IFES news: the Americas

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.

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?

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?

venezuela: finding meaning and significance

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Raquel Rondón is a student in Science of Education at the University of Oriente in Venezuela.

'As I walked for some time in the corridor of the University, rather confused and hopeless about the future, in need of some help but not really knowing where to find it, someone came to me to invite me to a Christian student group at the University called MUEVE. I had not wanted anything to do with the gospel.

'I therefore asked God: If I do not want anything to do with you, why do you seek me in this place? Do you think I am significant for you?

'I said all this but deep down I was longing to be listened to, I was longing to know that God loved me. So, I started to attend the student group. Though I did not accept God then, two years later I gave him my life.

'I will never forget what I thought on that day. I understood through MUEVE on campus, that God thought of me and my needs. I understood that this group, though they did not know it, had been an instrument in the hands of God to help me put together my life again and give it meaning. Today I recognize that through them, the Father has enabled me to be part of this mission in the University as together we work to be lights in this world and bless others' lives.'

Praise God that all over the world, IFES movements are helping students to come to the Source of all meaning. Pray that as students come to Christ, they will grow in their understanding of how their faith impacts every part of their lives. Pray too that Christian students will listen carefully to the questions that others ask, and continue to have grace and wisdom as they give answers for the hope that they have (I Peter 3:15).

belize: a spiritual journey

Wed, 12 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

'My name is Dyron. I'm 19. I've lived in Belize City all my life. I grew up in a Christian family. My grandmothers, aunts and parents are Christian and attended church regularly. Since my childhood, I was encouraged by my stepfather to go to church and attend Sunday school. I have grown up to love God.

'After attending the Wesley Primary school in Belize City where we had school devotionals twice a week, I went on to a high school in the same city. At that time, I moved away from God to do my own things and got involved in worldly activities. From then on, my life took a turn for the worse and before I knew it, I was out of school.

'Later, I recommitted my life to Christ. An opportunity opened up for me to attend another high school, and there, surrounded by Christian teachers, I started growing in my faith. I began to understand more what God's plan for my life was. I went to chapel every Tuesday and Thursday and started to attend the Inter-School Christian Fellowship group and a prayer meeting. All this brought me into a closer and deeper relationship with God.

'The spiritual environment at that school did me a lot of good. I'm now a student at the University of Belize and president of the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship in Belmopan (the capital city). We face many challenges: students involved in cults, students caught up in sexual immorality and those who have lost their way spiritually. And yet, I thank God because of the opportunity to reach out to them and tell them about Jesus Christ. One of the ways I have done so was through the FREE gospel project that distributes the book of Mark.'

Praise God for Christian family and teachers who guide and support young people on their spiritual journeys. Give thanks to God for his transforming power on lives, and for Dyron's desire to share the good news that sets people free from the slavery of sin. Pray for God's protection on him, for wisdom, love and humility as he and all the Christian students at IVCF reach out to others.

venezuela: living for Jesus each day of the week

Thu, 06 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

What comes to your mind as you think of Venezuela? Perhaps you think of its oil deposits, which are among the largest in the world, or its political situation or maybe its outstandingly beautiful landscape.

You may not know that, among Latin American countries, Venezuela has a particularly high number of university students: some sources estimate as many as 2.6 million students out of a total population of 28.6 million attend university. For José Bonilla, IFES staff in Latin America, 'this represents a great challenge for the movement'. MUEVE, the IFES movement in Venezuela, wants to take up that challenge. The students and staff in MUEVE strongly believe they have been called by God to reach out to the university, their mission field.

Whilst many in Venezuela claim to be evangelical, there seems to be little impact on the nation. José Bonilla says: 'There is a dichotomy and lack of consistency between their everyday lives and their Sunday lives. Our mission is and needs to be integral. That's why MUEVE students meet throughout the week to learn from the word of God, to see how it is to be applied to everyday life and not only on Sunday, to live for Jesus each day of the week.'

MUEVE regularly holds conferences on various themes and invites students from the campus to discuss relevant issues from a Christian perspective. Often, participants are offered a copy of the New Testament. A recent conference on sexuality filled the amphitheatre with students; MUEVE is a pioneer in addressing this issue which for a long time has been a taboo subject within the church.

Give thanks to God for the presence of MUEVE on several campuses of Venezuela. Pray for each Christian student to be built up in Christ and to persevere every day of the week and all of their life in showing God's love in word and deed. Pray for all those who have participated in the conference and those who have received a copy of the New Testament to read it and come to Christ.

Pray for IFES movements around the world, that they will be bold to respond to contemporary challenges and address difficult issues from a Christian perspective.

usa: proxē station

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

A new, creative tool for introducing people to Jesus is taking campus groups across the USA by storm. Proxē stations use bold interactive art, together with questions and conversation to enable participants to discover realities about God, themselves, and their world. Focusing on topics such as our sexual choices, social justice and well-being, it is a tool that has been developed by the IFES movement in the States (InterVarsity/USA) and has been used across the country to create opportunities for sharing the gospel.

One such Proxē Station, Extreme Heart Makeover, is named after a popular television program. Participants are invited to mark on a silhouette the part of their body they wish could be changed. Next, the participant moves to pieces of interactive art where they are invited to contemplate the realities of their heart by placing a sticker on thoughts or feelings in themselves that they would like to change. A Christian guide then asks them to consider God's response to these issues.

For each of us, the needs we express – such as a desire to change our bodies – can often have much deeper roots. Proxē stations aim to deal with both the outer reality of an individual's needs or desires and the inner reality of the heart. Please pray for students as they are faced with the idea that those deeper issues are actually spiritual issues that require a spiritual solution. Pray too that they will be open to meeting the person who is that solution: Jesus Christ, the one who addresses the spiritual problem of brokenness inside us all.

The students on one campus in California recently set up a Proxē station. Colin (a Christian student) and Jamie (on staff with InterVarsity/USA) spent time praying for God to show them that he could do something amazing in their college. Less than an hour after they prayed for a divine appointment, Josh visited their Proxē station. Little did they know that God had been working in Josh's life for years, making him more and more dissatisfied with his life. After engaging with the questions posed, Josh responded that serving God was important to him, and he and Jamie started talking. Before long Josh committed himself to Christ and immediately began sharing with a crowd of people, inviting them to a Bible study. Now he wants to learn how to lead a study to introduce his non-Christian friends on campus to Jesus!

Give thanks with us for new students becoming Christians through the Proxē stations and through other outreach events. Please pray for that they will grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus, and be bold to share with others.

To learn more about the Proxē station, visit the InterVarsity website

latin america: life is integral

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Puerto Rico is a beautiful island of the Caribbean and about 97% of its population would call themselves Christian, either Catholic or Evangelical. Yet it is also a country that suffers much violence, alcoholism, drug-addiction, mental illness and corruption.

These situations affect the whole of life and Puerto Ricans often respond with resignation and silence, an attitude which can also be found in the church. For students, the current economic crisis has also caused them to question their motives for studying and led them to hopelessness and lack of direction.

The IFES student movement in Puerto Rico (ABU) works to help students see that, just as their faith affects all of life, their mission has to be integral too. Gisela, ABU General Secretary, writes: 'It is a great challenge for us to demonstrate a living faith, to be counter-cultural and to succeed in proclaiming the gospel in a relevant way in a society that is over-evangelized'.

Students also feel the pressure of many commitments on their time. As Celia (a student involved with ABU) explains: 'Generally Christian students have the same responsibilities as any other student, so, on top of studying and getting good grades (honestly), we also feel the responsibility to serve God in our churches and universities. Discipleship is essential. In ABU, we learn what it means to bring the good news in the same way as Jesus did: he came to us, being authentic and taking into account the needs around him.'

Pray for each Christian student to be wise and diligent as they balance their different responsibilities and to honour God in how they live their whole life.
Give thanks for the ABU students who recently stood up against injustice in poor areas and proclaimed the message of hope to their fellow students.
Pray for students in countries like Puerto Rico to find creative ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ with their fellow students.

guatemala: making a difference in a rural community

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

In Guatemala, 30-40% of the population would call themselves Christian. However, Guatemalan society suffers from corruption and much violence. How is the Christian called to respond in such a situation?

With God's help, GEU, the IFES movement in Guatemala, seeks to address the challenging issues in the Guatemalan society by developing godly leaders who recognise that the Lordship of Christ transforms every area of their lives – their families, their professions and ultimately their society.

Pedro (not his real name) is a graduate of GEU who has been very involved in promoting a network for integral mission, showing the love of Christ in practical ways. He is a medical doctor who responded to God's call to work in a rural community of Guatemala. There, he learned a new language and a new way of life, different from that in the capital city. His collaboration with the community has changed the lives of many people as they now have access to medical care and see first-hand that their lives can change. And yet, Pedro's work has not pleased everybody as he challenges people to live according to the gospel and to fight corruption. Because of this, he has been threatened several times.

Give thanks for Pedro and his obedience to God in spite of the challenges. Pray for protection for him and his family. Pray they will not be discouraged but will continue to be sustained as they work to bring the hope we have in Christ to that community. Pray for lives transformed by the power of God in this community and throughout Guatemala.

guatemala: a revolutionary truth that sets us free

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

This week, please join us in praying for Guatemala, a country in Central America that is scarred from the effects of a 46-year civil war. Assaults, corruption and organized crime are sad daily realities in a country that the UN counts as one of the most violent in the Americas.

It is in this context that GEU (the IFES student movement in Guatemala) shares the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. Just 2% of the population has access to university education, but it is this minority that later accesses positions of power and influence in society. So the GEU wants to take up the challenges of changing society through bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the students and graduates.

Today (25 March), GEU is holding a conference for graduates on the theme of identity and mission in the world of work. Please pray that they will be encouraged in their respective fields of work as they live out as followers of Christ to bring salt and light in their society.

This conference will be followed by the student national camp (26-30 March) on 'a revolutionary truth that sets us free' based on the book of John. These camps impact the lives of students beyond the few days when they meet, as Cindy, a third year student in engineering and a member of GEU, shares.

'I came back from the camp last year with a renewed vision that I needed to share the good news with my friends as part of my daily life in the university and not just get stuck in my small Christian group. After the camp, I invited people from my course to hear about Jesus and more people than I had anticipated turned up at the meeting. It was so encouraging! Many of them told me they had no idea I was a Christian because I was so passive when it came to talking about spiritual things. We had great discussions and met up regularly. A girl from that group even contacted me during the holidays to ask me when we would be meeting up again. That really motivated me: I know things can change.'

chile: violent earthquake

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

GBUCh Chilean students

A violent earthquake hit Chile on 27 February causing the death of 700 people. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the city of Concepción located on the coast of central Chile.

Carmen Castillo, the leader of GBUCh (the IFES movement in Chile) contacted us soon after the earthquake telling us what had happened:
'Chile has suffered an earthquake of 8.8 on the Richter scale which has affected the centre and the south of the country. At this time, we know where the most affected regions are and yet we haven't been able to communicate with the rest of the GBU family.
'We encourage all who can read this message to pray alongside us and if you can, to support those who are in need.
'We recognize the sovereignty of God in all this, and our trust and hope are in him.
'Please pray for us.'

The death toll so far is over 720, with 300 dying in one fishing village alone. Looting continues and police struggle to maintain law and order

Pray that in the midst of this trial, the Chilean people can live as a community and help each other. Pray especially for Christians in this situation, that their hope in God will remain strong, and that they will be an encouragement and support to those around them, showing the love of God in practical ways.

Pray that aid to arrive soon from other countries, and for it to reach isolated areas of the country quickly.

costa rica: flesh and blood Christians

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Are we Christians or are we not? This was the challenge presented at the start of 2010 to Christian students in Costa Rica. For five days, representatives from universities and colleges throughout the country met together to consider their responsibilities as Christians on campus.

Students heard Bible exposition based on the parables of Matthew and attended seminars on evangelism, discipleship, foundations of the Christian faith and creative missions. Workshops also offered practical help in starting and maintaining a Christian group as well as facilitating bible studies.

All participants were challenged to transform their universities by the power of God's word.

Please pray for students as they put into practice what they have learned. Pray that they will share their faith with courage and creativity and that they will pass on to other Christians a passion for sharing Jesus.

haiti: CARIFES responds

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The people of Haiti are still suffering greatly as a result of the earthquakes that devastated the lives of so many, just over a month ago. Many students and leaders of GBEUH, the IFES movement in Haiti, are still sleeping outside. CARIFES, the IFES movement in the Caribbean, has responded by collecting funds to purchase much needed tents, sleeping bags, medicine and food.

The plan is for Marc Pulvar, Associate Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, Desmond Rogers, Regional Secretary, and hopefully one or two brothers from Martinique and Guadeloupe to travel to the Dominican Republic from 16-20 February. They will then undertake a difficult six-hour bus trip to Haiti.

We would like to call the Fellowship to pray for this trip. Please pray for the entire journey, especially for God's protection for the travellers and much-needed supplies. Pray for the CARIFES delegation as they see so much suffering, that God would enable them to be a comfort and strength to others. Pray that the students and staff of GBEUH might be greatly encouraged by this visit.

Please continue to pray for all those still suffering greatly, that aid will reach them. Pray for Christians to be generous with what they have, and that through the love of God's people a lasting hope will shine in the lives of those who have experienced so much devastation.

brazil: equipping student leaders

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Jesus, our Salvation is the theme of the 2010 Institute of Preparation of Leaders (Instituto de Preparação de Líderes or IPL), based on the gospel of Matthew.

IPL is a national meeting of training of ABU (the IFES movement in Brazil) that is currently taking place in Campinas, São Paulo area (10-29 January 2010).
All participants are required to have had experience in student mission, to have read and studied the gospel of Matthew, to lead two Bible studies, to read six books and to write an essay. The preparation is therefore rather intense and full, and so are the days at IPL!

Please pray for the 71 participants (mostly from all over Brazil, plus three from Norway and two from Paraguay) as they spend time worshipping God, praying, studying the word and thinking through topics like integral mission, gender issues, and environmental matters. They will also participate in cultural activities and for four days, the participants will take part in or lead activities serving within a church or another organization.

Ana Carla Brito, from the student group of ABU Florianópolis, shares why she joined IPL: 'IPL was a landmark in the lives of five student leaders of ABU Florianopolis last year. The influence of IPL impacted their lives, and this was evident in their vision and commitment to God and to evangelism. And I have wanted that too. I want God to lead me and to move my heart in a way that pleases him. I want to persevere through the difficulties of the day-to-day life.'

Article by Giovanna, ABU Brazil

haiti: the grace of God

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Itazienne Eugene and Mario Jean Paul, GBEUH

A week after the earthquake, the general situation of Haiti and, specifically the area surrounding Port-au-Prince, is still extremely fragile. However we want to express our thanks to God for his grace in the midst of dramatic circumstances. Thank you too for your support and your prayers.

We are very grateful for the positive reports we have received so far about the members of the GBEUH (the IFES movement there). Communication is still very difficult. Itazienne Eugene, our acting General Secretary, remains the only direct contact for news of what is happening on the ground.

Mario Jean Paul (the other GBEUH staffworker) has visited her and they have been able to share more information. Mario managed to escape from the third floor of the building where the office is located. Of course he left everything behind him in the collapsing building. Recently, the GBEUH had just acquired some furniture and a computer. Even his cell phone was left behind.

Mario writes: 'Blessed be the name of the Eternal One! Since Tuesday 12 January I have experienced the most difficult days of my life. On that day I escaped alive from the collapse of a four storey building, the Maurice Laroche University, where the GBEUH offices are located. At the moment of the earthquake, I was on the third floor. The hand of God protected me by means of cast iron and what remained of the office furniture. I could hardly move to first climb through a hole, then under a girder before jumping to the ground. "Eben-Ezer"!'

You can imagine that situations like his are not isolated. For many people the reality of daily life is becoming a great challenge: the need for food, for shelter, and for medicine. The shops and the banks are closed. The smell of dead bodies is in the air. Distribution of petrol from the gas stations is still not organised. People must constantly be alert because of high prices, smuggling of diluted petrol, and insecurity. In the night, if you manage to get some sleep, it disturbed by many sporadic gunshots.

This summarizes the reality of what is now the daily life of many Haitians after last week's earthquake.

Report received from Marc Pulvar, IFES regional staff in the Caribbean

haiti: a country in a state of shock

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

A violent earthquake hit Haiti in the Caribbean on Tuesday 12 January. Many thousands are feared dead and many more, possibly up to three million, are affected. The epicentre of the earthquake was close to Port-au-Prince, the capital and most populous city of the country.

Marc Pulvar, IFES Associate Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, sent this news:

'Concerning the student ministry, I have to say that communication by phone and email are still extremely difficult. However, yesterday I managed to have a short telephone conversation with the Associate General Secretary, Itazienne Eugene. She said that the general situation is indeed very chaotic. Personally, she is fine and her family as well. The neighbourhood of Delma where she lives has been affected but on her side, they only had walls with cracks. She has been able to tell me about the Treasurer of the ministry, Magda Saint-Victor with whom she has been in touch on the phone. However, since the disaster happened she hasn't been able to get any news from the others such as Pierre-Michel Derivois, the board chairman, or the other staff worker Mario Jean-Paul.

'We do not have any news from the students either. The earthquake occurred around 16:55 local time. At this time most offices, schools and colleges had closed for the day but university institutions were still open. The media reported that many students were under the rubble. For many it was a time of exams. We hope soon that we will be able to share with you more accurate news.

'As for the office of GBEUH, it is centrally located in Port au Prince. This is an area that was badly affected by the earthquake but according to Itazienne Eugene, the building where the office is located has not so far been listed among those that collapsed.

'It is still very difficult to get around the city of Port au Prince and we don't receive much news from the provinces. The first rescue teams are arriving in the country but they will have trouble to get organised. In the country, people are emotionally shaken. Itazienne told me yesterday how difficult it was for her to see with her own eyes buildings collapsing and people dying.

'At regional level, we hope to be able to provide assistance as soon as possible. So get prepared for that. Meanwhile, we invite you to continue to pray for this painful situation. Therefore pray for: good organization of rescue around the injured people and the survivors; spiritual, physical and emotional strength to cope with the situation; news about the members of GBEUH we haven't heard from.'

haiti: suffering devastation

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

A violent earthquake hit Haiti in the Caribbean on Tuesday 12 January. Thousands are feared dead and many thousands injured and homeless. The epicentre of the earthquake was close to Port-au-Prince the capital and most populous city of the country.

Haiti, already the poorest nation of the Caribbean, has suffered much over the years as a result of political upheavals and environmental disasters. The ensuing disruption to university teaching programmes has impacted the GBEUH's ministry among students.

Marc Pulvar (IFES Associate Regional Secretary for the Caribbean) wrote: 'In many regards, the situation seems to be chaotic. Communication with GBEUH, the IFES student movement has not been possible so far. Please intercede with us for efficiency of the rescue teams (Haitian and international teams). Pray too for our friends in GBEUH - students, staff, board.'

As we pray together for the Haitian people and our friends there, we can praise God who is our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust (Psalm 91:2).

UPDATE: a country in a state of shock

north america: incarnational mission

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

17,000 students gather to worship, pray, and consider the theme 'he dwells among us'.

Greetings to you, direct from the last day of Urbana 09, InterVarsity's 22nd missions conference, in St Louis, USA. Over the last five days, 17,000 students, staff, supporters and missions agencies have gathered here to worship, pray, and consider the theme 'he dwells among us'.

A few weeks ago we asked you to pray for Urbana – that delegates would be challenged by the spiritual and physical needs of the world. Thank you for your prayers – God has been mightily at work here. We have been challenged to see mission as incarnational, following the model Jesus set before us. Thousands of students have committed or re-committed their lives to Christ, thousands more have declared their intention to serve in cross-cultural mission.

Now please join us in praying for everyone who has heard God's call on their life this week – that the seeds sown here at Urbana would be nurtured in the coming days, weeks, months and years. Please pray that God will raise up workers for his harvest. And praise God with us for the faithful service at Urbana of staff, organisers, speakers, volunteers, and so many more.

To hear more about how God has been working in the lives of IFES delegates here at Urbana, we invite you to take a look at this short film.

Thank you for praying with us.

latin america: intimacy with God

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Students meet with God in the pages of the Bible.

Mireille is a recent graduate from ABU Brazil.

'Prayer is often associated with something repetitive and monotonous. For a long time, I personally felt bad and like running away from God for not having a routine in prayer. But I didn't give up on God in that area and neither did he on me! Our amazing loving God shows me everyday how honesty and simplicity draw me close to him and how I can grow in intimacy with him.

'Life is so uncertain; we live in a world of a billion things to do. I have just graduated from university and have no clear idea what direction God wants me to go. Then my dad got sick away from home. The surgery was expensive and complicated. I felt so helpless. The only thing I could do was to pray and ask friends to pray. Now he is in less pain and is coming home. It is a miracle of life and love.'

Join us in praising our great and loving God for his work and for the intimacy we – and students around the world – can know with him. Let us come with confidence before him as we persevere in praying for students around the world to be transformed by the gospel.

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.