IFES news: Asia-Pacific

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?

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.

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.

papua new guinea: overcoming barriers

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you wanted to talk to someone but they did not speak the same language as you? You wondered: How can I communicate across the language barrier? Maybe you tried to exchange a few words and failed, or you were misunderstood. This is what often happens in Papua New Guinea. With over 800 languages spoken (representing more than 10% of the world's languages) and almost as many traditional tribes, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most diverse countries in the world.

In spite of this great challenge, the ministry of TSCF (Tertiary Student Christian Fellowship, the IFES movement in PNG) has been growing over the years. Since it was first founded in 1966, 100,000 graduates have gone through the movement and gone on to reach out to their respective communities with the good news of Jesus.

Our friends in TSCF write: 'We have many ministry opportunities, particularly to the rural communities of PNG. We have numerous testimonies of what God did through the meetings or fellowship during visits to various ethnic groups. We have seen people being saved, delivered from satanic bonds and healed. The Lord has done wonderful things and this despite the ethnic and cultural barriers. Each ethnic group is different from the other and yet often all barriers have been broken down because God was moving to restore people to himself.

'We have a message and a mission, a vision and a strategy to reach out to the young leaders of this nation using a holistic approach that touches all aspects of their lives. We want to see every young leader become responsible, to become a person with integrity. We have been investing in students and God has raised up a lot of people who are currently serving in leadership capacities in public, private, NGO and religious arenas.'

Praise God for over 1,000 who come to Christ each year through the ministry of TSCF! Praise God for the work of his Holy Spirit in that land and pray that despite the cultural and linguistic barriers, the name of Christ will continue to be proclaimed, understood, accepted and honoured to the glory of God.

Comment: Do you have a story of how God overcame linguistic or cultural barriers in your student group? Please share it with us.

new zealand: graduate culture shock

Thu, 13 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Two things happened to Ben when he migrated from Malaysia to New Zealand. First, he reacted to his new-found independence from family to take a break from school, relationships, responsibilities and God. Secondly, he suffered from culture shock, and spent the first year complaining about everything from food to the education system to church.

Fortunately for Ben, God didn't take a year off from him but gave him a persistent friend who helped him get involved in the Auckland Overseas Christian Fellowship, part of TSCF (the IFES movement in New Zealand). Ben became a committed member of the group.

Five years later, Ben was back in Malaysia, working long hours in an office, struggling with differences in culture, friendships, the church … in short, experiencing culture shock all over again! At first he thought most of the problem was the transition from student to working life, but then he began to see other areas where he had to adjust to change.

He writes: 'I had to rebuild old relationships again. When I got past the small talk, I realised that friends I had known for more than ten years had gone down such different pathways in life.'

Ben now looks back on the first months of his new life and sees how God has graciously helped him to adjust in many ways. 'I am learning to serve in church. I am getting to know my childhood friends better. Conversations on faith and Jesus have been few and far between, but by God's grace it comes up from time to time. If nothing else, I would be happy to be home just for these conversations.'

Let's spend some time reflecting on the people God has used in our lives to lead us to him and give thanks for those people. Let's also pray for young people who are wandering, that God would send someone to be part of their journey back to him.

Pray for international students everywhere who may be suffering from culture shock, that God would use their confusion, loneliness and openness to new things to draw them to himself. Pray too for Christian graduates in the workplace, that they will work with all their heart, as to the Lord, and that their lives might show to the world the riches of God's grace.

nepal: seeking peace

Wed, 05 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

'Land of knowledge, land of peace;
Terai hills, mountains;
Undivided this beloved, our motherland Nepal.'

The words of the Nepalese national anthem stand in contrast to the current realities of the country: there is more division than unity, and more violence than peace. Kathmandu, the capital, is filled with thousands of Maoists demonstrating in its streets in protest against the current regime.

The protesters have come from all over the country and are staying in private buildings, including churches, as they do not have access to water, power or other facilities. There is much uncertainty over what might happen and general concern for the safety of people walking through the city. Roads are blocked and no means of transport are allowed, not even bicycles. All of this makes everyday life a real challenge.

In the midst of such a situation, there can be a temptation to despair, but, as a Nepalese IFES friend writes: 'We have a God who rules over everything.' Please join us in praying for our IFES friends there: ask the Lord to bring peace to their land and in their hearts as they come to God in prayer for their country.

In the midst of the unrest, the IFES movement in Nepal was able to hold some student camps recently, though staff and students had to walk for several days to reach the camp site. Pray for spiritual and physical renewal for all of them and, in particular, pray that the students who attended will continue to grow as disciples of Christ. Give thanks for several of them meet in small groups to pray together and spur each other up.

mongolia: you are God's child and he loves you

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Mushchimeg is a 19 year old first year student who is involved in FCS (the IFES movement in Mongolia). She tells us how she came to understand the God's fatherly love:

'I am a typical girl from my country. I live with my mother and my two younger siblings. My father passed away when I was a young kid and I experienced a great loss throughout my childhood. I tried my best to help my mother for there was no one else for her to lean upon. Time went on and I managed to be enrolled in the school of my choice with my mother's help.

'I used to think that everything would change once I became a college student. But I was mistaken. Hardships and difficultes kept on coming my way in my everyday life. For I had never been away from home – it was hard and it was also financially challenging. Because of this, I started to lie to my mother to get more money so I could hang out with my friends. I could not see any purpose in what I was doing in my life. As I look back, I wish I hadn't done those things. I hurt people with my words, I had a negative outlook on life. I would joke around with others. And I was proud of what I was doing.

'I heard about FCS from a friend and decided to go and check it out. I'm so thankful that decision led me to the right path. As I walked through the doors the first time, I was so surprised because everyone welcomed me with a smile and treated me so friendly. They shared about God and his love and hope with me. There was one thing that I felt in my heart after meeting those students. It was as if they whispered to me: 'You are God's daughter and He loves you.' As I started to be part of FCS, I began to understand the value and meaning of life deeply.'

Praise God for his transforming gospel that is preached through FCS in Mongolia. Pray for Mushchimeg to continue to grow in her understanding of the good news and love for God and his word. Pray for Christian students everywhere that they will befriend non-Christians and show them the love of God.

south asia: the only way

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Pray for them as they wrestle with questions.

Yeshoda grew up in Nepal and daily saw the great needs of people around her. Before she even went to university, she knew that long-term she wanted to be involved in social work in a NGO. She also knew NGOs often preferred hiring humanities graduates rather than graduates of other subjects, so that decided her course of study.

Though she suffered much opposition after committing her life to Christ, his amazing love for her spurs her on. She shares: 'I attended a gospel camp organized by the Nepalese IFES movement and it equipped me in my desire to share the good news of Jesus.'

Yeshoda continues: 'My friends often ask: Why are you ready to die for your religion? Why are you not like us? Are you paid for this? Is your God more important than your career? For them, all religions are the same so they don't understand how Jesus could be the only way. I do doubt at times: Are they right? Is it true? Why are these things happening to me?

'It's also sometimes hard to see where my faith fits with what I study in sociology. We study different worldviews, myths and religious stories, different traditions which make people believe that all the religions are same, including Christianity.

'Yet whenever I question what I believe, God speaks to me from the Bible and gives me better answers than I expected. He takes away my doubts, in the midst of my tears, and gives me a deep peace that warms my heart.'

Give thanks to God for his living word that is our refuge. Pray for Yeshoda – and for students around the world – as they wrestle with questions linked to their subject of study and seek God's help in answering them. Pray that they would delight more and more in God's word and apply it to their lives in such a way that their classmates will see the difference it makes and be drawn to Christ.

japan: light in the darkness

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Japan is a prosperous nation with one of the world's leading economies and a population of 127.2 million (UN, 2009). It is known for its strong work ethic and traditional society.

Christians in Japan today are a small minority and face massive pressures from their families and society to follow cultural traditions and participate in ancestral worship. Because they are so few in number, Christians struggle to have any impact on society. KGK (the IFES movement in Japan) is present on only 25% of the campuses of Japan and Christian students are a minority within a minority, an estimated 0.1% of the total student population.

Professor R teaches sciences at a university and has been involved with KGK as a student and now as an alumni. He tells us more about his context:
'One of the greatest obstacles may be the indifference towards all religions, including Christianity. In public institutions, such as public school and universities, religious conversations with students and colleagues are forbidden. It is actually possible but there is an atmosphere to refuse to talk at least in my context, in reaction to the strong activities of heretical groups in universities of Japan. It is not easy for people to trust us.

'The passage in Luke 8:16 has helped me much as I face these challenges – "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." I think that we have to live in Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit in order that our colleagues would trust us and open their hearts to him.

'As a professor at university, I want all students to have fulfilling lives. In this context, I instruct them with my knowledge in my field and I encourage them. But I also continue to challenge them with this question: "What are you living for?"

Professor R asks, 'Please pray that I would love all of my students and colleagues and show them my life with Jesus as an example of how to live a Christian life.' Pray with us for all Christian professors and teachers that their lives would shine brightly for God, causing students to ask them to give an answer for the hope that they have (I Peter 3:15). Pray for Christian students and teachers to be keen to demonstrate the integration of their faith with their academic disciplines. Give thanks for all Christian students and professors who live in countries where they are a minority within a minority, and ask God to encourage and strengthen.

philippines: new horizons

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Sometimes it might seem as if student conferences are mainly about fun and fellowship, but they are also times that God uses to bring deep growth to both individuals and movements.

The recent national conference of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the IFES movement in the Philippines, was a time when God worked in an amazing way on many levels. Exploring the theme 'New Horizon: God with us', over 250 staff, students, graduates and their children met at the end of December 2009 for worship, exposition of Scripture, fellowship, plenary sessions and seminars.

Join us in giving thanks for the commitment of the IVCF family to student ministry in the Philippines and for their desire to see many more students transformed by the gospel and growing into life-long disciples of Christ. Commitment statements made during this event reveal the breadth of God's working. Participants pledged to:

'obey God in all areas of my life and to help my church and my IVCF chapter'
'pray for IVCF and be a volunteer'
'organize, mentor, support and sustain new grads in development work'
'truly live for Christ's glory by being involved in the nurses and the high school fellowships, as well as financially support the movement'
'become seriously involved in the missions team'
'continue providing sound doctrinal and practical input to IVCF'.

One of the specific outcomes of this conference was the formation of a national graduates (alumni) executive committee. Please pray with us as IVCF seeks to expand their work among those who have gone through the movement and are now in the workplace. These graduates are an important source of volunteers and mentors, as well as prayer and financial support.

Pray too for each person who made a commitment during the conference, that the Holy Spirit will empower them to follow through, and that, in the words of the National Director, 'we can rally more people to join us in the fulfilling of Christ's Great Commission in the new horizon'.

south pacific: grounded in the word

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Pray for students to live under the truth of God's word.

It is nearly two hundred years since the gospel was first preached in New Zealand on Christmas Day 1814 and since that time the gospel has been proclaimed again and again throughout these islands. The IFES movement in New Zealand (TSCF) was established in 1936 – with gospel hearted students meeting together on campus for many years before that. God's Word is the very thing that is being made known and men and women are turning to him as they meet with him in the pages of the Bible.

When James came to university, he had only opened the Bible once out of curiosity, then he started attending a Bible Study group in his residential hall. After studying Romans 1-4, 1 Samuel and Mark's Gospel, James decided to give his life to Christ!

Marc became a Christian through a friend in his course asking him lots of questions and inviting him to church. He became a Christian but realised he had no grounding in how God has spoken in the Bible. So, a TSCF staffworker met with him 1-1 each week in the university café, with an open Bible and together they worked through the big picture of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Marc was transformed; he grew in Jesus very quickly and today he is reading the Bible 1-1 with non-Christians, praying that they'll meet Jesus in the pages of the Bible just like he does.

Elliot arrived at university with a sense that God had 'things for him to do'. He met another student who had recently become a Christian and they decided to restart a TSCF group on their campus as there was no organised witness among their peers. It was difficult to find a single time for them all to meet so they met twice weekly to study the same passage. Soon non-Christians started attending with lots of questions so a third 'Jesus on Trial' Bible study started. Three years later the group continues this pattern and has seen a good number come to faith and all the members grow in their knowledge of and love for God through Jesus.

In November we gathered for our annual Student Leadership Conference with three training tracks, first attendees went through a Bible overview; the second tier provides skills for leading others in Bible study and the third tier, for graduating students, challenges them to understand their postgraduating lives under the Biblical call to honour God in all things. Each day too we met in Bible study groups for 90 minutes to pour over 1 Peter before the same passage was taught.

We're serious about living under the power and truth of God's Word because in it we know God as he has revealed himself; in it we know the gospel preached in 1814 (and in the middle east 2000 years ago) is still the life-giving, life-changing, truth of Jesus Christ by which people can be saved!

Andy Shudall, TSCF Head of Training

south asia: everybody hated me

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

'…known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.' 2 Corinthians 6:9-10

These words of the apostle Paul are very true in the life of Abhijit (name changed). Today we want to share his story with you.

It was whilst studying abroad that Abhijit came to know Jesus Christ. He committed his life to him and then returned to his country. Once back home, he started to share what he had learned about Christ to his family members and wider community. However, they opposed him and sent some religious leaders to change his mind. And yet, he did not give up. One day, however, police came and arrested him, throwing him into prison for several months.

He shares with us: 'I was beaten. Everybody hated me, even my own mother. I cried and Jesus reminded me that he gave his life for me. I shared with other prisoners my story and that Jesus pardoned me, loves me and died for our sins. They too cried out to him. Every day we sang 'Amazing Grace' together, which is the only song I know. My Bible was burnt and I don't have any now.'

Join us in giving thanks for Abhijit who is known by God and has been given eternal life through Jesus Christ. Praise God that he can rejoice in the Lord and that he has made his fellow prisoners rich in Christ. Please pray on for God's sustaining grace upon his life in this time of hardship and persecution, and for him to find comfort in the family of God! Pray too that he and his friends still in prison will stand firm and persevere in the faith.

hong kong: welcoming a new year

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A new academic year started recently in Hong Kong. This is often a time of change in schools and universities, whether it is all the new experiences of being a first year, or the new resolutions for students returning after the long vacation determined to study harder or be more involved in a sports club.

The IFES movement (FES) is seeking to support students through this time of change. At the end of the vacation, nearly 200 students attended a 'Spiritual Rally' that was designed to help participants reflect on being part of a university Christian student community and prepare them to be God's disciples during their 're-entry' into their campus.

A recent FES newsletter asks for prayer in some particular events.
Three training events taking place in September and October for leaders of FES fellowship groups in secondary schools. May students be better equipped and more ready to serve both in spirit and with the skills they need.
Also in October, there will be talks on the integration of faith and studies for university students. May students be aware of their Christian identity and find meaning in their studies.
Give thanks too for opportunities Hong Kong students have to show friendship to non-believers who may not hear about God in their home contexts. Please pray for God to open hearts and minds to him.

philippines: faith at work

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

IVCF staff collecting food parcels for the victims of the typhoon

Over recent weeks, the Philippines has been lashed by tropical storms, causing widespread flooding and damage. News channels are reporting that at least 300 people died after the first typhoon and hundreds of thousands stranded. Large areas of the Philippines' towns and countryside are affected and Metro Manila - the capital and its surroundings - has been hit hard. The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,000 islands, has a population of 89.7 million (UN, 2008).

Erickson Velardo, National Director of IVCF (the IFES movement in the Philippines) shares with us: 'Many tragic events have happened over the past few days due to the typhoon and its resulting floods. I really appreciate your concern for our movement and our country. We are blessed that people are praying for us.'

IVCF students, staff and alumni are seeking to support those affected by the disaster. Food, clothes, groceries and funds were collected. Some are preparing to provide post-trauma counselling to the victims of the typhoon. IVCF is also working alongside relief agencies and helping local churches who are hosting people who have lost their homes. So far they have been able to provide help to 75 families.

The disaster has not only affected the poor but also the rich. One Christian medical doctor who lost much shared with IVCF members at a meeting how he is learning that we should not hold on to material possessions.

Erickson continues: 'This helps us think of ways to continue to share Jesus with those around us, despite the calamity. It's moved us to pray more. We can testify that the Lord has used us. We seek a deeper understanding of suffering and how we can live out and share the gospel with those affected. Please pray for us to know how to balance the ministry to students and helping those in need. The staff is overloaded with additional work on top of plans for a training event in October, the anniversary of IVCF in November and the national conference in December. Pray for the 1,200 students actively involved in IVCF and the 40 staff workers.'

india: linking churches and student ministry

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

This month, several churches across India are observing 'Evangelical Union (EU) Sunday' - IFES student groups are known as Evangelical Unions there. The purpose of EU Sunday is to introduce the ministry of UESI (the IFES movement in India) to church members.

Our friends in the Union of Evangelical Students of India share how the ministry encourages students to be part of and serve the church.

'UESI considers itself as a wing of the local churches in order to reach the students in the campuses. Hence, the students are encouraged to organize EU Sundays in their local churches, to request prayer support for the EU ministries, to develop relationship with the pastors and elders, and to offer to help in specific projects of the church.'

'EU members are encouraged to be active in their own churches. EU meetings can never be platforms to canvass students to any particular denomination. The doctrinal basis of UESI covers those doctrines which all Bible-believing Christians accept, irrespective of their denominations. There are other biblical doctrines. However, UESI is not teaching those doctrines because the denominations have different opinions about them. Hence, UESI leaves it to the personal conviction of the EU members to select the local church according to their convictions. In this way, UESI has maintained its inter–denominational status all these 55 years.

Please pray for all those involved in these initiatives: for the students and staff approaching local churches to find favour with pastors and leaders, and for more church members to grasp the vision and be supportive of the student ministry. Pray too that in all these things, God's glory will shine out and his kingdom advance across India.

east asia: faithfulness in the midst of trials

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Recent riots in North West China have drawn world attention to her delicate relation with the Uyghur minority and left nearly 200 dead and thousands wounded. This was one of the worst ethnic clashes in recent memory between the majority Han Chinese and Muslim Uyghur.

There are many causes for the unrest - the discriminatory policies and attitudes towards the Uyghur, the religious suppression of their Islamic faith, the economic disparity between the rich Han Chinese and the poor Uyghur and so on.

More than 10 years ago, IFES has started to reach out to the local Uyghur by means of cultural and language exchange programmes. There have been limited results among this minority group, but thankfully we have been seeing some breakthroughs.

The riots and subsequent clamp down by the authorities will no doubt hamper the deepening and widening of this breakthrough, at least in the near future. Many of our friends have been asked to leave or have left temporarily for safety reasons.

Praise God for the development of His work among the Uyghurs in the last decade, when we saw some of fruit of our labours maturing. Please pray for the protection of local believers and that they will continue to stand firm in their faith and bear witness for Christ amidst a very severe challenge.
Due to the sensitivity of this situation, we cannot be specific about details. Pray too for the ongoing growth of God's work when many of the workers have left or visas have been discontinued. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead the young believers to all truth, and unite them in love, helping to make reconciliation between hostile parties.

south asia: purpose of life

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Please pray for student ministry both in Pakistan and across South Asia.

Pakistan is a highly populated country with one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. Earlier this year, the Pakistani president signed a bill introducing Islamic Sharia law to the north-west of the country. Some Christians fear increased Islamism in the whole country.

In this context, spending time with other believers is particularly meaningful to the Christian students who are part of PFES (the IFES movement there). In the PFES Bible study groups and training programs, students and staff discuss issues such as the Islamisation of their country, considering what the Bible teaches and how they can live out their faith in these circumstances.

In July, PFES had two national events: a conference for 45 medical and engineering students, and a mission camp. Nearly 100 students from 12 cities took part in the mission camp, which was on 'Your Kingdom Come' from Matthew 24:14. Here are a few comments from participants from the two camps.

'The conference has given light to my life.' Shahzad
'I realized the purpose of my life is to witness God.' Sumbal from Rahim Yar Khan
'It was an energy drink; it encouraged me to excel in knowledge of the Bible.' Tabish
'I have committed to serve God through my profession.' Huma from Peshawar

Philip (PFES General Secretary) shares that they have a vision to strengthen the ministry from the grassroots, so staff are working to establish well-trained volunteer teams of student leaders and graduates, who can lead the Bible study groups. Please pray for these volunteers, that they might disciple many students who will be strong ambassadors for Christ.

Please pray also for student ministry both Pakistan and across South Asia, for students to take the initiative in engaging both with individuals and ideas in the university, to the glory of God. Pray too for grace and wisdom to reach across the boundaries of religion and ethnicity with the gospel.

east asia: implementing the IFES vision

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Today, we ask you to join us in prayer for the students in East Asia and the student movements as they implement the IFES vision in their specific contexts.

This week, twenty staff are taking part in a consultation on student ministry in one country of that region (that we cannot name for security reasons). They are meeting to pray, to learn from one another and to plan the way forward for the ministry. Some have come from really tough situations, faced with persecution, loneliness and trials of all kinds. Please pray for them to hear God's voice speaking to them and directing them in their plans. Pray for a good time of fellowship, comfort and encouragement.

East Asia faces the challenging contrasts of Buddhism, Communism, Islam, and consumerism. Christianity is a major religion in South Korea, yet persecution of believers is a terrible reality in other countries in the region. In spite of the challenges, God's at work powerfully amongst students in East Asia.

In Singapore, earlier this year, students from FES (the IFES movement there) began to look at how the IFES living stones vision applied in their context. Now FES' vision 2020 has been published with a focus on pioneering, integration and engagement. Please pray for the FES students to continue to grow spiritually and to have a heart for reaching out to their fellow students.

May the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17

singapore: God's global glory

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

During a recent university vacation, several students took part in the G-Cube – God's Global Glory – training programme, run by the IFES movement in Singapore (FES) and designed to deepen mission awareness and commitment amongst Christian students. At the end of the programme, students go on an exposure trip to an Asian country to be involved in a Christian ministry. Here Phoebe shares her experience of visiting Japan.

Before going on the trip, many questioned the need to do missions in Japan. Indeed, Japan is often deemed as an affluent country that does not seem to be in need of anything. However, under the façade of leading busy lives and desiring material wealth, what the Japanese really need is a sense of purpose and longing to be loved. What Japan needs most is God.

My team was attached to the Kirisutosha Gakusei Kai (KGK) in Tokyo, a Christian tertiary student ministry movement that is affiliated to the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). The population of Christians in Japan consist less than 1% of the total population. Some of the big churches have less than 100 people and some of the campus Christian groups consist of only one member. Despite the small numbers, God continues to use them to glorify His name.

Interacting with the Japanese Christian students allowed us to understand their struggles. The Japanese society emphasises a lot on conformity and traditional practices. Christians are often regarded as people who abandon their cultural roots.

Their experiences made me realise that despite being different in nationality, we share similar struggles as students, fearing how others may see us and facing the temptation to follow the crowd. In Singapore, though, we are given more freedom to express our faith.

The students taught us many lessons. We were inspired by their passion for God which was not based on convenience. One thing that touched us was how many were willing to travel hours to attend a student meeting. I was ashamed by how many Christians in Singapore complain at having to travel 30 minutes for similar meetings.

The Christian students also treasure opportunities where they could worship God and pray with students from different campuses. I felt that this is something important for us to learn: the power of being in the bigger body of KGK and the power of unity among Christians.

A longer version of this article originally appeared in the August 2009 issue of Perspective, the FES Singapore magazine.