{"id":44415,"date":"2025-01-10T16:09:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T16:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=conexion&p=44415"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:18:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T12:18:19","slug":"global-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"conexion","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/global-collaboration\/","title":{"rendered":"Fostering Unity in a Divided World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As you enter a new year, how hopeful are you for global collaboration?  <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Despite some bright spots, the last 12 months may have left us feeling apprehensive due to wars, disputed elections, or negative newsfeeds. We\u2019re living in a world beleaguered by division, polarisation, isolationism, and dysfunctional governance. The spirit of international cooperation and interdependence witnessed during the 2020 pandemic has quickly faded. What hope can we see for fostering unity? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As Christians, we see Christ: he is our hope. Through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we are given a different vision for our divided world: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Nations scattered by pride are reunified through Christ\u2019s Spirit (Genesis 11, Acts 2). People separated by status, culture, and ethnicity are united in Christ (Galatians 3:27-28, Ephesians 2:11-22). Individuals are joined to Christ in humble dependence (John 15:1-17) and serve together with radical interdependence (1 Corinthians 12). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But what should this grand theology look like in daily practice? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students<\/a> (IFES) is in its very essence an expression of that world-transforming vision, uniting over 160 national ministries in a shared mission: \u201cto work together to form a movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ in every country of the world\u201d. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But among this ever-growing family of movements, the need to help each other build capacity and renew ministry is also vital. How can a newly established movement learn from the veteran movements in its region? And how can a 100-year-old movement learn from those that have just begun? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Through cross-cultural relationships, international networks, regional conferences, and global training programs, IFES is fostering such partnerships. In fact, the four words that comprise IFES show us why we can be hopeful for global collaboration in the coming year.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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I<\/mark>: INTERNATIONAL (NOT NATIONALISTIC)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Every four years, the IFES World Assembly<\/a> is a highpoint of international connection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful to see so many nations coming together, with different languages and cultures, joyful and excited, united in worship,\u201d says Kehinde Ojo (Program Director for Indigenous Support Development<\/a>).  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But he points out that such international connections also take place every year \u2013 through IFES regional events.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWhen people ask me about IFES ministry in Africa, I say \u2018which Africa?\u2019 because there\u2019s so much diversity even within one region. Like in EPSA (English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa<\/a>), we have three sub-regions, and common languages are not only English and Portuguese but Spanish as well. The east is very different from the west and the south is different altogether!\u201d <\/em><\/h4>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Given this diversity, he says that regional events that bring students and staff together for worship, fellowship, teaching, and training are rich times of learning about each other. In every IFES region, when national movements gather, the program invariably includes a cultural night when participants can share food, dancing, songs, and traditions from their own countries. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Such interactions are particularly powerful when participants come from countries in conflict with one another and meet each other for the first time. For example, in late August, student leaders from movements in the Middle East and North Africa<\/a> (MENA) region will join together for training and fellowship. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Global collaboration through international relationships also underpins the core IFES leadership team. The responsibility for developing and sharing IFES priorities and resources across the globe is shared by IFES General Secretary Tim Adams (from the UK) with Annette Arulrajah from Malaysia, David Bahena from Mexico, George Ogalo from Kenya, and Olena Welch from Ukraine (see their roles here<\/a>). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Here\u2019s the \u201cI\u201d of IFES: from global leadership to regional staff and student leaders, IFES brings together \u2013 and holds together \u2013 people from different nations.   <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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LOOKING FORWARD IN 2025: <\/strong>INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS<\/strong> <\/mark><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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This year, regional conferences in Francophone Africa (PANAF<\/a>), Europe (European Student Festival<\/a>), and MENA will draw together hundreds of students from many different countries. Here\u2019s a taster of what\u2019s to come: <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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