from before were missing from the records. I had to start again and decided on a new field of study: accounting and economics. That's what I'm still studying now.

'At university, I got involved with LIFES, the student movement. My life as a Christian has to be shown everywhere I am. Here in Liberia we publicly share our faith in God with whomever we like. When I am sitting in a class and the lecturer delays, I talk to the entire class about my faith. I have time to study my Bible as well as my lessons. I learned to balance the two because I want to do well professionally too, as I believe it gives glory to God.

'One of the main obstacles as a student here is corruption. In order to pass an exam, our lecturers and administrators ask for money. If you don't give money, you're given bad marks. As a Christian, I have stood against such practices. Many times classmates asked me what I want to prove. At times, I personally asked myself if I was at the right place. I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Why was God not giving me a way out? And at that time, God sent new administrators who positively influenced my university and corruption lessened.

'In my department the greatest challenge faced by Christian students is to keep your head above the water and to not give in to buying grades, cheating during tests, sleeping with your lecturers, or stealing test questions. Because we're just out of the civil war, times are still hard.'

Please join us in praying for Moses, for the ministry of LIFES and for the country of Liberia.

Give thanks for Moses and for his passion to glorify God in all he does. Pray for God to use the witness of Moses and other students in LIFES to draw many students to himself.
Pray for Christian students around the world who face the specific challenges of bribery, corruption or cheating. Pray for courage to stand against those practices and to impact their universities for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Pray that God will raise up a much-needed staff worker for LIFES.

niger: assured in him

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

students at a public evangelistic event

This week, please join us in praying for Niger, a landlocked country in western Africa, which is named after the Niger River. Although Niger is a secular country with freedom of religion and worship, the majority of the population is Muslim.

One of our friends there has asked us to uphold their nation in prayer: 'Today, we heard news reports that during a cabinet meeting, machine guns were heard firing at the President's palace. It is thought to be a coup. Please pray against political unrest and for peace to be restored.'

Pray for our brothers and sisters, the members of GBEEN, the IFES movement there. Pray that they would be assured of God's sovereignty in the midst of this situation and that 'nothing shall separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

Praise God for the evangelistic zeal within the movement that is palpable and is bearing good fruit. Over the past few months, the students and staff have held several evangelistic events, including film nights exploring issues around young people and AIDS, and debates on different topics. Issa, the GBEEN staff worker writes: 'We see many students who are open to discussion, and they display a very positive attitude. Others are rather antagonistic.' Pray that many would turn to Christ and be assured in Him.

liberia: enthusiasm and passion to share the good news

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

This week, join us in praying for Liberia. Liberia enjoyed relative peace until 1989 when the Americo-Liberian ruling minority was overthrown. Since then, the country has suffered the continuing effects of civil war. In addition to the several hundred thousand people who died when events reached a climax in 2003, thousands more lost their homes or were displaced. The economy has not recovered and emotional wounds are deep.

Moses Cooper is a student leader in the Liberia Fellowship of Evangelical Students (LIFES). He is full of enthusiasm and passion to share the good news to his friends. He shares with us some of the challenges faced by Christian students as they seek to make an impact for God's glory in the university.

'Cheating is common. Books are scarce. Teachers who come from developed countries come with the most recent edition of the books they teach from. You as a student cannot afford to order those books. We're just coming out of a war and times are hard. If the student is not able to buy the book, in theory he fails the course. However, the same student could possibly pass if he pays his teacher.

'I am against such practises as a Christian. Many times when I read the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ, I am encouraged. Jesus said: Blessed are you when man persecutes you because of righteousness sake for theirs are the Kingdom of heaven.'

Praise God with us for Christian students in Liberia who are willing to make difficult and costly choices because they love Jesus. Please pray for Moses and other Christians like him, that they will stand firm in their faith and not give in to the temptations around them. Pray that their godly lifestyles will be a witness to others, and that God's name will be glorified as they live out their faith.

nigeria: violent clashes

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

'This is an urgent call to prayer and action from us to the international Christian community,' Gideon Para-Mallam (IFES Regional Secretary for English and Portuguese-speaking Africa), writes from his home in Jos, capital of Plateau State, Nigeria.

In the city of Jos, the past four days have been marked by deadly violence between Christians and Muslims. News reports put the death toll in the hundreds. The city of Jos has become polarised along religious lines of settlements following three violent clashes in the past.

Gideon continues: 'I just got back from Bukuru under security escort and came back greatly dismayed at what I saw. Rows of shops of Christian traders burnt down, in their section of the town, not to mention Churches burnt all over Jos. A number of different churches are yet to count their deaths as, sadly, some are still lying out there on the streets.'

Please pray that the calm reported today (Thursday 21 January) would remain and that God would give lasting peace to this troubled area. Pray too for the students and staff of the IFES student movement in Nigeria, especially those living in Jos. Pray and for them not to fear, but to know that God is with them. We pray that God will use these believers to impact their society for his glory.

international: discovering power in prayer

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The Canadian province of Quebec has its own unique character: largely French-speaking, yet open to immigrants from many countries; settled by missionaries from France, yet now with the lowest percentage of evangelical believers of all the provinces; valuing the arts and relationship, yet suffering from much brokenness in families.

Most of the leaders of the GBUC (the IFES student movement in Quebec) have been called by God from outside the province. Likewise the student groups include more Francophone Africans and Europeans visiting on student visas than native Quebecers.

Kathleen (GBU staff) writes: 'We who know God know we cannot build here without him, so we pray. We give thanks for what we have, and pray that, whether through international or national students, God's name will be proclaimed. And our prayers are being answered.'

Last year Romu, a graduate student from Francophone Africa, was struggling to share Jesus with his non-believing friends. His GBUC small group prayed with him and God gave Romu courage to ask his friends if they would study the Bible with him. A small seekers' group was formed and then, for six weeks, Romu's small group prayed for them as Romu led the discussions on the life of Jesus.

A student group in another city are on a campus hostile to the gospel and try to make their group known via publicity on the student notice board. Week after week, their ads kept disappearing; they were experiencing opposition. But they also realised they weren't depending on God. When they placed the ad in Jesus' name, it stayed in place! The lesson they learnt is precious: in the battle, we need not give up interceding and pray with faith in Jesus' victorious name.

Please pray that God will continue to encourage the GBUC student groups and their staff, that they will be rooted even more in him and that their light will be a light to the Quebec students with whom they share their classrooms.

north africa: seeing God answer

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Prayer is never in vain and in 1999 God answered in wonderful ways in one North African country. The year was declared to be a year of prayer and, during the 12 months, the number of believers doubled from 70 to 150.

Ever since, more and more people have committed themselves to follow Jesus, even though pressure on Christians has also continued to increase. There are now between 500-700 believers in the country and the key leaders of the national church are all people who gave their lives to Christ in 1999. The impact of that year of prayer cannot be underestimated. And our hope is that prayer for this part of the world will continue.

The IFES student ministry in that land is also the direct fruit of this revival. Two university professors who were students in 1999 are now actively involved in student ministry there. They know the university environment well and know how to support the students.

Christian students in this country face trials of all kinds: rejection by family and friends, loss of employment and pressures to conform to the mainstream religion. Despite all this and knowing the cost of following Christ, students regularly commit their lives to him. The student groups provide a space where they can share their joys and burdens, pray and grow together as disciples of Jesus.

Please pray for the students who recently committed their lives to Jesus, to be strengthened in the faith and to be bold in praying for more to come to Christ.

Pray too for students around the world who are persecuted for their faith, that they will not lose heart but be strong in the Lord.

sierra leone: reaching out to communities

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone ended in 2002, but the country and its people continue to live with the legacy of the brutality of those years. Many lives were shattered, peace remains fragile and economic recovery is slow. In the face of these difficulties, students of the Sierra Leone Fellowship of Evangelical Students (SLEFES) are reaching out to others by showing God's love in practical ways.

'Operation Faith in Action' is one of SLEFES (the IFES movement in Sierra Leone) mission endeavours. Students do community work like teaching children or cleaning churchyards, and through these activities they are able to share the good news of Jesus Christ in the local area.

Please join us in praying for the 70 students and the three communities in which they'll be working: Segbuama in the East, Kamabai in the North and Makomba in the Western area. Pray for God's protection on the students and for them to grow in their understanding of mission as they reach out to those communities. The teams are praying for 200 people to turn to Christ and go on to be nurtured in the local churches.

togo: finding freedom

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Togolese students

Togo is a small country in West Africa.The national anthem contains the following words:

'Even if tyrants shall come, thy heart yearns towards freedom.
Togo arise! Let us struggle without faltering.
Victory or death, but dignity.
God almighty, Thou alone hast made Togo prosper.'

Written around the time they gained independence in 1960, the anthem speaks of the struggles they faced under German, French and English rule in centuries past. Yet freedom is still not present in all areas of society. In spite of the fact that the anthem says that God made Togo prosper, religious freedom cannot always be taken for granted.

In more recent years, restrictions on religious freedom have been seen, particularly in high schools, and are a sign of growing secularization in education. Islam, however, seems to find fertile land in the country and is winning more and more converts amongst intellectuals.

To this longing for freedom, the Togolese IFES movement, the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Scolaires du Togo (GBUST), has responded by sharing the gospel of freedom to the Togolese students. This year they are celebrating 35 years of proclaiming Jesus and his reign on campus. We praise God for the many students who have come to know Christ through GBUST.

Please pray that the students will be passionate to share Christ to their friends and live out the faith. Pray too for peace and stability in the country. An election is to be held on 28 February 2010. May the hand of the Lord be on that land and keep it from violence.

kenya: the future is more important than the past

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Like Jesus, we are called to proclaim the Lord's gracious gift of salvation by ministering to people's needs. We learn from the example of Jesus Christ, God's perfect missionary who cared in practical ways for those who suffer.

Throughout Africa, IFES movements are training students to educate and counsel young people about sex, drugs, disease and relationships. James (not his real name) is a trained peer educator of FOCUS (the IFES movement in Kenya). He shares with us an encouraging experience of how God has been at work in somebody else's life through him:

'I am a member of my local University Christian Union Counseling Unit. Earlier this year, I did my teaching practice at a secondary school. With the help of the school administration, I partnered with a staff of the school to form a Peer Counseling Club in the school. Most of the people who came for counseling had problems related to relationships, parents, school performance, drug abuse and addiction.

'One day, a young teenage girl came for counseling. A male teacher in her former school had lured her into the world of love and passion. After they had sexual relations together, he abandoned her and accused her of immorality. She went through pain and inner torture and begged her parent to transfer her to another school. That's how she ended up where I was.

'When we met her academic performance was low. She couldn't focus during the classes whenever she had a male teacher. I counseled her for three weeks regarding her relationship with the former teacher, her struggles with her parents and her declining academic results. I helped her realize that her future is more important than her past.

'Towards the end of the term, she was more focused and participated in class activities. She told me she had forgiven the teacher who disrupted her life. This energized her and she became more focused towards achieving her goals in life.'

01 December was World Aids Day. Pray with us that more people would see the need to radically transform their lifestyles in response to HIV/AIDS. Pray for Christian students throughout Africa to be bold in showing the love of Christ to those whose lives have been shattered by poor decisions regarding sex, drugs and relationships. Give thanks that we have a God who forgives and can heal even the most broken of lives.