IFES WORLD ASSEMBLY 2027

Faithful Through Generations: Students, Saints, and Stories

Every four years, the IFES global family gathers in one place for World Assembly. It’s a time to share ministry experiences and insights, foster fellowship and partnerships, and discern God’s leading for local and international ministry.

For 24 June – 1 July 2027, we’re delighted to be warmly welcomed to Dublin City University by our sisters and brothers in Christian Unions Ireland (CUI).

Give thanks for the generosity and enthusiasm of the staff, students, and board members of CUI. And pray for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance as they plan and prepare.

God has used this gathering in remarkable ways to further gospel mission and ministry in the world’s universities. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for us this time.

Attendance at World Assembly is for selected movement representatives, IFES staff, and invited guests only. But whether or not you are there in person, there are many ways that you can bless and be blessed by our time together.

PRAY GIVE OUR THEME OUR HOSTSOUR VENUE TRAVEL TAKE PART FUNDING & PAYMENT

On behalf of the European regional team, it is my honour to welcome you to Ireland for the IFES 2027 World Assembly, and to thank our dear friends at Christian Unions Ireland for being our host. We hope that it will be a time when you can reflect, enjoy fellowship, and be confronted again with the call of God, and the vision that lies at the heart of IFES to reach every student in your land with the good news of Jesus Christ.

— David “Monty” Montgomery
Regional Secretary for Europe
David Monty Montgomery
Follow us on Instagram to find all the conference details and see stories from around the world!

PRAY

Join us in praying for World Assembly 2027!

Sign up to receive our prayer calendar with weekly prompts that follow the planning of the conference.
We know none of this would be possible without provision from our Heavenly Father, so please join us in lifting our endeavours to him.

Gallery Image

GIVE

We want to see every movement represented at World Assembly, because we think every story matters as we seek to understand what God is doing and how he is leading us.
But that can only happen with your help. You can donate to our scholarship fund to ensure that this gathering, so critical to the health and direction of the global church, includes every voice.

I pay taxes in:

USA
UK
Canada
Others
Give Once
Monthly
$1000
$500
$250
$100
$50
$25
$USD

Direct my gift to:

Add a note or specific designation:

ContinueSecure donationSecure donation
Give Once
Monthly
£800
£400
£200
£100
£50
£10
£GBP

Direct my gift to:

Add a note or specific designation:

ContinueSecure donationSecure donation

For Canadians Who May Need a Tax Receipt

Gifts may be made to IFES ministry and staff throughout the world by giving through our member movement in Canada, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of Canada.

You can donate by email, electronic fund transfer, or using your credit/debit card. IVCF Canada does not charge any overheads and are able to issue tax receipts when appropriate.

Clicking the button below will bring you to IVCF Canada's donation page where you can make your gift to IFES.

Give Via IVCF Canada
Give Once
Monthly
$800
$400
$200
$100
$50
$10
$USD ⌄

Direct my gift to:

Add a note or specific designation:

ContinueSecure donationSecure donation

OUR THEME

Faithful Through Generations: Students, Saints and Stories

Ireland is sometimes called “the land of a thousand welcomes (Céad Míle Fáilte=a hundred thousand welcomes)” and the place of a storyteller is important in its culture and history. The theme for World Assembly 2027 focuses on the faithfulness of God which endures from Biblical times down the ages until today (and forevermore).

We discover God’s faithfulness as we share, hear and reflect on our own stories – both the collective stories of humanity and the personal stories of individuals. World Assembly 2027 gives us the opportunity to hear, reflect and celebrate God’s faithfulness in various contexts, situations and amid many challenges that the people of God face daily. As the IFES family, we hope to listen to these stories and to learn from our successes and failures as we strive to be more faithful witnesses of our faithful God.

I realised that although we might have very different backgrounds and all sorts of different cultures, in the end, we’re all here for the same thing: we all want to serve in the student ministry and help spread the gospel more.

 Hannah, student from East Asia at World Assembly 2023

ABOUT OUR HOST

Christian Unions Ireland (CUI), Ireland

The host movement for World Assembly 2027 is Christian Unions Ireland (CUI). CUI incorporates two nations – the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI), which is part of the United Kingdom (UK). World Assembly will be taking place in Dublin, capital city of the Republic of Ireland, but we hope to give you a flavour of the whole island, north and south, during your time with us.

The Emerald Isle

The island of Ireland is known for its vibrant green fields and rolling countryside, giving it the name “the Emerald Isle”. The land is rich in magnificent natural features, including rivers, lakes (loughs), and a coastline that features cliffs, bays, and peninsulas.

Ireland also has significant historical importance as a centre of religion and learning. This “Land of Saints and Scholars” was home to the famous Saint Patrick, and many other missionaries and monks who set up monasteries after the establishment of Christianity in Ireland in 432 AD. These monasteries became key centres of education – preserving knowledge, literature, and religious texts during a time of instability in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire.

Did you know? Modern Ireland is divided into two political regions: the Republic of Ireland (which covers about five-sixths of the island) and Northern Ireland (part of the UK).

CUI in years and numbers

Like the country itself, CUI has a rich and long history! Student Christian gatherings on the island date back to at least the 1910’s and 20’s when The Christian Union (CU) in Trinity College Dublin was formed.

A faithful God through generations

From the pioneering work of St Patrick in the 5th century, CUI stands in a long line of faithful “Saints & Scholars” who brought the good news of Jesus to this island. St Patrick wasn’t just a figure from history; he was a young person who encountered Jesus, and boldly lived and spoke for Jesus, until it changed a nation.

His legacy continues to shape the mission of CUI today, as we see students and staff carrying that same zeal onto campuses across Ireland. Today, students are living out that same faith in lecture halls, group chats, late-night conversations and everything in between!

CUI is honoured to have been asked to host World Assembly 2027 and we look forward to telling you more about what God is doing as he continues to be faithful to us through the generations.

1923

Queen’s University Belfast Christian Union officially started meeting.

1997

The region of Ireland became an independent movement.

1999

IFES Ireland was admitted as a member movement.

2016

Renamed Christian Unions Ireland (CUI).

1
Director
2
Regional Teams (North & South)
11
Staff & Associate Workers
4
Support Team Members
5
Graduate Interns (Formation Programme)
25
Groups Across the Island (2–500 size range)

VENUE

Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

World Assembly 2027 will be held on the campus of Dublin City University in Dublin, Ireland. It is about 20 minutes away from Dublin International Airport.

We will be using the student accommodation and classrooms, as we celebrate work done on campuses around the world.

You will be allocated a room with one other participant in the student accommodation. Each room has a bathroom with a shower and rooms share a communal sitting room where we invite you to meet and connect with other participants.

 I was tremendously impacted by the stories of our brothers and sisters in countries where publicly acknowledging that you’re a follower of Jesus is often a death warrant. What moved me was their declaration that they would not have it any other way.

MAE, attendee from the Caribbean at World Assembly 2023

TRAVEL

Arrival and departure from Dublin International Airport

Where should I travel to?

Plan to arrive at Dublin International Airport (DUB).

We cannot provide transfers to World Assembly from any other locations.

*NOTE: Dublin is in the Republic of Ireland and has different visa requirements to Northern Ireland! If you plan to arrive in, or travel into Northern Ireland, you must secure the correct (additional) visa!

When should I travel to Dublin?

When planning flights, please consider the following: ;

  • For most participants you should plan to arrive in Dublin on 24 June and depart on 1 July. You should aim to arrive no later than 14:00 on 24 June to ensure adequate transfer time to the venue for our evening meal and the opening ceremony.
  • Students also attending the Student Gathering (22-24 June) should plan to arrive in Dublin no later than 14:00 on 22 June, departing on 1 July.
  • If you arrive earlier or stay later than is required by the specific meetings in which you participate, there will be an additional fee at the accommodation of $150 per night. Please indicate on your registration form if you need additional nights on site.
  • Official proceedings conclude at 9pm on 30 June. Return flights can be booked for any time on 1 July.

If you book travel that includes transit via the United States of America, please allow 2-3 hours to clear immigration. Please take this into account when booking connecting flights.

Please email worldassembly@ifesworld.org if you have any questions concerning travel arrangements and our flight booking policy.

Travel before and after World Assembly

If you would like to arrive before or stay after the World Assembly and travel in Ireland, we ask you to organise these excursions yourselves and not to expect the host movement to be involved. We cannot provide transport or accommodation outside of conference dates.

Important information about visas

Visas are always a challenge for the World Assembly, placing an additional financial burden on some IFES movements. Please check EARLY what visas you need, including any transfers you may do in other airports (particularly for travel through Europe). Contact us for visa support, but plan to apply as early as you can.

*NOTE: Dublin is in the Republic of Ireland and has different visa requirements to Northern Ireland! If you plan to travel into Northern Ireland, you must secure the correct (additional) visa!

TAKE PART

Everyone comes as part of a delegation, but we join together to connect, worship, learn, celebrate, lament, encourage, and live out our Gospel calling. If you would like to attend, please speak to your national movement General Secretary.

What to Expect

World Assembly will include students, graduates, supporters, staff, board members, and other guests from all over the world. Together we will share how God is at work in our ministry, engage with Scripture, learn from each other, make decisions about the future and seek God’s strength and guidance for what comes next in our shared mission. Expect plenty of moments through the week to hear best practice, share stories and meet together in small groups. In addition, we will hold General Committee sessions where voting delegates will meet to make official decisions.

Our daily Scripture Engagement, led by guest speakers as well as students and staff from around IFES, will focus on the refrain “I will be your God, and you will be my people.“  We expect to affiliate new national movements and they will each have an opportunity to share their story during the week.  We will hold Conversatorios where we invite you to engage in discussion around the issues facing student ministry, and in the evenings we will hear stories of God’s faithfulness and think about the implications of what we are learning for ongoing ministry.

These videos and articles give you a good sense of what World Assembly will be like:

We saw how student-centred World Assembly was – with students even giving some of the Scripture talks! So, we’ve entrusted more responsibilities to our students and started seeking their testimonies and feedback even more.

DESI, a general secretary in Europe, on how World Assembly 2023 impacted their ministry

REGISTRATION

Registration will take place through delegation managers and will open officially at the start in December 2026. We will inform you in due course about when and how to register participants.

Pre-World Assembly Meetings

Student gathering (22 – 24 June): a platform for student participants to connect with each other, get to know each other and plan for their contribution to the World Assembly program. Students should plan to attend World Assembly from 22 June – 1 July.

Participating from a distance: World Assembly Online

World Assembly is a significant event in the life of our fellowship, and just because you are not in Dublin does not mean you cannot participate. We plan to make content from sessions available online, and we would encourage you to engage with the program via social media. We will be using the #ifeswa27 hashtag on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

We will host parts of World Assembly online, including some of the main sessions and seminars. We invite groups who are unable to join us in Dublin to join with one another in person instead and form small groups who can engage with online content.

More information about World Assembly Online is coming soon!

FUNDING AND PAYMENT

The conference fee for World Assembly 2023 will be US$2,200 per person, which covers the event itself with all the sessions and resources, as well as accommodation, food, and transfers to and from Dublin airport. You will need to pay for travel and visa costs in addition to this.  

We know the cost may even seem like an impossibly high amount to you. We want you to know that there will be some scholarships available to help towards the cost of both the conference and travel. We want to work together to make sure that each national movement can be represented in Dublin. Planning for scholarships is in progress and more information will be available soon via regional secretaries. 

As a fellowship we want to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. The more your national movement is able to cover its own costs, the more we will be able to help those from the countries with limited financial resources, and those facing the additional costs related to visa applications and travel. 

  • Would you be able to raise funds to help provide scholarships for other movements? 
  • Are you from a country that doesn’t require an Irish visa? Could you make a gift towards a movement that does?  A single transit visa can cost up to USD 160 – could you contribute and help someone else get to WA?

Please consider making a gift and join us in prayer – to the Lord of the nations – that he might enable representatives from every national movement to be present at World Assembly.

How and when do we need to pay? 

More information will be communicated in due course, but if you have specific questions relating to payments in the meantime, please email worldassembly@ifesworld.org.