{"id":20085,"date":"2022-10-13T09:17:34","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T08:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=conexion&p=20085"},"modified":"2022-10-13T09:28:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-13T08:28:52","slug":"renewal-in-real-time","status":"publish","type":"conexion","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/renewal-in-real-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewal in real time"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 21 October, IFES students and supporters from across the world will gather for our annual prayer event, World Student Day<\/a>. Globally, much has changed for student movements in the last few years. There is the colossal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>, as well as natural disasters<\/a>, political instability<\/a>, and many conflicts<\/a>, of which the highest profile continues to be the war in Ukraine<\/a>. Through these many difficulties, IFES movements have stood by one another in lament<\/a>, in financial solidarity<\/a>, and in prayer<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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We believe in a God who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17), who bottles our tears (Psalm 56:8), and who uses tragedies to bring triumph. And out of difficulty, struggle, and sadness, even though we don\u2019t deserve it, God brings forth renewal.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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 \u201cRenew\u201d was chosen as the theme<\/a> of our prayers for one another this World Student Day, to reflect a new refrain emerging in many different national movements. To inspire you to pray for the renewal that only God can bring to our nations, student groups, and individual lives, here are a few stories of seeds of renewal in different student movements around the world.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Namibia: Continuing where we left off <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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You may remember the repioneering efforts in Namibia from April\u2019s Global Generosity Day<\/a>. After being stalled for several years due to a lack of funds, Nambia\u2019s Christian Students Fellowship (CSF) is restarting thanks to the efforts of the English and Portuguese-speaking Africa (EPSA) regional team.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Kali is a graduate and former leader of the CSF in Namibia. \u201cIt was a great experience\u201d, he reflects. \u201cI have become more in love with God, and more involved in his work ever since. As a former leader and CSF student, I still have that desire to pioneer the work, to continue where we left off. Our vision was to expand the movement throughout campuses around the country.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Recently Zelalem, EPSA Regional Secretary, visited Namibia to host a stakeholder consultation with six CSF graduates, two interested individuals, a board chairperson, and a possible staff worker. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThree outcomes were clear from the consultations\u201d, says Zelalem. Campus work, including registering a movement on campus and mobilising students, should start immediately. Also, the Board would need to \u201cdust off\u201d the organisational aspects of CSF and, in that process, mobilise more graduates and partners to start building a supportive fellowship.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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There has been \u201csteady progress\u201d since then, reports Zelalem. And Kali is still keen to continue the work; he has committed to become the revived movement\u2019s first staff worker when the movement begins to raise its own funds.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Cape Verde: Catalysing through conversation <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In this Portuguese-speaking archipelago nation off the Western coast of Africa, the EPSA regional team has also been working to bring the gospel to the universities of Cape Verde for the first time.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Initial efforts have been encouraging. In the last few months, the work has been through a connecting and catalysing phase. As part of this, Lawrence Gomez, from the regional team, visited the islands to make strategic contacts. He enjoyed the hospitality of a local pastor and another leader, both of whom pledged to become the first board members of a fledging national movement.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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God also revealed an unexpected connection during a conversation between Lawrence and the IFES Secretary for Scripture Engagement<\/a>, Ricardo Borges. When Lawrence asked if Ricardo knew anyone in Cape Verde, Ricardo remembered Iniza, a student with ABUB, the national movement in Brazil <\/a> where he himself had been a staff worker twenty-five years earlier. When Ricardo reached out to Iniza for help in finding contacts, he learnt that she is now a university professor in Cape Verde.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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She was able to meet Lawrence and help him to understand the local university context, as well as to connect him with a local church. Iniza is keen to support a campus fellowship and serve as a board member. With these initial seeds planted, the EPSA team hope to conduct governance training for the board later this year. Training will begin soon for a staff worker and students, and a gospel witness established.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Vanuatu: Twists, turns, and unexpected grace <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In another island nation in a different hemisphere, the general secretary shares how the beginning of a new student group in the National University of Vanuatu<\/a> Education School wonderfully overtook GNYF, the student movement in Vanuatu<\/a>. \u201cGod is gracious\u201d, affirms Joel, “in changing our ideas to bring the gospel to new places.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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GNYF had met with members of the university to discuss planting a campus ministry in the reopened education school \u2013 until a COVID lockdown forced everything to stop. But God hadn\u2019t finished with the university yet. When lockdown lifted, the school invited GNYF to speak with students, but they had low expectations because this timing was unfortunate. Not only had many students never been to campus in-person before, but exams were also just a few short weeks away. Nonetheless, there wasn\u2019t enough space on the sign-up sheets to collect the details of everyone who wanted to join this new group! GNYF saw God preparing unexpected people. Lineth is a Ni-Vanuatu student who was part of GNYF in 2019. Thanks to a Breaking New Ground grant<\/a>, she was able to come to Refresh<\/em>, GNYF\u2019s national leadership training conference. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Again, it seemed as if it would all end there. Lineth had dropped out of her course and moved away. GNYF didn\u2019t know, however, that she was enrolled at the Education School. As soon as she heard about the new campus group, Lineth began inviting all her classmates and organising places where they could meet. Thanks to her initiative and leadership, the group has grown in numbers every week, and Lineth has formed the core of its new student leadership team.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Now, GNYF trust in God\u2019s unexpected provision for renewal. The disruption of lockdown has meant that just seven weeks after this new group formed, the students are currently on a teaching placement before an extended break in classes until January. \u201cWe ask God to solidify this new community\u201d, says Joel, \u201cand keep them united around Jesus throughout the rest of the year. We\u2019re thanking God for the twists and turns, and we\u2019re praying for the group to remain united, ready for their second beginning in 2023.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Cambodia: renewed beginnings from God in Phnom Penh <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, two staff workers and one graduate of SONOKO, the country\u2019s national movement<\/a>, joined hands in prayer to God for the Royal University of Phnom Penh as they walked slowly through its campus.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cOne week later, we saw God open the hearts of students\u201d, says Phearak, SONOKO General Secretary. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Although the university group ended two years earlier, a small group began gathering each Wednesday to pray, listen to one another\u2019s stories, and study the Bible. \u201cSlowly\u201d, says Phearak, \u201cwe set challenges for one another to consider innovative ways to invite friends to the group.\u201d The students soon became passionate about bringing new friends, and the Bible study has expanded to include a \u2018Basics of Christian Life\u2019 course with three non-Christian student-participants.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThe door has always been closed\u201d, explains Phearak. \u201cBut we have waited, and prayed, and God has heard. The challenge is to keep discipling students, and to remember to depend on God in every step we walk on this campus.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Pray for renewal with us this World Student Day\u00a0<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Would you join us in prayer on 21 October? You can find everything you need to know about World Student Day here<\/a>. Add yourself to the online interactive map<\/a> to let us know you\u2019ll be praying. Download our resources, which include prayer requests from real students all over the world, and connect online with fellow participants<\/a> globally. We invite you pray with us for God to bring renewal, as he loves to do.  <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":20086,"template":"","area":[],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-20085","conexion","type-conexion","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRenewal in real time · IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On 21 October, IFES students and supporters from across the world will gather for our annual prayer event, World Student Day. 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