Immeasurably More

“The project challenged my preconceptions of students’ beliefs. I was left asking, ‘How much do we really know about the struggles and challenges of our peers?’, ‘Are we stopping to listen and accompany each one?’, and ‘Are we aware of the longing for God inside them?’”

Through co-leading a ‘Well-being, Spirituality and Religiosity’ research project among 725+ students at the National University of Córdoba, Lucas has seen God do immeasurably more than he imagined.

More Listening

It started with his own team.

Like Lucas, the four others conducting the research were part of their local IFES group, ABUA Córdoba. But they represented different disciplines – anthropology (Lucas), theology and counselling (Amy), psychology (Sofía), and sociology (Marcos).

“It was challenging to craft questions that ensured an interdisciplinary study of wellbeing, spirituality, and religiosity. But as we dialogued together, we made progress, and, during the fieldwork, we encountered realities and results that surprised us all.”

This rigorous investigation was immeasurably more than simple outreach questions.

The survey comprised a tool to genuinely listen, to gauge the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the whole student population. This included peers’ experience of positive emotions and relationships, their sense of meaning, achievement, and self-awareness, their spiritual needs and practices, and their alignment to particular religious groups and beliefs.

More Partnership

The team believed such findings would benefit various groups.

In the first instance, ABUA Córdoba are using the data to ensure campus outreach is relevant to student needs. But results have also been shared with departments across the university with a view to supporting wellbeing policies and programs. And presentations to around 30 different churches in Córdoba are giving pastors and congregations fact-based insights into this generation of students.

More Interest

Beyond the deep listening and wide collaboration, Lucas says that what most exceeded his expectations was the high level of engagement from participants.

“There were many moments of dialogue with – and among – the respondents. It usually began with them saying how surprised they were at the depth of the questions, how they had never asked themselves such things, and that it had been helpful to think about them.”

“It was amazing that so many were interested in the survey results and in finding out about our ABUA group. Above all, I was challenged by how many were willing to listen and explore more about God.”

One way ABUA Córdoba has been feeding that spiritual hunger is with Unidas – monthly outreach studies that explore Jesus’ “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel.

Given that 48% of respondents identified as Catholic but only 20% believe in resurrection – but 30% in reincarnation! – it’s vital that they come to trust the One who said “I am the resurrection and the life”. Then, they can experience immeasurably more than they imagined.

Pray

Give thanks for this research project – for the vision of the team conducting it, for the funds made available through an IFES Thriving Together grant, and for the high level of engagement and interest.

Pray for wisdom in sharing survey information with university departments and churches – that ties can be strengthened and key relationships deepened.

Pray that students will personally encounter the great “I am” through John’s Gospel – the ABUA group asks for “students to persevere and explore deeply so that they may grow in their commitment to Scripture”.

This week, Immeasurably More – World Student Day 2025, will unite thousands across the globe to pray for students like Lucas. Will you be joining in? Sign up to pray . Use requests from students and staff . Visit the Resource Hub . Pray for immeasurably more on Thursday 16 October!