God has surely listened

“God has surely listened and heard my prayer” (Psalm 66:19) 

Thank you for praying for students and campus ministry this year. With the psalmist, we can say, “Come and see what God has done!” (Psalm 66:5). He has been at work through your intercessions: 

Together, we prayed for 500 students and staff attending the East Asia Regional Conference. “Hearts were warmed, tears shed, minds challenged, relationships kindled, wrongdoings corrected, plans committed to, lives transformed, and, most importantly, as per the theme of the conference, God’s voice was heard and put into action.” Lisman (IFES Regional Secretary for East Asia). 

We also prayed for KGK Japan’s national conference and its international student ministry. Give thanks that around 200 students took part and were “on fire” for local and global mission. 

We gave thanks for God’s lead on the relaunch of ministry in Antigua. A steering committee has now been established – it will work towards a fully functional movement on the island. 

We asked the Lord to guide staff on the Solomon Islands as they encouraged more student-led initiative. Give thanks that, in December, seven student leaders grew in their faith and vision for ministry when they attended a regional training event in Australia and participated in missions. 

We offered prayers for Sarah, helping to break the silence of war trauma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thank God that she has now been able to submit her paper to the university’s research centre, showing the academic community how faith can bring healing. 

We asked for war to cease in Lebanon. Praise the Lord for November’s ceasefire. Pray that it holds and keep seeking peace for the whole region. 

We prayed for the ?Huia Jisas? mission in Vanuatu. Over recent weeks, students have boldly taken up the challenge of reading and discussing the Gospel with their peers. Thank God for their faithful witness and for the opportunity to have four local churches participate with them in the initiative. 

We gave thanks for Kristine’s renewal at summer camp and prayed for her “small but strong” campus group at El Camino. We asked that newcomers wouldn’t be intimidated by the smallness of the ministry. Praise God that this semester the weekly Bible study gathering has grown from three to 20, with many first year students joining who “have a hunger and passion for Jesus”. 

After sharing Nattanaelys and Josué’s inspiring testimony from Venezuela, we noted how the country’s political situation prevented their participation in a subregional student gathering. Sadly, September’s national camp had to be cancelled too.  

Nevertheless, the Lord has helped MUEVE to persevere. Instead of the camp, the movement was able to simultaneously hold two local training events, involving 11 students from three cities. Moreover, God connected them with a “mission-minded” student who has just started university in the capital Caracas, where no MUEVE group yet exists. 

Give thanks for God’s encouragement amid a difficult situation. Pray for justice and peace to prevail in the country and for the hopes to plant a MUEVE group in Caracas. 

Another stirring testimony was Shiuli’s encounter with Christ in Bangladesh. Since we brought you that story, the country has been through a time of great turmoil, with its future still uncertain. The BSFB 50th birthday celebrations had to be postponed. And, due to conflict between Bengali and Bawm communities, Shiuli returned to her village. 

Despite these challenges, the movement remains hopeful. Most local Bible study groups have now resumed their regular activities, and BSFB has just celebrated its 50 years and “passed the baton on” to its new General Secretary (Lasar). 

Thank God that BSFB has been able to resume ministry after July’s violent clashes. Pray for Shiuli’s safety, for all students to be powerful witnesses of God’s love, peace, and hope, and for Lasar as he guides ministry forward. 

Georgia has also been through unsettling times since we prayed for International Student Ministry (ISM) in Kutaisi. However, the group is still thriving. Staff worker Larisa says: 

“Thank you for praying! Our ISM ministry is growing in numbers, with many new students joining the Bible study groups. I want to specifically thank you for praying for Sunil, Amitha, and Prutvi. They continue to attend the Bible study group regularly. Their deep questions have made our Bible study on the Book of Genesis very interesting and fruitful.”  

The student leaders are also flourishing. Both Sharon and Pranitha became part of the leadership team. And the Lord provided a special training opportunity for Sharon: when most students returned to India for summer vacation, she stayed in Kutaisi to lead an eight-week Bible study for those who remained. And Deepak was able to join an IFES evangelism conference in Greece, returning with fresh enthusiasm and ideas. 

Give thanks that these Indian international students are still eagerly engaging with the Word and that the leaders are flourishing in ministry. Pray for a peaceful resolution to the country’s current tensions and that student ministry may progress unhindered. 

So, thank you for interceding this year. We hope you’re encouraged that your prayers made a difference to students’ lives and advanced God’s kingdom. 

We look forward to sharing stories and prayer needs throughout 2025, so that we can “cry out to him with our mouths”, keep his “praise on our tongues”, and let others hear what God has done (Psalm 66:16-17). 

“Praise be to God, who has not rejected [our] prayers or withheld his love from [us]!” (Psalm 66:20) 

Make sure you’re subscribed to Prayerline so that you can be praying for IFES grassroots ministry every fortnight through 2025. You can also access Prayerline and our Daily Prayer Guide on Prayermate.