Zealous for Global Prayer
Uniting the nations to pray on World Student Day – and beyond
Global prayer – is it just the latest faith trend, a new ministry gimmick?
It’s true that various international initiatives have become increasingly popular in recent years, such as Thy Kingdom Come, The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and our own IFES World Student Day. But it’s nothing new.
The vision for global prayer has been around for centuries. Old Testament prophets spoke of it (Isaiah 56:6-7), Jesus got visibly emotional about it (Mark 11:15-17), and the apostles tasted it (Acts 2:5-21).
In this blog, we’ll glimpse Jesus’s zeal for global prayer. We’ll explore how IFES World Student Day is one event that’s mobilising worldwide intercession.
And we’ll see how that’s part of a wider commitment and invitation to pray together for God’s work in the world’s universities – locally, nationally, and globally.
JESUS IS ZEALOUS ABOUT GLOBAL PRAYER
To say that Jesus cared about global prayer is an understatement. He was zealous for it.
Do you remember that day – one of the few occasions in the Gospels when Jesus gets angry? He was so riled by the trade in the temple courts that he overturned the merchants’ tables and benches (Matthew 21:12). He cleared them out, even driving out their business assets with a whip (John 2:15)!
It prompted his disciples to recall words from Psalm 69: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:17). And the way Jesus explained his zeal is probably familiar: “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Luke 19:46).
But Mark wants to make sure his readers realise the full implications of the scripture reference:
As he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ (Mark 11:15-16).
Jesus wasn’t only upset that worship had been turned into a money-making enterprise. He was troubled that their religious activities were thwarting God’s intention for all nations to pray, side by side (see also Numbers 15:14-16).
Indeed, it was this kind of international worship that Jesus’ sacrificial death would secure (Revelation 7:9-10). No wonder he was zealous for it.
48 HOURS OF GLOBAL PRAYER: WORLD STUDENT DAY
This is surely one reason why IFES World Student Day feels so exciting, holy, and significant – it is an earthly reflection of the great multitude in heaven “from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9).
As a global fellowship comprising over 160 national movements (and working in another 20 countries and territories), IFES is uniquely placed to connect students across the globe and mobilize prayer with and for them. For 48 hours each year, World Student Day provides a focal point to do that.
Every October, students, IFES global and national staff, supporters, ministries, and churches are invited to pray for the needs of students and their witness on campus.
But, praying for “the world” can be daunting. So, in the weeks before, IFES students and staff submit concrete requests which are turned into Prayer Cards (published online).
Last year, as the sun rose over the oceans of the South Pacific, we prayed with Micah in PSFC Fiji for first-year students to get involved in their group at Derrick. As it passed over Indonesia’s myriad islands, we prayed that Taria and her friends would have wisdom as they share the gospel with their Muslim friends. As it shed light over India’s millions, we prayed with Eyiekhrote for young students struggling with addictions such as tobacco and pornography.
As it peeked over Africa’s mountains and flooded its plains, we prayed with Natnael for students in Ethiopia who were facing conflict and persecution, and we interceded with Koula that college authorities in Cote d’Ivoire would allow Christian activities on campus. As it warmed the Caribbean waters, we prayed with Samantha in ISCCF St Vincent and the Grenadines for healing and help for students coming from broken homes. As it energised the Amazon rainforest, we prayed for Marisol in AGEUP Peru, serving students facing anxiety, depression, and stress. And, as it finally lit up America’s West Coast, we prayed with Abi in InterVarsity/USA that “Christian students find time to slow down amid busy schedules so they can share God’s overflowing love with others”.
This wave of global prayer involved over 25,000 people across more than 160 countries – a wide array of nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before God’s throne.
On 18 October 2024 this mobilisation of global prayer will return.
This year’s theme for World Student Day is “sanctuary” – flowing from Psalm 46. It’s a recognition of today’s acute need for refuge and peace around the world.
All are welcome to join in this exciting expression of worldwide prayer (sign up here). Prayer Cards are ready. Various resources are available, including maps, social media graphics, videos, and a five-day devotional guide. Thousands are preparing to be still and pray that students in all the earth know God.
Prepare for World Student Day by prayerfully engaging with Psalm 46. “Be still” and use our downloadable five-day DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.
Each day, dive deeper into the calming truths of the Psalm, with questions, commentary, and links to prayer resources. Use it alone or in a group to pursue God’s peace in your life, in your community, and on campuses around the world.
A LEGACY OF GLOBAL PRAYER
Just as the concept of global prayer is not new, so World Student Day has been around for decades.
Its first iteration was in the 1970s. At the IFES General Committee (World Assembly) in 1975, member movements unanimously adopted “a proposal that a day be set apart each year when student members of IFES would pray for the International Fellowship”.
IFES Day was born, later to become IFES Day of Prayer. This grew into what is now called World Student Day.
However, one special day to focus prayer across the fellowship was merely an outworking of a long-standing passion for prayer among its founding movements.
Anecdotes of zealous, globally-minded prayer fill the first chapters of Pete Lowman’s book The Day of His Power: A History of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students from its Beginnings up to 1988. Of the early days for evangelical student ministry in the USA, it reads: “Prayer meetings continued; students began to commit themselves to the foreign field” (p.13). While in 1940s China, “new [student] converts, who felt a strong desire for prayer and Bible study, began to hold their own meetings… There were signs of a deep work of the Holy Spirit: some students were converted, many yielded their lives for consecration, and several answered the call to Christian ministry” (p.123).
It’s therefore unsurprising that the ten national movements which founded IFES in 1947 covenanted to “work and pray to see a clear evangelical witness established in every university in the world”. Today’s vision remains unchanged. At its very core, IFES is a ministry of global prayer.
Kehinde Ojo, Director for Indigenous Support Development, is keenly aware of the vast global harvest – and the need to pray for workers to reap it:
“For many years now, I’ve reflected on Jesus’s words in Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV): ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.’”
“This passage is so applicable to student ministry – the situation with the multitudes is replicated in universities and colleges all over the world! Many students are like ‘sheep without a shepherd’. I find it compelling that Jesus requested prayer as a way of addressing the need.”
A NETWORK OF GLOBAL PRAYER
World Student Day is simply one way of meeting that need. Across IFES – at global, national, and local levels – students, staff, and supporters engage with various outward-facing prayer opportunities, following rhythms of global prayer.
To facilitate “prayer without ceasing”, the IFES Daily Prayer Guide, published every quarter, contains brief points for prayer from national movements and the global fellowship. And the fortnightly Prayerline offers a vivid snapshot of student witness in a national movement, followed by points for prayer.
Within the fellowship itself, Annette Arulrajah (Associate General Secretary for Global Fellowship) has been championing a renewed call for prayer:
“Any movement that’s not underpinned with the prayers of its people is a movement straining away from the powerhouse. In order to thrive, any movement of God must be powered by God Himself. As we endeavour to do his work, we must fall on our knees and cry out to him.”
To facilitate a deeper sense of togetherness in such prayer, IFES has recently invited global and national staff to participate in monthly online prayer meetings. And plans are underway for a Global Prayer Day on 23 January 2025, when a Virtual Prayer Room will be launched – a fresh example of how IFES is utilising digital ministry.
Complementing intercession at the global level is a plethora of prayer initiatives in IFES regions and within national movements. Since 2020, the IFES Caribbean team have been mobilising prayer through 40 Days of Prayer – a focused period of inviting supporters to intercede for each of their region’s national movements by using prayer points and joining weekly online meetings. At the national level, larger movements often publish resources to fuel prayer for their ministries – such as KGK’s Prayer Assignment in Japan, UCCF’s Focus in Great Britain, or ABUB’s Intercessor in Brazil – while other movements email prayer letters or post prayer requests on social media channels, like UJC Chad.
CHOOSING GLOBAL PRAYER
Whatever resources we use or initiatives we join, Annette’s exhortation reminds us that heartfelt prayer is a must.
Indeed, from its beginning to end, the Bible treats prayer as intrinsic to our relationship with God. Whether it’s strolling in God’s presence, talking with him about what we see in front of us (Gen 2), weeping in God’s presence, pleading with him for change (Nehemiah 1), or bowing in God’s presence, telling him how much we appreciate what he’s done for us (Revelation 5).
The question is whether our conversation, lament, and praise are infused with God’s global vision.
Like the money changers in the temple, will we turn inwards and focus on taking care of our own “business”? Or will we face outwards and share Christ’s zeal for a kind of prayer that blesses the nations?
It’s not a gimmick. Let’s pursue God’s heart. Let’s choose global prayer.
AT A GLANCE: IFES RESOURCES FOR GLOBAL PRAYER | |||
| What is it? | How frequent? | Where to access? | |
| Prayerline | A vivid snapshot of how God is at work through students, usually focused on one IFES national movement. With pointers for prayer. | Every 2 weeks | Email (subscription) Web (page) From social media posts App (Prayermate) Podcast (Podbean) |
| Daily Prayer Guide | A short point for prayer for every day of the year. Covers every world region. Includes requests for the global fellowship and its national movements. | Every 3 months | Web (download) Email (subscription) Post (UK, USA, Canada only) App (Prayermate) |
| Praise & Prayer | News from around IFES to stimulate praise and prayer. | Every 3 months | Web (download) Email (subscription) Post (UK/USA/Canada only) |
| World Student Day Prayer Cards | A focused day of prayer for student ministry on campuses around the world, using requests submitted by students and staff. | Annual, every October | Email (subscription) Web (page) |
| To find out about prayer initiatives or resources at the local level, visit the IFES Our World page for links to national movement websites and social media channels. | |||
