{"id":45184,"date":"2025-03-05T16:24:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T16:24:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=conexion&p=45184"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:17:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T12:17:28","slug":"good-leaders","status":"publish","type":"conexion","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/good-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"GOOD LEADERS FOR CAMPUS, CHURCH, AND SOCIETY\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cOur world needs leaders shaped by God.\u201d <\/em> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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It\u2019s an assertion we all feel deeply today. We see the damaging effects of cruel dictators, greedy politicians, corrupt officials \u2013 and wayward pastors.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But it\u2019s always been true. Proud Egypt needed a Joseph, faithless Israel needed a Deborah, and God-defying Babylon needed a Daniel. And God delivered. He shaped a household slave, a prophetess, and an international student into leaders of vision, compassion, justice, courage, and integrity. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thankfully, God is still calling and shaping leaders today \u2013 and IFES is grateful to be part of that work. Through our national movements, regional programs, and global initiatives, students are being formed into leaders of influence. Our vision statement says:   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cAt the heart of everything we do is a desire to see students thriving together as communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel and <\/em>impacting the university, the church and society for the glory of Christ.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d  <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In this blog, we hear directly from a student in Asia, a pastor in Latin America, and a lawyer in Africa. They tell us how their involvement in IFES has shaped them as leaders \u2013 for the university, the church, and society. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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LEADERS FOR UNIVERSITY: NAOMI<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Naomi Chandrasekharan is a final year student in zoology at the Open University and a student leader in the IFES movement in Sri Lanka.  <\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Back in 2020, when COVID kept us all restricted to Zoom calls, I joined FOCUS \u2013 the Fellowship of Christian University Students in Sri Lanka<\/a>. After two years, I found myself being invited to join around 20 other students from across the island on the National Student Executive (NSE), our student leadership body. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Having grown up in a church focused on discipleship and reaching the unreached, my foundation in leadership was already laid. However, the student movement pushed me further, challenging me to study God\u2019s Word more deeply \u2013 not just for personal growth, but for its impact on the world around me. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As leaders, we were encouraged to think critically about the issues we saw, both on campus and in wider society. And, most importantly, we explored how the gospel related to those issues. This required us to slow down, pause, and reflect \u2013 an increasingly rare habit in today\u2019s fast-paced world. And one I struggled with as well!  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Through these practices, I began to understand that leadership is not about what we do for God, but rather recognizing what he is already doing in the world and partnering with him in that mission. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In 2022, amid Sri Lanka\u2019s economic crisis, a FOCUS initiative called \u201cWord and the World\u201d gave us the chance to visit poverty-stricken areas across the island, with teams spending several days in local communities. It was an eye-opening experience. It revealed the urgent needs within our own land, and it was a place where our education and the needs of the people met \u2013 a place where dreams were born and hearts were changed.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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FOCUS fellowship groups on campus have also organized programs to address key student issues. University-wide discussions have been turned into action, and we\u2019ve been given the opportunity to lead some of those sessions. As we served in predominantly unbelieving environments, we learned to respect all people as we created spaces where we could navigate difficult questions of life together. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Our student movement operates in three languages (Sinhala, Tamil, and English), which can make communication challenging \u2013 yet also enriching! This experience taught me patience, mindfulness, and the importance of listening attentively to those who might not share my language preference. That often meant I needed to talk less! Speaking in someone\u2019s heart language was not just about what was being said but about affirming the person and identifying with them. As a team, we slowly realized that each of us had a vital role to play and that we needed each other as we united to work towards a common goal.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in IFES World Assembly<\/a>. I was deeply encouraged to hear people share their testimonies \u2013 it was amazing to see what God is doing across the world!  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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It was a learning experience as well as a powerful reminder that we are all a part of something bigger.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Members of the NSE met regularly for prayer, but it wasn\u2019t until the end of our tenure that we realized those moments were some of the most significant. We saw how God answered those prayers, doing far more than we had asked, and it reminded us that God builds his kingdom and brings everything together in his time. We are simply called to be faithful to him, trusting him for the outcome, knowing that even the smallest act holds significance in his kingdom. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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