East Asia Archives

Gardening for God

It’s Planting Day!

In a garden in a country where publicly sharing the gospel is highly restricted, a dozen students are planting trees, cultivating relationships, and sowing seeds of faith.

With its fishponds, fruit trees, and vegetable patches, the garden serves as a safe space for this pioneering movement to meet students’ physical needs, show care for creation, and talk about Jesus.

Two Fish

Amid the country’s difficult economic situation, ministry that provides practical support is vital. Families’ financial pressures have been so acute in recent years that some students have dropped out of university. Those from rural areas are especially vulnerable.

“We saw how students staying in the hostel often needed additional sources of nutrition, especially protein-rich foods. So, we started the Two Fish Project. We secured the use of a garden area and started to farm fish.”

What began as a small project to meet immediate needs has evolved into a ministry that nurtures both physical and spiritual growth.

One Earth

“When we were looking for somewhere to hold our first student camp, it was a real struggle. Many places were unwilling to host us because of our Christian activities. So, we decided to hold the camp at the Two Fish Project, although its facilities were very limited at the time.”

Afterwards, as students and staff discussed how to develop it to better serve their needs, a clear vision formed: a garden with ministry centre. Soon after, the ground was planted with vegetables, corn, and fruit trees.

Then, two years ago, students were sharing concerns together – about deforestation around their hometowns and their Christian responsibility to care for creation. And this sparked another idea: a Tree Planting Day.

The day would enable Christian students to be good stewards of creation – something not widely discussed in local churches. They could also invite their non-believing friends to a safe space for open conversations.

Three Commands

The team see Planting Day as a natural way to integrate discipleship and outreach – an expression of their desire to fulfil both the Great Commandments (loving God and loving others) and the Great Commission.

This year, among the 25 staff, graduates, and students, were five non-Christian students.

“It was eye-opening for them because they often associate environmental care with other organizations. Through Planting Day, they saw and understood that caring for creation is part of Christian faith and practice.”

Besides the tree planting, the day involved games, food, sung worship, and a talk.

“In our sensitive context, it’s crucial to deepen personal relationships in this way. As students build trust with their friends, they’re able to wisely share about Jesus in their conversations and invite them to Bible discussions.”

In recent months, several friends have said they want to know more and are now coming to activities.

Pray

Praise God for the growth of this pioneering movement over the last 8 years – it now serves around 50 students from five universities. Give thanks for the way they have been living out the love of Christ.

Pray for the movement’s students – that they will continue to build strong relationships, share faith wisely, and apply faith to all of life. And pray for the interested students – that they too will follow Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

Ask that God will protect and provide for the students, the hostels, the fellowship, and the Centre.

Evangelism Rebooted

“I thought about the aggressive methods used for decades – like threats of hellfire. I considered the deep-seated distrust toward the Korean church. And a doubt lingered deep within me: ‘Isn’t staying quiet a better way to share the gospel?’”

This honest sentiment came from a staff worker in IVF, the IFES movement in South Korea. Such reluctance to start conversations about Christ is not uncommon on campus.

That’s why Confirming the DNA of an Evangelist within Me was the theme of an IVF camp in January. Could students and staff rediscover the joy of the gospel and gain confidence in talking about it?

Finding the Words

To heighten personal engagement, interactive Scripture sessions replaced traditional speaker-led talks. In this way, the 130 participants – students, staff workers, and graduates from across the country – not only studied biblical examples of evangelists but also explored how those stories connected with theirs.

Alongside, workshops covered how evangelistic vocabulary has evolved and looked at ways of expressing the gospel message in everyday speech. The staff organising the camp shared:

“Students overcame their vague fears of evangelism. They started to put the gospel into language familiar to them – not as abstract dogma but as a love that’s shared through relationship.”

Ready to Speak

Feedback from students showed a shift in attitudes:

“Even the word ‘evangelism’ used to make me feel uncomfortable. But now I’m curious about specific ways to put it into practice.”

“As a student leader, I used to only think about the required minimum, like ‘How much do we have to do?’. But now I’m asking, ‘How far can we go?’”.

And the staff worker?

“During those four days, I immersed myself in the study and experience of evangelism. The sincere hearts of the staff members and their message – that the gospel is shared through ‘presence’ and ‘investing time’ – pulled me out of my doubts.”

An Ongoing Conversation

January’s Evangelism Camp was an important stepping stone towards IVF’s 2030 vision of “Evangelistic Community”. Next year’s nationwide Evangelism Camp will be too. And, in May, students and staff on many campuses will have opportunities to express their “evangelist DNA” during “Mission Week”.

One tool they’ll be able to use is Evangelism Cards. The beta version was tested and refined by camp participants and is now being distributed to IVF groups. The hope is that this practical aid to gospel storytelling will channel the enthusiasm stirred by camp into ongoing campus evangelism.

Pray

Give thanks for the way camp rebooted perspectives on evangelism. Pray that participants will firmly embrace their calling to be campus missionaries. Ask that they will be empowered to articulate their experience of the gospel in everyday language.

Thank God for the ongoing development of contextual evangelism tools. Pray for wisdom as such resources are created and refined – that the materials will resonate with the spiritual landscape across the nation’s campuses.

Pray that the passion ignited at camp will flow into the Mission Week and bear much fruit. And pray for the preparations for next year’s national camp – that this event will also be instrumental in catalysing evangelistic community.

A Surprise Gift

International Student Ministry (ISM) – are you thinking, “reaching students from other (often sensitive) countries with the love and good news of Jesus”? You’re not wrong. But, thanks to Justin, a group in IVCF Philippines recently discovered that it’s much more.

Unexpected Attendance

The ISM small group at Southwestern University in Cebu were surprised to see Justin, an optometry student from Nepal. He hadn’t been for months, and it was already the end of the year. Having greeted them all, he announced that he was delighted to share some news:

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to fellowship with you for such a long time. My final year has been packed with clinical sessions. But guess what? I’ve started a small group with some of my classmates! We meet every Friday from 9pm till midnight because that’s the only time everyone’s available. And I’ve been leading them through the passages in Luke’s Gospel that we studied together last year.”

Unexpected Ministry

The ISM staff worker present was intrigued and asked how many were attending.

“Sometimes just four or five,” he said, “but other times, as many as 10 or 15”.

“Wow, I didn’t realise that you had so many international students on your course!”

“Oh, none of them are internationals,” Justin replied. “I’m the only one. They’re all Filipinos!”

“So, how many are Christians?”, the staff worker enquired.

“I don’t think any of them are,” he said, “but they want to come to the Bible study and learn!”

Unexpected Gift

Justin has now graduated and returned to Nepal. The staff worker involved reflects on his impact:

“Justin was a gift! He not only encouraged the other international students in the group at Southwestern, but he also blessed his Filipino classmates. He’s a powerful example of how ISM can bless, catalyse, and grow campus ministry.”

He was indeed a surprise blessing. Most international students in the Philippines come from India and Nigeria. But here was a student believer from a small, Hindu-majority country reaching students from “the world’s fifth largest Christian-majority country”, where, in reality, many still need a living relationship with Jesus. God’s ways are above ours!

The ISM staff worker concludes:

“We hope that stories like Justin’s can encourage students and staff workers here and across the world to include international students in their fellowships and see them as fellow partners in God’s work on campus.”  

Pray

Give thanks for God’s work in Justin, his coursemates, and the ISM group at Southwestern. Pray for Justin back home in Nepal (now leading Bible studies in his church youth group!) and for the ISM group and IVCF ministry in Cebu.

Pray that the growing ISM work across IVCF Philippines will connect well with all internationals, including those from India, Nigeria, Nepal, Thailand, Iran, and China. Pray for staff workers who are learning how to effectively engage international students and minister across cultures with sensitivity.

Pray for a broader understanding of ISM in IVCF Philippines and across all IFES movements – that the gift of international students will be seen as an opportunity not only to reach the unreached but also to partner with the reached.

Discover more about International Student Ministry.

A Gradual Awakening

“I felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over me, as if my burdens had been lifted. In that moment, I realised that surrendering my struggles to Christ was the first step towards healing and renewal.”

It was a powerful awakening for Srey Leak, a fourth-year student at Angkor University in Siem Reap, Cambodia. But it wasn’t out of the blue. For months, staff and students at SONOKO, the IFES national movement, had been reaching out – and God had been at work.

A Happy Face

One day, Srey Leak was cleaning up on campus with three other students when Chenda, a SONOKO staff worker, approached and offered help. As they chatted, Srey Leak discovered that Chenda wasn’t a student and asked why she was there.

“I came here to pray for Angkor University,” Chenda said and saw Srey Leak’s face light up.

Chenda invited all four to the monthly SONOKO gathering, but they were too busy to attend. Before the next meeting, Chenda reached out again. Srey Leak agreed to come and encountered a friendly and caring student community – and gradually opened up to God.

An Open, Restless Heart

During the following weeks, Srey Leak sensed a spiritual connection. On one occasion, a friend looked so thin and tired that she was moved to put a hand on her shoulder and offer a prayer of encouragement.

But with time, Srey Leak stopped attending the SONOKO meetings. She was working, studying at night, and busy at weekends. She missed the fellowship – and she felt far from God:

“I had many things on my mind and just wanted God to solve all my problems. I felt like I was aimless – my life seemed to be drifting. I didn’t know what to live for. I felt so tired and unwell.”

Five months later, when Srey Leak received another invitation from Chenda, she decided to return.

A Surrendered Life

“While singing, I shed tears of repentance. In my heart, I knew I was in need of a Saviour and a Guide. And what made me cry most was the thought that God had not abandoned me – that he’d called me back here to receive salvation, encouragement, and joy.”

Indeed, it was no coincidence Srey Leak had come that evening. Students were invited to write prayers and pin them to a wooden cross – and so it was that she could surrender herself and all her burdens to God and be awakened to Christ’s peace and renewal.

Pray

Praise God for Srey Leak’s journey and for the way he used Chenda’s desire to pray on campus, her tenacious invitations to Srey Leak, and the warmth of the SONOKO student community.

Pray for God’s strength and wisdom for the student leaders – many, like Srey Leak, juggle studies, work, and other responsibilities, making it tricky to find common planning times and leaving them vulnerable to burnout.

In January, SONOKO Cambodia celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. Thank God for its growth and their 3/30/300 vision – 3 cities, 30 campus groups, with 300 students. With groups now operating in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, ask the Lord to open the way for pioneering ministry in Battambang. 

Watch students and staff (including Chenda!) share about SONOKO’s ministry and vision in this reel.

From Mango Tree to Classroom

As Putri walked towards a classroom at the Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ) in Dili, Timor-Leste, she heard an unusual noise for her campus. Her heart was beating fast, for it was a familiar and precious sound to her. Worship songs.

That day was the first time that students in their IFES movement (Sulimutuk Estudante Evanjeliku, SEE) were permitted to hold a classroom gathering. It represented an answer to nine years of prayer – what had started as a vulnerable huddle under a mango tree was now a recognised campus group.

From Mango Tree…

Although Timor-Leste is a Catholic-majority country, students participating in fellowship groups commonly face ridicule and persecution from peers as well as suspicion from university authorities. Some even face excommunication by their families. And the prevalent gang culture only adds to their fears.

“Many students here are scared or timid when they’re invited to come and learn about Christ,” says Egas, a former student leader of the SEE group at UNPAZ. In the early days, they met just off campus, under the shade of a mango tree. Even there it was hard – they’d only last about 30 minutes before being chased off.

But as the group remained faithful, they experienced God’s provision: they were able to move to a small veranda outside the office of Professor Samuel, a Christian lecturer.

…To Classroom

Some months later, the veranda was sealed off for more office space. But the group wasn’t disheartened – Putri and her fellow students went and knocked on the radio room door. And God moved hearts. They were given a space for Bible study sessions, and the group continued to grow.

But God wasn’t finished.

When UNPAZ lecturers spotted CCTV footage of some students carrying Bibles, they started asking questions. Prof Samuel told them, “They’re doing the Lord’s work. They’re moved by the Holy Spirit. Don’t give them trouble.”

Then, during an UNPAZ staff meeting, it transpired that there were in fact a few lecturers who attended evangelical churches. This led one Catholic lecturer to suggest these staff form a fellowship with the Bible-carrying students. With the door to the classroom ‘unlocked’, Prof Samuel and key SEE students initiated the first weekly meeting.

So it was that Putri, to the sound of worship, joyfully entered the first classroom gathering and shared the vision for student ministry with 20 students and lecturers. She concludes:

“As we faithfully do our part and give God our best, he is indeed faithful. Let’s give honour, praise, and thanks for how he granted us this breakthrough.”

Pray

Give thanks for God’s faithful work – enabling the SEE group at UNPAZ to be recognized by university authorities, given a classroom, and publicised on campus. Pray that the other four campus groups in Timor-Leste will experience similar breakthroughs.

Ask the Lord to build courageous faith amid the atmosphere of fear and suspicion. And pray that the official status of the group at UNPAZ will encourage apprehensive students to attend.

Pray for SEE staff who aim to launch ministry to high schools in February, focusing on Dili and Same – for more open hearts and doors.

Voice matters

Expectations are high:

“I’m very much looking forward to hearing God’s voice, praising him, sharing with others, and praying as a small group!” – (Tomomi, student in KGK Japan).

Tomomi will soon arrive in Thailand. She’ll join with over 500 students and staff from 17 IFES national movements in her region (plus six from other countries). The triennial IFES East Asia Regional Conference (EARC) (3-9 July 2024) will be a time to fellowship together and seek God’s guidance for the challenges they face in their university contexts.

“I hope to learn, be equipped, and inspired so I can serve with renewed strength in a world where I face the challenge of standing against worldly values.” – (Jess, student in TCS Thailand)

Taking a stand, having a voice, is reflected in the theme of this year’s event: “Voice Matters”.

A Variety of Voices

As students arrive from diverse contexts, they’ll hear each other’s voices: some will come from IFES national movements that are well-established (e.g. FES Singapore); some from those more recently affiliated (e.g. FCS Mongolia); and others from those operating in secret due to security concerns.

Grace, part of the Thai host committee for EARC 2024, explains how important the interaction across movements will be:

“Students will gain a broader perspective of God’s work as they hear about each other’s ministries and consider specific issues together.”

That’s exactly what Jefta (student in Perkantas Indonesia) is looking for:

“Hopefully through EARC we can connect and build strong relationships, share our journey and experiences, give hope and strengthen each other.”

Listening for God’s Voice

Throughout EARC, participants will be listening for God’s voice. Bible expositions from Zechariah will be led by “Titus” (from a sensitive movement), who clearly has a prophet’s heart:

“When I see the challenges we face, my heart wrestles with fear, pain, and brokenness. But the Lord also shows me signs of hope, mixed with sparkling joy, through those who faithfully and sacrificially serve in the ministry.”

He asks us to pray that the Lord would speak through him as he opens the Scriptures so that students will dedicate themselves to be prophetic voices and faithful disciples, impacting society for good.

Andrea, a student in IVCF Philippines, is ready:

“At EARC, I’m looking forward to fellowship, encouragement, worship, and rest. But, above all, I’m eager to hear and listen to what the Lord calls me to.”

Learning to be God’s Voice

To help students explore that calling, three plenary sessions and a range of workshops will facilitate reflective discussions. This includes contemporary issues (e.g., cancel culture and gender identity), ministry topics (e.g., understanding church and evangelism in the secular university), and personal development themes (e.g., emotional resilience and critical thinking).

Anucha, General Secretary of TCS Thailand elaborates,

“This year’s EARC will challenge students to dedicate themselves to being prophetic voices – by bearing witness, loving others, serving society, and being a voice that leads others to see the truth and hope in the gospel.”

Pray

Today, we’ve heard seven voices. Let’s pray that these – and the voices of all attending EARC – will truly matter:

Lisman, IFES Regional Secretary for East Asia, asks, “Please pray for God’s presence, peace, and protection, and that participants will discern God’s voice and return to their respective movements as the voice of their generation for the glory of God.”

Pray for “Titus” – that the Lord will speak powerfully through his ministry – and pray for all those ministering in sensitive countries, for renewed strength and courageous hope.

Thank the Lord for all the hard work of the Thai host committee and pray that they will know God’s blessing and strength as they serve their sisters and brothers from across the region.

A divine connection

Naru was given contact details of three international students. They’d come to study on her campus in Japan and wanted to connect with the IFES movement (KGK). But Naru wondered what to do: she thought her English was too poor and she was anxious about using it to interact with others.

Then she remembered the International Student Ministry (ISM) training she’d received as KGK staff earlier in the year. She’d been encouraged to take small steps. So, having made initial contact with the students – one from a secure country and two from Indonesia – she resolved to at least try and form an ISM group with the help of a translation app. And, just as God gave trembling Moses an eloquent Aaron (Exodus 4), so he also provided for her – beyond her expectations.

As lead staff in the rural Hokuriku region (affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami), Naru first had another issue to address: the future of the Japanese Bible study group. It was small, with just one Christian and one non-Christian. When she met with them to discuss plans, the Christian student was unsure about continuing due to a busy schedule; it seemed like the group might fade away. But when Naru mentioned the international students, the non-Christian expressed interest in meeting them.

As they were still talking, the new student from a sensitive country came along and joined the conversation. The Japanese non-Christian, confident in English, stepped forward to translate. Before long, the topic had somehow jumped from group logistics to the importance of Bible study and their need to learn directly from God as the foundation and beginning of everything.

The next day, they gathered again and were joined by one of the students from Indonesia. They decided to have a weekly Bible study – all together. In this way, a group that was about to cease turned into a regular meeting with the presence of Christian international students. Yuya Shimada, KGK Global Mission Coordinator and Lead Staff for ISM is delighted: “This was beyond Naru’s expectations. Her desire to offer hospitality led to a revival of the local KGK group. This is a powerful testimony of partnership between local and international students.”

This kind of fellowship is vital in Japan, says Yuya, since Japanese Christians often feel foreign in their own culture. He explains: “Christian international students are by nature foreign and stand out, so the partnership between locals and internationals strengthens and encourages them both and makes them powerful witnesses among Japan’s 2.6 million students.”

Let’s pray for local and international students in Japan:

Give thanks for KGK lead staff Naru, her desire to serve international students in Japan, and the way that God provided. Pray for her and the small group – that they would be mutually encouraged in their witness as they engage with Scripture together.

Pray for the 200,000+ international students in Japan and the ISM of KGK Japan, including dedicated groups in Kanto and Kansai. Give thanks that ISM has been growing over the last 10 years, and pray that all student groups and staff will see and seize opportunities.

Pray for the KGK national training conference, 26 February – 2 March, and a one-day conference in October to coincide with World Student Day. Ask that both will inspire and equip students in global mission.

Perseverance in troubled times

Like most students involved in ministry in Hong Kong, Speech and Hearing Sciences student Grace juggles several ministry roles alongside her heavy study schedule. One of them is as student representative on the board of the Hong Kong Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES).

Just a few short years ago, universities here were the scene of violent clashes between student activists and political authorities. The ensuing security crackdown resulted in many thousands of young people leaving the island city, leaving others deeply demoralised. Grace tells us that a recent FES Bible camp focused on this ongoing wave of emigration, and provided a space where students could seek from God the courage to persevere. Reflecting on how the disciples must have felt at Jesus’s last supper, the young people were encouraged to rethink their position within the suffering community.   

Thanks to the generosity of those who gave to World Assembly scholarships, Grace will join 900 students, national ministry workers and IFES staff this week in Jakarta. This opportunity for our global community to unite in worship, study, learning, and fellowship has historically had a profound impact on both individuals and organisations.

Grace is excited to tell the worldwide IFES community how God is working:

“God is preparing groups of student leaders who are willing to take up the responsibilities in their respective fellowships. Through their actions they have been witnessing to God’s grace and commending themselves to others… [At] World Assembly, I would like to see how God is making all things new in other countries. I look forward to experiencing more [of] God’s work both [in] me and [in] the board of students. Thank you!”

Please join us in praying for Grace and other student witnesses at World Assembly:

Pray that they will be encouraged, refreshed and strengthened by this unique and precious opportunity.

Pray that Grace, and others witnessing in difficult contexts, will discover practical ways to help their fellow students to grow in perseverance on their return.

Pray that all those working in student ministry in Hong Kong would know God’s presence and peace.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire hope and trust in all working in student ministry in situations that seem bleak in human terms.

Wake-up calls and new perspectives

Now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted and borders re-opened, students in Singapore have spent the last few months strengthening their faith through in-person camps and retreats.

In late December, students from five universities across Singapore travelled to neighbouring Malaysia for SWAT, which stands for Studying the Word All Together. This Bible camp was jointly organised by students from the National University of Singapore Varsity Christian Fellowship (NUS VCF) and Nanyang Technological University Christian Fellowship (NTU CF). After two years of online camp, students were excited to come together in person and be challenged by this year’s theme: Preparing for the King’s Return, taken from 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13.

“The theme talks were a good reminder – and wake-up call – of whether I’m ready for Jesus’ second coming, and if I have been intentional in engaging in the Christian communities God has placed me in,” shared Tricia Khaw Jing Xuan, a first-year business administration student.

Tricia was one of 128 students who attended the six-day camp, during which participants heard from an expert speaker who unpacked 1 Thessalonians. But the highlight for many students was the richness of delving into the Scriptures with their small groups.

“What impacted me the most,” reflected Tricia, “was hearing my group sharing about the topics covered like rapture and grief, preparing for Jesus’ return, and the salience of the Christian community in today’s world. I was able to see Scripture come to life in other students’ experiences, and that level of vulnerability throughout the camp made us much closer.”

For Nathanael Lim Yeong Sng, a third-year international trade student, a workshop on lament left him with a new perspective on how faith relates to our emotions.

“We explored the story of Job in a new light, and looked at how Job’s feelings of anger, sorrow, and questioning of God were part of having a genuine relationship with Him,” said Nathanael. “This retelling of Job shifted my perspective on my relationship with God.”

“Society generally tells us to sweep our pain and grief under the rug and to be positive all the time. But I learned that it’s okay to air our feelings out and care for the soul. Lament shouldn’t be seen as something negative to get over but as a great expression of hope where we can trust that God listens to us in times of brokenness.”

Please pray with us for FES Singapore:

As students return from camps to the busyness and burnout of their second semester, pray that they would continue to be filled with courage and commitment to make the choices that matter for the Lord.
Pray for student leaders that they would be equipped with the heart and skills to engage their campuses and make a lasting impact, particularly during this time when campuses are changing in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Pray for staff, especially as the movement’s Staff Conference approaches on 17-20 April. Pray for wisdom, insight, and courage as the movement focuses on equipping staff to meet new demands and issues in a post-pandemic world.

Read more recent news from FES Singapore in the movement’s Impetus newsletter.

Does student ministry really make a difference?

Students may not remain students for very long. Sometimes the opportunity to shape a student’s life can feel too brief. A week at camp or on mission, an hour each week in Bible study together – does that actually add up to much? Students come and go, and it’s easy to feel like the impact of ministry is lost.

But God uses the smallest of circumstances. We never know how one conference, one conversation, or one book recommendation might change a life. However that change comes, graduates can go on to make a difference in many ways. Sometimes their impact is very quiet, very ordinary, and not noticed by many people—and sometimes it can’t be ignored.

Our vision is to see students impacting the university, the church, and society for the glory of Christ, during and after their years in school. In this blog we meet three people—from the Netherlands, Malaysia, and the USA—who reflect on how their experience in a student group shaped them to make an impact after graduation.

Bart Bierling: fighting injustice in healthcare

How could God work through your studies?

Bart Bierling was brought up Christian, but his faith never felt like his own. During his time in IFES Nederland, the student movement in the Netherlands, however, that changed. As Bart understood what Jesus meant for him personally, he “got the urge to really make a difference in this world”.

During his studies, Bart researched ways to reduce the negative impact of monitoring sensors on premature babies. These findings led him to develop a type of sensor that provided non-obtrusive monitoring of vital functions. It wasn’t long before the importance of this new method was recognised by Bart’s colleagues and the broader medical community. In developing countries, limited access to equipment challenges the ability of health workers to provide new sensors for each new patient. It is equally difficult for understaffed healthcare teams to monitor the data from these sensors regularly and easily.

Bart’s innovation addresses both concerns. Through various collaborative efforts, Bart and his team are helping bring relief to strained medical systems and more effective care to the most vulnerable patients. Currently, Bart is in Malawi, studying clinical data and interviewing healthcare professionals.

“God really brought the right people into my path”, he says. “We’re not yet where we hope to go, but the rest is in God’s hands. There’s so much injustice in the world when it comes to healthcare. I want to improve that.”

You can find out more about Bart’s project on his website https://goal3.org/nl/

Chuah Ee Chia: an agent of change in her country

At the 2005 national conference of FES, the student movement in Malaysia, fresh graduate Ee Chia made a commitment to God.

“Make me an agent of change in my country”.

Years later, during a diving vacation, Ee Chia encountered the stateless Bajau Laut community, who live on boats and stilt houses off the shores of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. She never forgot them and in 2015, during her master’s degree, Ee Chia returned to Omadal Island to co-founded Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal.

Initially, the school provided Bajau Laut children an opportunity to learn how to read, as taught to them on weekends by local Malaysian children. Today, Iksul includes a community water project and healthcare clinic, as well as a food aid delivery initiative started in response to the pandemic. The school continues teaching children to read and write; however, Bajau Laut youths are now assisting their younger relatives and friends in literacy. With this simple objective, Ee Chia’s project has contributed to the process of healing divisions between communities in Malaysia.

“Of all of the activism God has guided me through, the seed was planted in my undergraduate studies with FES”, Ee Chia says. “Our faith is demonstrated in action.”

You can find out more about Iskul from their new YouTube channel, with videos created directly by Bajau Laut youths: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpc-k9cCFr5DTEUVZ5Gtn8Q…

Almita Miranda: at the forefront of struggle

“Immigration was always part of my life”, says Almita, whose parents came to the US from Mexico in the 1970s. But it was only at university that Almita discovered how to weave together her life story, her faith in Jesus, and her research skills: God was calling her to be an advocate for undocumented immigrants and their families.

During her studies, Almita found community in the Latino Fellowship group, part of InterVarsity, the student movement in the USA. There, she explored how her identity and faith intersected. “Reading Esther at the 2004 LaFe national conference helped me realize that being a Christian means I embrace my ethnic identity,” she says. “It informs my unique experience, which God can use for his purposes.”

This helped Almita uncover her academic passions and transform her career path. Today, Dr Almita Miranda is an Assistant Professor of Geography and Chican@ and Latin@ Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on the ways Mexican mixed-status families navigate legal and social constraints.

“The families I work with teach me more about faith and la lucha (the fight) for social justice than I could ever give back,” she says. “But I try to use my position as an academic to contextualize their struggles, within a history of Mexico-U.S. migration and unjust immigration laws that maintain families in legal limbo, threatening many with deportation and family separation.

“God loves all people. He is a God of justice, who promises to defend and protect the most vulnerable. As people of faith, we should be at the forefront of these struggles for social justice.”

Do you have a story about how your student group impacted you or someone you know? We would love to hear it. Tell us your story at hello@ifesworld.org. Let’s be encouraged that God is working in the world’s universities, giving students solid foundations to impact the church, the university, and the world for the glory of Christ.