IFES news: international

eurasia: bridge the barriers

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

"God told me to listen to him. I felt Him speaking to me here as I met with Him in the early morning. Three hours passed by like three minutes. It was the best time I ever had!" - a participant of Student Leader Formación, Eurasia.

The Student Leader Formación is central to nurturing student leaders in Eurasia. The Formación is a two week event where key leaders from the region gather in Ukraine. More than 100 people are expected at this year's event, held 31 July – 14 August, under the theme 'To him who overcomes…'; a theme that fits with the complex situations many students face and are currently experiencing. The teaching will be based on the book of Revelation, a book that challenges us to radical discipleship and gives us a vision of the reality and glory of Jesus through all that is happening, both good and bad.

One of our friends there writes: "Pray for a spirit of prayer, for growing friendships and networks amongst students from different nations, and for a new passion to be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ".

An added value of Formación is the friendships that are formed. While helping them mature as leaders, the event enables them to meet like-minded students from across Eurasia. Formación helps bridge the cultural and nationalistic barriers in the region.

A student leader tells us how at a previous Formación event she met somebody from a neighbouring country; a country with whom her own country was in conflict: "The treasure I found here was the love from people. Before, I thought that I will never meet anyone from that country. On the first day I was very sorry that people from that country were present here. I did not know how to behave. Later I realized that they became to me like relatives."

Praise the Lord that, because of Jesus, we can live in true reconciliation. Pray for the participants who have known hurt and who will attend Formación, that they might be healed and experience the amazing love of God that goes beyond ethnic boundaries.

moldova: challenging assumptions

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there.

Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in. (Alan Alda)

Don't we all at times anticipate potential problems and difficulties? They are often hypothetical and the likelihood of them happening might be small. And yet we still feel that they are very real and our assumptions about what might possibly happen change how we live our lives.

Tanea is a Christian student at a Moldovan University. When she first arrived at university, she decided not to live in the student dormitory for several reasons. She thought life in the university residence hall would be hard - that it would be impossible to study well there and that there would be heavy pressure from non‐Christian students to conform to their lifestyle. However, as she began her senior year at university, she changed her mind and took a room in the dorms.

Tanea says this was her best academic year ever! Living in the residence hall helped her to draw closer to her classmates. She also built new relationships with her roommates as she strove to be an example to them through her Christian life. Soon the girls decided to read the Bible every evening and they began participating in youth meetings at a local church.

This change in Tanea's life and in the lives of those around her happened because she overcame a barrier in her life. For her, the barrier was prejudice and fear. Through the help of the prayer group at her university and through Bible studies with other students, the Lord changed her preconceptions about life in the dorms, and about her classmates and her ability to be closer to them.

Praise God for his work in Tanea's life and for opening her eyes to see the needs around her. Give thanks for her new friends with whom she has been able to share her life as a Christian. Please pray for the girls who were in her dorm to come to Jesus and pray for the Lord to continue opening doors in Moldovan universities.

As we think of the work amongst students there, let us pray too for Moldova, a landlocked country between Ukraine, Romania and Russia. Last year, the country suffered political unrest in the aftermath of the elections and students were at the forefront of the demonstrations. Pray for peace in that land so that the gospel may continue to be openly shared and received.

Comment: Consider the following:

Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there. (Author Unknown)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

What are the unknowns that trouble you? How do you overcome your worry? What assumptions about people and life might God be challenging in your life?

lithuania: the best things in my life

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Whatever we worship we will serve, for worship and service are always inextricably bound together

What are the best things in your life?

* Love
* Family and friends
* Career
* Food
* Money
* Travel…

Students in LKSB (the IFES student movement in Lithuania) and others who attended asked themselves this question during their recent camp. Every year, the student movement organizes camps to give an opportunity for students to grow as Christians and also to reach out to their non-Christian friends too.

This year's camp had the overall theme of idols. For each of three days they focused on a different aspect of who or what we place at the centre of our lives:

1. The best things in my life... (my personal idols)
2. I want to be... (I am god)
3. Me and Jesus.

During the camp they talked about what they wanted most out of life. They came to the conclusion that, however good our goals and desires might be, if they become an end in themselves, they are idols. Tim Keller, an American pastor and author, puts it this way: 'Whatever we worship we will serve, for worship and service are always inextricably bound together. We enter into covenant service with whatever most captures our imagination and heart. It ensnares us. So every human personality, community, thought-form, and culture will be based on some ultimate concern or some ultimate allegiance - either to God or to some God-substitute.

'Individually, we will ultimately look either to God or to success, romance, family, status, popularity, beauty or something else to make us feel personally significant and secure, and to guide our choices. Culturally we will ultimately look to either God or to the free market, the state, the elites, the will of the people, science and technology, military might, human reason, racial pride, or something else to make us corporately significant and secure, and to guide our choices.'

Join us in praising God that the participants for this year came with many questions. There were those who were seeking the answers to their questions, there were those who wanted to better understand what it looks like to follow Christ, and there were those who are already followers of Jesus. Christians found themselves speaking to their non-Christian friends, learning to listen to them, learning to answer their questions and learning to look for ways to articulate and explain their faith.

Pray for those who are Christians - to be protected by God and to develop mature and strong Christian friendships. Pray for those who still have questions about Jesus that remain unanswered - to be open to him and to receive the answers to overcome their fears of following Jesus. Finally, pray, as Stepas, the General Secretary of LKSB has asked us, ' for LKSB students to continue to grow in friendship with their new non-Christian friends from the camp'.

Click here to read the full version of Tim Keller's article

canada: reaching out to indigenous peoples

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The sub-arctic indigenous peoples of Canada are known as the First Nations. Reserves of land have been set aside for the exclusive use of First Nations people. Uashat is a reserve of between 2000 and 3000 people, bordering the city of Sept-Îles, which itself has a population of 25,000. Denis and Brigitte Maisonneuve, a missionary couple who have been working here for around 10 years, serve in a Baptist church which is the first church built within a reserve in French Canada.

A group from GBUC (the French-speaking IFES student movement in Canada) sent a team in Uashat recently. There was a double purpose to this trip: to encourage the missionaries and other Christians who live in the village, and also to learn from their culture. Two GBUC staff workers, Romu and Joël, rejoiced to see that adults remembered them and were touched to see them return. Children connected with the team quickly, thanks to the activities organized by members of GBUC, Mathieu and Martine. Two others shared their testimonies in church, and the team was able to show their love and concern in a practical way by helping a family prepare their soil to plant grass.

The situation for many of Canada's indigenous people is a difficult one. Abuse of children by close family members is common. According to a Canadian 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 the deep-rooted problems affecting Canada's indigenous peoples, and for God to raise up Christians who would speak words of hope and change to this situation.

Join us in giving thanks to God for the connection GBUC has made over the past two years with the Uashat community. Please pray for the thirty-some believers in Uashat whose faith goes up and down as they face and deal with many kinds of difficulties. Pray that others may see their transformed lives and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in people's hearts and to bring healing into the entire community.

taiwan: what are you doing in this place?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

How do you preach and proclaim the good news in a way that relates to the needs of the poor and oppressed?

As you go from place to place, from meeting to meeting, from one conference to another, you might ask yourself: why am I here? This is one of the questions the participants to the 11th Youth Missions Conference of CEF, the IFES movement in Taiwan, were encouraged to ask themselves as they prepared their hearts and minds for the conference. 'Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?' (Judges 18:3)

The conference has brought together 1,600 students and 200 volunteers for a week of challenging teaching, prayer and fasting, and focus on mission. Martin Goldsmith, one of the speakers at the event, says that the mission of Jesus and his followers is one of preaching and proclamation that relates to the needs of the poor and oppressed. 'Mission must therefore include an active concern for all people, for the social needs of the poor and for the environment, which is created for Christ (Colossians 1:16) and should be kept beautiful for his pleasure.'

Please join us in praying for the participants at the Youth Missions Conference (11-17 July) who were brought to that place by God, that they will know why they are there. Pray that they will meet with God there, that they will hear, understand and obey God's will for their lives. Whether they stay in Taiwan or leave the country for the sake of the gospel, pray that they will preach and proclaim the good news of Jesus, having in mind and taking to heart people's needs.

Tomorrow is the last evening of the conference and Lindsay Brown, former IFES General Secretary, will speak at the closing session. Please pray for him to preach clearly and faithfully, and pray that the 1,600 participants will 'go and make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28.19).

Comment: How do you preach and proclaim the good news in a way that relates to the needs of the poor and oppressed? How are you expressing an 'active concern' for all aspects of God's creation?

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.

europe: change your mind!

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Throughout Europe we want to see people who think about their world from a biblical point of view and who can communicate this

'Let's Scripture shape our world!' This is the vision of Bible & Culture 2010, an intensive seven week course at Schloss Mittersill, Austria, in partnership with IFES. 'Throughout Europe we want to see people who know how to read both the Bible and their culture, who think about their world from a biblical point of view and who can communicate this. We want to see a new Christian generation who are able to live and speak for Jesus so that our societies will taste salt and see light.'

The participants study seven books of the Bible from different literary genres. They engage with seven cultural topics, which are the most prominent in shaping contemporary European worldviews. In addition, all participants engage once a week in teaching exercises that will help them to communicate what they are learning when they return home.

Please pray for God to use this course to build his church in Europe. Pray for Europe to experience a renaissance of Christian thought and values. Pray for students in Europe to come to a greater understanding of how being a Christian impacts the culture around them…and to act on this knowledge! Pray for the participants who are still waiting for visas to join the course: for visas to be granted.

A participant in a previous Bible & Culture session said: 'It really changed my mind, because before I tended to think that Christians' only task was to preach the gospel rather than to involve themselves in the issues of society – and witness Christ there.'

Pray that all the participants and for European students and graduates more generally to 'not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of mind.' (Romans 12.2)

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!

caribbean: different ways to give

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Participants at the CASET training.

Finding funds to run student activities is not always easy. The student executive committee of InterSchool & InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the IFES movement in Trinidad and Tobago, decided to raise funds themselves for the ongoing ministry. They looked for sponsors among local businesses, they talked to individuals and churches, and they sold things. In all, they raised about US$ 4,000 between September 2009 and March 2010.

This amount was far beyond what they had expected to raise. So they decided that, because God had been so good to them, they would give back by donating some of the money to a person or area of need within the CARIFES (IFES in the Caribbean) family.

Their staff worker suggested they support someone who had no funds to attend the upcoming Caribbean Staff Education and Training programme (CASET) in Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago was not the only movement involved in helping make CASET a success. For the second time in a row, the event was funded entirely from within the region. Two CARIFES graduates (husband and wife) paid for all the meals as well as for the airplane tickets for two staff from Haiti.

During CASET, students from the different islands of the Caribbean studying in Trinidad were invited to a special dinner where they heard staff workers talk about the student ministry in their respective islands. Khara, a medical student from Barbados, was there. At Urbana09, the North American Missions Conference in the USA, she had sensed God calling her to full-time Christian ministry. As Khara listened to the needs in the Barbadian movement, she felt this was a confirmation from God and decided to give one year to the movement in Barbados as a volunteer.

We give thanks for the great spirit of generosity we see in the Caribbean – the fundraising initiative taken by the students in Trinidad and Tobago that resulted in an over-flow of kindness, the donations from around the region that enabled the staff training event to be fully funded, and the gifts of service as Khara and others volunteer their time and talents as staff. How might God be calling you to share the resources he has given you?

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.

sri lanka: determination, prayer and perseverance

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Out of a difficult situation came a wonderful story of success.

Around the world, many student movements use rented rooms or borrowed offices to hold activities. FOCUS (the IFES movement in Sri Lanka) was no exception, and maintained that living in dependence from year to year and from one lease agreement to another was a vital part of their growth and collective learning. However with each passing year, more graduates joined the FOCUS family, the number of fellowships increased, more programs were held, more staff joined the team, costs for meeting places and transportation increased, safety and security issues emerged and the need for their own space grew.

The property committee found an ideal place on the edge of Colombo city. And so began the search for funds to buy the building. Property prices were rising phenomenally due to increased intensity of the civil war causing an influx of people renting and buying properties in Colombo. With the encouragement of the Regional Secretary of IFES, however, an invitation was sent to all those who had in anyway been impacted by the FOCUS ministry to come alongside the movement and raise the funding. So they reconnected with many people who had lost touch with the ministry and raised the funds.

It was pure determination, prayer and a willingness to persevere in the face of what felt like disinterest from outside organisations that led to the movement's investment of time and energy in raising funds for its much needed headquarters entirely from its own sources. Out of a difficult situation came a wonderful story of success. Not only does FOCUS have a great base for their activities in Colombo and throughout the country, but there is a deep sense of ownership among students and graduates of the movement both in the work and in the building they have worked so hard to purchase.

international: God's amazing provision

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Students are among the elite in almost every society. IFES wants these students, who have such potential for influence, to grow into leaders of integrity. We have a vision for students as living stones (1 Peter 2:4-5) being built into communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel and having an impact on the world around them for the glory of Christ.

We long to see these same students and graduates leading the way in growing a wave of indigenous generosity and participation in local IFES ministry in their country. With 500,000 students now involved in IFES-linked groups worldwide, this is a dream that has every opportunity of becoming a reality in our lifetime. Today's ministry across 155 countries is a tribute to a similar faithful stewardship modeled by those who started IFES in 1947.

Just as a small pebble can create a big ripple spreading across a pond, so a few people can change the way we fund our work. In each context IFES needs only a small number of people to demonstrate and talk openly about how they are called to give and to invite others to share in that blessing. As we express our faith in God's provision and our understanding that by giving we are investing in God's kingdom, ripples of giving will become waves of generosity.

It just takes a few people: an individual staff worker receiving salary support from family and friends; some recent graduates who were transformed by the gospel at university giving back to the movement from their wages and talents; a local IFES group encouraging its members to start supporting the ministry in even just a small a way while at college. It takes people who are confident in the ministry as a work of God with kingdom worth. It is rooted in a pride in the way God is at work, a willingness and eagerness to share the stories they see and hear, and a heart-felt commitment to be part of God transforming the lives of others for the sake of the gospel.

As you read these stories in this issue of Praise and Prayer, give thanks for such strong illustrations of how God had blessed those who, even when they doubted their ability to raise funds for themselves locally, were faithful to the call and found that God was not lacking in his response. Pray for many more individuals to begin waves which can gather momentum and become mighty illustrations of what God can achieve through his people.

Deborah Lake,
Director of Institutional Advancement,
at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies

international: student generosity is not optional

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Students may not have huge financial resources, but they can still contribute to the ministry. I was touched when I heard about Moses, a student with few financial resources whose love for the work amongst students was so great that he contributed financially by skipping some meals. When he left university to get into working life, he kept giving faithfully. I also know a student group that decided to spend their holidays working together and to set aside the income of their work for the local student group. As a result, the financial situation of the local group was in better shape than that of the national movement.

One of IFES strategic priorities for the next ten years is to develop a wave of generosity amongst students and national movements. Given that student initiative is at the heart of our priorities, I want to encourage students to exercise their generosity. I firmly believe that students have full responsibility to support the ministry not only by witnessing to their non-Christian friends but also by supporting the work financially. They need to be the first source of financial support on which the national movements can count.

The generosity of students should not be optional. It is an integral part of the process of discipleship. To give is first and foremost an act of worship to God and an expression of our love for him. It is also an opportunity to take away the sacred aura of money, the god Mammon who can so easily entangle us and make us independent of our Creator God. Moses and the other students gave because they 'gave themselves first to the Lord' (2 Corinthians 8:5), because they saw generosity as a privilege.

When we do not learn to give as students, we will do it with more difficulty when we start our professional career because we have not exercised the necessary discipline of generosity. Most generous Christians have learnt to do so when they were students, like Moses.

I therefore encourage all students to release an unprecedented wave of generosity, for I am convinced that their generosity will contribute to change the world. Whether the contribution is given individually or collectively, whether it comes from an income from a holiday job or from skipping a meal, from selling books or a collection, or from pocket money, students can show great generosity when they are committed to it. Students who give today will be those who will have at heart to support local churches and mission work faithfully when they are in the world of work. Encouraging students to give is therefore crucial to the future of both the church and missions.

Daniel Bourdanné
IFES General Secretary

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

eurasia: how's your health?

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

How's your health? Are you caring for the body God has entrusted to you – getting enough sleep, eating as well as you can? Are you spiritually healthy – reading God's word, spending time in prayer and in fellowship with God's people, obeying his voice in every area of your life? And what about your emotional health? Are you filled with fear or anxiety? Do you relate well to others, caring for their needs and sensitive to how they are reacting to you?

God has created us to be whole people, to experience his lordship in every part of our lives. The recent IFES Eurasia Institute, a two-week training for staff, recognized this by requiring that all participants enrol in a course called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Let's hear from a leader working in Eurasia who recently attended the Institute:

'It is impossible to be spiritually mature if one remains emotionally immature. Knowing one's inner world is the key to self-awareness and freedom, healthy communion/fellowship, freedom from unhealthy family rules, and recognizing God's voice. We also talked about emotionally healthy habits, which can be practiced and applied in relationships with people and ministry. We had practical exercises in pairs and groups.

After taking this course, I have a strong desire to make this message a part of my life, apply it in my ministry to students, at church and in our unhealthy community. This is especially important now as we experience events and instability in our country – when people are fearful, hardened and emotionally unstable.'

Give thanks that God has made us with emotions and pray that he will guide you to understand and express them in a godly way. Give thanks, too, that God has created us to be in relationship with him and with others. Pray that our relationships with others might be redeemed, that we might be reconciled with one another and thus point people to our wonderful God who has reconciled us to himself through Christ.

india: from graveyard to vineyard

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Places are important to us. Whether it is their history or our own memories of time spent there, place names often bring to mind very clear pictures. Sometimes those pictures are full of life and happiness; sometimes they are of devastation and sadness.

For many of us, Bihar is completely unfamiliar. But to those who know this state in eastern India, a variety of pictures come to mind. While Buddhism is probably not the first religion you think of in the context of India, the state of Bihar is the birthplace of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Bihar is also the place from which Gandhi launched his Civil Disobedience Movement. Tourists might remember Bihar for the many monuments spread throughout the state. The state has a rich and ancient history.

In comparison, IFES ministry amongst students in Bihar is very young and started in the late 1960s. Our friends in Bihar write: 'People say Bihar is a missionary graveyard. Missionaries are beaten, ostracized, and thrown out in many places. In spite of this, the current government is not hostile to Christians. People in remote areas are coming to Christ in large numbers. Students are interested to hear about Jesus. So, pray that the Lord may transform this graveyard into a fruitful vineyard.'

Today, there are over a million students across the state, most of whom do not know Jesus. Please pray for the few believing students as they live out their faith in Jesus amongst their friends. Pray for many unbelievers to have their eyes open and to see Jesus for who he is. Pray too for the Christian students to know the power of God's Word to transform lives, especially as they feel the weight of being part of a very small minority - just 1% of the state's population is Christian.

As you pray for students in Bihar, let us also continue to pray for the work of UESI (the Union of Evangelical Students of India) across this vast country. India is the second largest country in the world with 1.3 billion people. There are about 150 million students in the Indian universities and UESI has about 10,000 student members. Pray for UESI as they work to reach out to students from every language group and in the northern region (Hindi belt) with the good news of Jesus. Pray that Christian students will be eager to apply what they are learning at university to the problems faced by their country.

east asia: living water, living well

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

So you've graduated. You're no longer a student but a worker, a citizen and a church member.

Many questions arise that your university education may not have prepared you to answer: Should I go for this promotion? What will happen if I lose my job? How to live a life worthy of my calling as a Christian in the workplace? Can I find a balance between my life at home and at work? Where can I find time to be involved in church activities? What should I do to make a difference in the world?

The East Asia Graduate Conference (EAGC) is held every 3 years for Christian graduates. Sponsored by the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in the East Asia region, EAGC addresses the issues graduates face in daily life. As many East Asian graduates face similar problems, this is an opportunity to meet, share, learn, and encourage each other.

Movements within the East Asia region take turns hosting the conference. In recent years, the EAGC had taken place in Japan, Indonesia and Korea. In 2010, it will be co-hosted in Hong Kong for the first time, by the Graduates Christian Fellowship of Hong Kong (GCF HK) and Macao Graduates Christian Fellowship (Macao GCF).

Check out these exciting topics that will be discussed at seminars:

- Business ethics
- Traditional Asian rituals/beliefs (e.g. Feng Shui)
- Collaboration with other faiths
- Unity in diversity and marketplace theology
- Graduates in the church
- Personal financial management
- Social movement and poverty
- Christians in politics
- Global climate change
- Subversive marriage and parenting
- Materialism / consumerism
- Spiritual mentorship

Please pray for this conference to be held on 30 July - 3 August. Pray for those preparing to present, that they will have wisdom and be able to both challenge and encourage the new graduates who attend. Pray for graduates everywhere, that they will stay strong in their faith and grow in their understanding of what it means to belong to the kingdom of God now that they are no longer at university.

Comment: Are you a graduate? Tell us what would have been most helpful for you to know/discuss about the workplace before you graduated.
Are you an undergraduate? Why not organise a conference for students before they graduate to prepare them to be Christians in the workplace.

jamaica: stop the violence

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

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. Violence arises in part in response to the widespread poverty that exists, in spite of political stability, and unrestricted religious landscape is the plethora of cults.

News reports speak of the violence that caused the death of over 70 people in Jamaica in recent weeks. 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. The army has also come under scrutiny for their tactics used and is now being investigated for human rights violation. Anger and fear continue to mount in citizens.

Our friends in the IFES Caribbean region wrote: 'It is our duty to support each other in times of good and times of crisis.' Let us stand together with our Jamaican brothers and sisters in SCF/SU (the IFES movement in Jamaica) by praying for them through this grim situation. Pray for peace and order in the land and that Christians will stand strong as they face this time. Pray that God will raise up Christians to address with clarity the complex questions of justice and freedom, as well as the social and moral issues that give rise to violence.

Pray for SCF/SU members as they seek God's leading and help to know how to be shining lights for Jesus in this particular instance.

Comment: What can Christians do about the violence around them? How can we bring lasting change?

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?