IFES news: Europe-Eurasia

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

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)

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.

eurasia: whom do I marry

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

For many students around the world, finding a marriage partner can occupy quite a bit of their thought-life. In some countries, the choice of partner is a very independent one, while in others, family and friends are deeply involved in the choice. The issue is more complex for Christians, however, as we serve a God who asks that we place him first in our lives and who desires that all we say and do, including marriage, is submitted to his will. For some, the tensions between the expectations of family, culture and God can steal their joy in the Lord.

In countries where Islam is the dominant religion, when someone becomes a follower of Jesus, they are often seen as betrayers of their family and culture. It is difficult for Christian families to form when there are more women following Jesus than men doing so. In the country we are focusing on today, differences between the national culture and the Russian minority add to the challenge of finding a marriage partner.

In one Muslim-majority country in Eurasia, women face enormous cultural pressure to be married. Men have similar pressure but often have more freedom to choose a marriage partner. Historically, in the work amongst students in this country, the majority of the participants have been young women, and persevering in their faith and dealing with cultural expectations is very difficult.

And yet, God has blessed this fellowship in the past year with a majority of male students who are young followers of Jesus in their first years of university. Many have strong leadership potential. Being a male follower of Jesus is a challenge though: four of these students face great opposition from their families and have to study God's word away from their homes. Despite all this, they are active in sharing their faith.

Please pray for male Christian students, and especially for four of them who are attending a leadership conference soon. Pray that these male believers would be a foundation of a generation of strong Christian families. Pray for female Christian students, that they will have wisdom in their relationships. Ask God to bring both men and women students together in healthy Christian relationships.

Pray too for Christian young people all over the world, that they will not be influenced by the ideas of romantic relationships and marriage that the world and culture around them put forward, but that they will persevere in seeking marriage relationships that bring glory to God.

europe: seekers bible study

Thu, 27 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

A year and a half ago, IFES Europe established a network of 21 people – students, staff and young professionals from 13 different countries – for the purpose of our mentoring younger leaders in conducting bible studies for non-Christians who have expressed an interest in learning more about God. The goal was three-fold: to help them gain confidence in whole-life witness, to learn how to lead a Seeker Bible Studies (SBS) and to train others at their university or church to do the same. The group met three times in three different countries for training and the fruit has been simply remarkable.

Two Hungarian students in the network not only led several SBS on campus but they trained other students across Hungary to do the same. There are now at least 12 SBS taking place in the capital, Budapest, alone and many more around the country. This in turn has given the Hungarian students greater confidence in the power of the gospel - and it led to what is thought to be the first Hungarian Mission for at least 100 years! It took place on eight different locations at all the Universities in Budapest. Hundreds of seekers and sceptics came to these events - some came to Christ and many signed up for SBS!

In Turin Italy, a PhD microbiologist led an SBS for her fellow PhD researchers. The first person to become to Christian was the most virulent atheist in the group and he's now witnessing on campus!

In Bosnia, two students led a SBS for Muslims.

In Portugal, a medical student is leading a SBS for 15 fellow medical students.

Praise God for the way the SBS have helped many to find out more about the person of Christ. Pray for those leading the studies, that they will be able to respond with wisdom to questions asked by participants. Pray for the 40 Seeker Bible studies taking place throughout Europe to be places where people find the truth in Jesus, the truth that will set them free.

europe: theology students

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Students of theology are of strategic importance because many of them will play a key role in leading the church and shaping the development of theological thinking. These are the future pastors and theology professors who will shape Christian thinking for good or bad.

Theology students also face unique theological and spiritual challenges during their studies. The prevalent sceptical attitude and even hostility towards the historic Christian faith and the authority of the Bible in contemporary universities can have a devastating effect on the faith and spiritual life of students.

Charlie Hadjiev works on the regional team in IFES Europe and ministers especially amongst theology students. He writes: 'A few months ago, I was told that a chaplain in one leading university commented that most students come to university to study theology because they have some evangelical convictions and a sense of calling to serve God, but by the time of their graduation they have been 'normalized' . It is for this reason that IFES would like to have an impact on them during their formative years and help them preserve their faith, grow in their walk with God and in their passion to serve him.'

IFES Europe is holding a conference in Austria (7-14 August) to give students the experience of listening to high-level theological teaching in the context of faith in God and in an attitude of worship. Pray that it will inspire an interest in mission and encourage active commitment to putting theological study in the service of furthering the Kingdom of God.

Pray too for Charlie Hadjiev as he works to connect theological students throughout Europe so that they might learn and grow together. And pray for theology students everywhere that their studies will bring them closer to God and equip them to boldly proclaim the gospel in culturally relevant ways.

eurasia: the eternal gospel in a new design

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Vladimir, a third year student in Russia, received a copy of Mark's gospel. He shares: 'I immediately started reading it together with my roommate. There was a lot that I did not understand, but it was interesting to study and discuss the truths of the New Testament. This week, my roommate and I both repented and turned to God. I decided to follow Christ. The gospel is an answer to the most important questions in life for me.'

This is part of IFES Eurasia's Identity evangelistic gospel distribution project which was launched this academic year in Russia and Ukraine. The copies of Mark's gospel are designed specifically for university students and proclaim Jesus in the context of the postmodern search for identity.

In Russia, Christian student groups from six of the largest cities are participating in the project. At one of the country's most prestigious universities, students were able to share the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection with dozens of students over Easter. Afterwards they gave each student a copy of Mark's gospel.

In Ukraine, 400 Christian students gave copies of the gospel to their friends. In one university that has over 40,000 students, Christian students are continuing to visit the dorms regularly to distribute copies of the 'Identity' gospel and invite students to the Bible studies which take place there.

Roman, one of those Bible study leaders, shares about the influence of the gospel on him: 'I learned something important: God loves us. And Jesus Christ gave his life to restore our relationships with God and to enable us to be part of God's family. I made my decision—I believed in God's love. Today, I know God lives in my heart sustaining and strengthening me. I know I will spend eternity in heaven, which a loving God has prepared for me.'

Praise God for the gospel has the power to transform lives. Pray for each student who has received a copy of the gospel to read it and pray that they, like Vladimir and Roman, will come to the knowledge of Christ in whom we find our true identity. Pray that ultimately, this will bring a positive change to their families and societies across the former Soviet Union.

ireland: free

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The Free gospel project excited me from the start by its potential to equip students to bring friends to Jesus. At our very first CU meeting of the year I met Tim*. It turned out Tim wasn't a Christian, but was really seeking God. We got chatting and eventually decided to meet up and talk about it. I gave him a Free gospel and asked him to read a little bit for the next week if he could. He came back with loads of questions, having read four chapters. I had no idea how to handle most of these but God must have done something because he was very keen to keep going and to keep learning.

I have always been a bit intimidated by personal evangelism, feeling totally inadequate for it. But through this experience, I realised that God can use something as simple as a little book to change a life. About two months after meeting Tim, I was chatting to a friend who knew him well. She said that she had seen a massive change in his life and that he was so much happier with life.

We are still meeting up. Tim hasn't committed to God yet but he is coming closer and closer and it is such a blessing to be involved. I probably would never have had the courage to start meeting up with Tim without the Free gospel project, and I believe with all my heart that pretty soon the angels will be celebrating another son who has turned his life over to Jesus.

*Name has been changed

poland: mourning

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The nation of Poland has been mourning following the tragic death of its head of state and major officials on Saturday.

Ewa Piezka, the General Secretary of ChSa (the IFES movement in Poland) tells us more:

'On the one hand, we are all still in deep shock and pain; on the other hand, we are motivated to stand together in prayer before God.

'All Polish churches are filled with people looking to God for comfort. We feel God's touch on our country and our nation in a very special way. Despite the tragic loss of our President and dozens of other members of Poland's leadership (96 people), this is still a time of mercy for our country and the whole nation.

'We believe that God is using this painful time to draw us all closer to Him, to touch our lives and those of the families who have lost their loved ones. At the same time, we pray for our government – the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers – for wisdom in leading our nation and making current decisions.

'Since Saturday, ChSA students have been gathering in special prayer meetings for Poland, the nation, government and families who are in pain and mourning. We ask God to help us to be his witnesses and point out to Jesus Christ, our hope.'

Please join our brothers and sisters in ChSA in praying for Poland. Pray that all those who are currently looking to God for peace, comfort and answers will find him, and commit their lives to him.

kyrgyzstan: in turmoil

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Please join us today in praying for Kyrgyzstan, a country of Central Asia that shares a border with China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The majority of its population (80%) are Sunni Muslim.

According to news reports, many people died yesterday in Kyrgyzstan in shootings between the government and the opposition. Major buildings owned by government and the president's family have been destroyed. People are in shock to see how events have escalated in only two days.

Five years ago, the country experienced a similar coup. At that time, massive looting took place around the city. This is happening again: shops and malls are being robbed and destroyed. So we ask you to pray for peace and restoration in Kyrgyzstan.

Pray for the people there to look to God as they fear for their future. Pray for God's people who live in the country to be assured of his sovereignty and love in the midst of such a confusing and difficult situation. Finally, pray that God might open new doors and opportunities, in particular for mission amongst students, so that his kingdom will advance in that land to the glory of his name.

As we pray for Kyrgyzstan, we want to give thanks to God for the work amongst students in the wider region of Eurasia. In spite of the various challenges, students hear the good news – like Fina (not her real name) in another country of Eurasia, who wants to know more about God because she lives in fear of loneliness. Pray that she will come to know the saving grace of Emmanuel, God with us.

eurasia: led to Christ

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

"I met Abhijit* in my first Russian class. Just before my classes started, I had been at a conference, where the speaker told us about how he would pray for his colleagues each day as he went to work. Simple, but a good idea. So, as I walked to that first class, I prayed for my classmates - though I wasn't actually expecting much, to be honest.

"Anyway, I sat next to Abhijit. Out of the blue he turned to me and said "Do you pray?" He told me that his father had just died and he hadn't been able to go home. All he wanted to do was pray, but he had gone to a local church and a priest told him he wasn't allowed in.

"We kept chatting over the weeks and Abhijit met a group of followers of Jesus who were singing in town. He joined their youth group and got to know Laurie* whose family would often invite Abhijit to stay with them. Abhijit noticed how believers were happy despite their challenges.

"During the holidays, Abhijit went to stay with another family he'd met at church and they did Bible studies together. At the end of the holidays, Abhijit sent me a message to say he had become a Christian!

"He struggled at first over telling his family and friends; his stepmother had told him that if he became a believer in Jesus, it would be as if he was dead to his family. When Abhijit told his grandfather, he stopped supporting him. Some of the other international students were also hostile, and a teacher even called Abhijit to his office to warn him.

"But Abhijit still came to some of our student Bible studies and we would chat about what he'd been reading in the Bible."

Praise God for calling Abhijit to himself and for sustaining him, giving him joy in the face of trials. Pray for international students who, like him, come from another religious background and have turned to Christ whilst abroad. Pray that they persevere in their walk with Jesus in spite of the pressures.

* names have been changed

great britain: I want to be a follower of Jesus

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

This week, join us in giving thanks to God that throughout the world, Christian students like Jo (not her real name) are sharing their lives and the good news of Jesus Christ to their friends.

Jo is a Korean student who started her studies four months ago at one of the biggest university in London. On her arrival, she discovered her assigned roommate was from China. They became good friends, had endless discussions about faith and did seeker Bible studies in the gospels together. Many times Jo invited her Chinese roommate to Christian events, but her roommate would not come. Jo persevered, though, and her friend eventually came to hear a talk on the resurrection of Christ. Jo writes: "It was the first Christian event she'd ever attended in her entire life. We went back to our flat and talked and talked…and at 2:00 in the morning she said 'I want this. I want to be a follower of Jesus. How do I do it?' "

Praise God for this transformed life and please pray for our new sister in Christ as she learns more about the Lord and grows in love for him. Pray for the follow-up of the London-wide FREE project, which saw Christian Unions across the capital unite for a joint university mission week at the start of the year. There are 500,000 students in London and the city has more international students than any other in the world. Pray that God would equip Christian students in Christian Unions as they reach out with love to their non-Christian friends. Pray for many to encounter Christ during their time studying in that city.

eurasia: God's grace is sufficient

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

What ways are you seeing God at work in your life right now? Can you experience God's grace even when things do not turn out as you might have hoped they would?

Two weeks ago, a movement in Eurasia suddenly learnt that K, one of their most enthusiastic leaders, had decided to go back to his home town to complete his dissertation. This was a great loss, for it has left the small group of which he was a part without a leader.

This change challenged the staff leader to be willing to take a radical look at how they operated as a team. She writes:

'With a small group of believing students and a large circle of non-Christian students, we needed to ask what faithfulness to the Lord means in this new situation of losing an important leader. I needed to help my team to be willing to take a step of faith in re-assessing and reorganizing our ministry amongst students.

'I think for my team-mates it felt distinctly like chaos at first… but our God is the One who from the first page of Scripture and the beginning of time has been in the business of bringing order out of chaos.'

As a result of this change, they decided to maximise the opportunity by focusing on outreach events more.

Learning to do things new ways, and empowering students to take the lead in reaching out to others, has been one of the themes of the recent Living Stones Conference for IFES general secretaries in Malaysia. For the past week, 200 IFES staff have met together to share ways to implement the Living Stones vision, which focuses on releasing student initiative to grow disciples of Christ.

Pray for these staff as they return to their home countries, for the team in Eurasia, and for all IFES staff, that, as they implement changes in the way the ministry is conducted, they will have the wisdom of God, and a deep confidence that He will grow His kingdom.

Give thanks, that for them, and for each of us, God says: 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' 2 Cor 12:9

europe: facing interesting challenges

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Europe has a long history of sending missionaries to all nations, but is increasingly recognised as an important and needy mission field in its own right. Join us in praising God for the IFES InterAction teams who support IFES movements throughout Europe.

InterAction workers face interesting challenges. Some are sent to countries where they do not know the language. Ana, in Italy, has not let that stop her. She writes about her Italian classes, 'I can see how it is important to be in that place and not only to be learning a language to talk with the students, but also to be given the amazing opportunity by God to speak about the gospel.'

Sara in Paris reports that she and two others have faced the snow, hail, wind and rain to set up a bookstall outside the university. Their mission is to talk with students passing by who are either deeply engrossed in their iPods or rushing to a class. Facing the cold weather and cold shoulders isn't easy but it's worth doing, especially when they meet students like D, who now comes to nearly every Bible study that the GBU (the IFES movement in France) runs.

Other Interaction workers describe similar joys in the face of trials. Claudia in Berlin is sometimes disappointed that more people don't come to events, but then receives emails such as the following: 'I am so happy now, because I am sure that God does everything for the best. I am so glad that I have a new family here.' Somebody else wrote: 'At the moment I am reading the book that you gave me I'd like to discuss it with you when I come back to Berlin!'

Please pray for InterAction workers across Europe, that God will encourage them, sustain them in their ministry and give them times of refreshment.

Give thanks with us for the students whose lives are being touched by the gospel as they meet with InterAction workers and attend events. Pray for student leaders as together with staff they seek to demonstrate a love that is contagious and draws others to the God who is the source of all love.

france: releasing student initiative

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Last weekend a training event was held in Paris for students involved in GBU, the IFES movement in France

There were four different tracks - leading a Bible study, leading a Bible study on the Old Testament, giving a talk and witnessing to Muslims.

Keith, who works with the students in Paris, writes about the event:

'The weekend of Bible training went really well - all participants were grateful and found it useful, and it went smoothly despite lots of people being squeezed into a small place.

'I especially worked with one young woman who led her first-ever Bible study, and is going to lead her second at her GBU group this week, and with a young man who led an impressive study in the Old Testament - he talks about becoming a pastor.'

Rejoice with us that Christian students are eager to take a leadership role in the GBU. Pray for Keith and other staff throughout France as they work one-to-one with students, training them to reach out on campus. Please pray too for more non-Christian students to become interested in studying the Bible.

central europe: one body and one spirit

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Last year, we asked you to pray for a summer camp organized jointly by the Serbian and Croatian IFES student movements. The camp was held in Dalmatia, a very tense area for Serbs as in the 1991-1995 war between Croatia and Serbia, that area suffered much hostility.

Samuil who heads up the ministry in Serbia shares: 'Many Serbs felt intimidated to go through Dalmatia. The Serbian students traveling to Dalmatia for the camp were escorted by the Croatian police to the camp! Throughout the camp, the police stayed on the camp.'

In the face of these tensions, the students saw God at work, breaking down barriers of hostility. One student reflected afterwards: 'I understand they are similar people to us. At the start of the camp, we didn't open up, but later we became good friends'. Another student shared: 'The camp was a gift from God to me. Here I got many new friends for life from a different country, and I will pass on this atmosphere to my friends in my home city and faculty.'

Samuil continues: 'Students built new friendships from the first day. The program started with a prayer meeting. They organized small groups where they could discuss many important passages from the Gospels. In the afternoon, we had different creative workshops such as art, dance, drama and sports, a good chance to build lasting friendships.

'The camp revealed many prejudices from a painful past. And yet, many of the students are now in touch, and visits are planned. The students want to have a similar camp next summer!

'Thank you so much for your prayers and your support! Your prayers made a difference for students from Serbia and Croatia. These are students who will be tomorrow's leaders to shape our society and make important decisions.'

We praise God that in Jesus, 'there is one body and one Spirit' (Ephesians 4:4)!

europe: prayer and evangelism, hand in hand

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

As we reach out to people, we must pray - before, during and after.

Students and staff in IFES movements across Europe have a vision to contribute to the growth of Christ's kingdom in Europe by making Jesus known, loved, followed and shared among students. Together they are mixing people, experiences and ideas in order to learn together how best to do ministry.

The new IFES prayer and evangelism network for Europe met at the end of last year. Henrik Laursen from Denmark tells us a bit more about this initiative.

'I was part of KFS (the IFES movement in Denmark) and learned much about faith in God in my high school student group. After studying theology, I served for two years as a regional staff for KFS and then for four years as the general secretary. KFS is a place where people not only believe in prayer but also spend time praying.

'Prayer has been a major focus for several years simply because it is so difficult. In a way, everybody can pray. However in my own life, I often find it is difficult to pray. It is perhaps especially important to focus on prayer in Europe. We have forgotten what it means to pray. We are confident in our skills but very often we forget to actually pray. We are good at planning and organizing but we are very weak in the area of prayer. I believe that if we want to glorify God in Europe, we need to pray. We have to learn to pray. I've committed myself not to give up the fight.

'As we reach out to people, we must pray – before, during and after. Our dream in the network is to see students enthusiastically praying for and sharing the gospel with their friends. We want to combine and increase prayer and evangelism in IFES-Europe. Please pray with us.'

portugal: being a christian student in the city of archbishops

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Pray for students in Braga, one of the most youthful cities of Europe

Do you know that Braga is one of the oldest and biggest cities of Portugal? It is situated in the heart of the Minho province. It is called the 'city of the archbishops' and it has huge churches. It is also one of the most youthful cities of Europe. Braga is said to be an ideal place for shopping since it is the place in Portugal that has the highest number of shops per capita.

The city has a student population of about 17,000 university students spread across two universities: the Universidade do Minho and the Universidade Católica.

The GBU-Braga is the local IFES student movement. It is very small – only about 8 to 10 students. In the past years, the GBU-Braga has held bible study groups which are open to all students. They meet in the universities, generally in the canteen or residence halls. The group has had a lot of contact with international students and organized several meals, during which they have shared their faith while enjoying diverse cultures from around the world.

Praise God for the eagerness of Christian students to study the bible and learn more about what it means to be a Christian. Give thanks for their international student outreach, and pray that it might bear much fruit. Please pray too for the group as several of the current students in GBU graduated over the past academic year – ask God to bring new students to get involved in the ministry.