{"id":27891,"date":"2023-07-07T15:51:41","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T14:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?page_id=27891"},"modified":"2024-05-07T15:55:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T14:55:30","slug":"annual-report-2022-2023","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/annual-report-2022-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Report 2022-2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prayer, Provision and Partnership<\/strong> <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Dear friends,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThe Lord literally went ahead of us!\u201d  <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The Regional Secretary was brimming with excitement as he recounted to me his recent visit to a pioneering country. Starting a new student group needs a committed person on the ground and we had long been praying and looking for one without success. But just recently God brought events together in miraculous ways when we made contact with a former IFES student who had moved to this country from a different continent. By the end of the visit, five believers had agreed to serve as a board to pioneer the movement. They arranged to do our board training program, where they worked together on vision, mission, and core values, as well as planning the next three months! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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I love how this story reflects so much that is at the heart of IFES: the importance of patient prayer, the priority of mission, the way the global fellowship led to such a good contact, and how governance training served as a foundation for a new national movement. It also reminds me how valuable it is to be together.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Tim and EPSA regional team visiting NIFES Nigeria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Over the past year many long-awaited face-to-face meetings have taken place across the fellowship. After two difficult years, many of our national movement leaders were \u201crunning on empty\u201d. They really needed the care, encouragement, fellowship, and equipping that they can receive from their IFES networks. This wave of events has also helped IFES staff strengthen our relationship with national leaders and better understand how IFES can serve their needs in rapidly evolving ministry contexts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In this 75th anniversary year for IFES, I am reminded how those themes of God\u2019s provision, global partnership and prayer have resounded over the years. And as we look forward, it is with a deep conviction that this is a time for us to renew our commitment to one another as we pray and work together to bring the hope and light of Christ to students around the world. It is this synergy that inspired the initial growth of IFES and I believe it is where God will meet us as we join him in the good works he has prepared for us.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Thank you for joining us in those works. As you read this report, I trust you will be excited to see how God is at work in the lives of students and how together we can continue to help our local and national ministries thrive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Yours in Christ,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Tim Adams 
IFES General Secretary\u202f<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThe Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Thriving Together <\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Our Vision and Priorities<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Our vision is to see students thriving together as communities of disciples, transformed by the gospel, and impacting the university, the church, and society for the glory of Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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IFES shapes lives and develops student leaders all around the world. We support locally led student movements in over 180 different countries and territories<\/a>, and we are committed to seeing a faithful student witness established in every university in the world. It is our hope for the 2020s that God will help us thrive together in our calling as a global fellowship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Our new four-strand Thriving Together strategy <\/a>was launched in February 2022, following more than two years of wide-reaching consultation and listening for the voice of God to lead us. This identified the need to embrace collaboration and new approaches, and to focus on transformation and impact. The four strategic priorities that will guide our work until 2030 will be Thriving in Witness<\/em>, Thriving in Whole-Life Commitment<\/em>, Thriving on New Ground<\/em>, and Thriving into the Future.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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We want to be a fellowship that is united in vision and mission with an appropriate infrastructure that facilitates fruitful connections across our global network. We want to share our gifts, resources and experience with each other, enhance our partnerships, strengthen our creativity, and by God\u2019s grace, help one another to thrive together.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thriving in Witness<\/h2>
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The educational setting presents a unique opportunity for young people to explore new ideas and meet people from different backgrounds. It may be the only opportunity for some to hear the gospel. Our work inspires and equips Christians to reach out effectively and with resilience in the face of challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Acts 1:8<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This year we have brought students, leaders and staff together across international boundaries to build each other up in Christian witness as they\u2019ve shared in dialogue, training and worship. We want to thrive in witness together and in partnership, from everywhere to everywhere.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A \u2018taste of heaven\u2019 in Francophone Africa<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Three hundred student leaders, staff workers and graduates from 19 national movements gathered to build community, share experiences, gain skills and renew their vision for witness at the PANAF (Panafricaine) conference in Burundi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIt was a taste of\u2026 heaven, with so many different tribes worshipping together. Sometimes it feels we are the only ones\u2026 doing this. It strengthens my faith to know that we are a family working together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Odette, student leader, GBEEN Niger<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Sharing perspectives across the globe<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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About 100 staffworkers from every IFES region travelled to Indianapolis, USA, to share their stories with thousands of students from across North America at the 2022 Urbana conference. It was an opportunity to broaden their own perspectives and those of the students from InterVarsity USA, Intervarsity Canada, and GBUC Canada, as participants were inspired to consider the role God has for each of them in the world. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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AFES Australia welcomed students from all around the South Pacific region to their National Training Event (NTE), to listen to God\u2019s Word, share updates, and consider how God might use them in his global story. Students from TSCF Papua New Guinea followed up with a series of evangelistic events in partnership with a local church in Australia.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Students from TSCF Papua New Guinea at NTE in Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Witnessing to the Scientific Community<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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LCI Latin America training workshop in Chile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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One major block for many students is the perceived conflict between science and faith. As part of our Engaging the University<\/strong> ministry<\/a>, the Logos and Cosmos Initiative <\/strong>(LCI)<\/a> supports projects fostering dialogue between theology and the sciences, in Latin America and Francophone Africa.  In 2022, 23 new Christian academic \u201ccatalysts\u201d joined the 18 qualifying to lead their projects for another year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A training workshop in Burundi allowed catalysts to renew their vision and hear from eminent regional scholars, and a similar gathering was held in Chile for Latin American catalysts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thriving in Whole-Life Commitment<\/h2>
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The educational setting presents a unique opportunity for young people to explore new ideas and meet people from different backgrounds. It may be the only opportunity for some to hear the gospel. Our work inspires and equips Christians to reach out effectively and with resilience in the face of challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWhatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Philippians 1:27<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Peer support in Europe<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Formacion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A supportive online community has developed among participants of the IFES Europe Formaci\u00f3n <\/strong>leadership trainingprogram, following the in-person launch of a new cohort in July 2022 in Poland. Formaci\u00f3n<\/strong> continues for ten months as the 37 students and nine community group leaders continue to meet online.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIt is wonderful to know I can truly rely on this community, who live far away from each other but are closely connected through the Spirit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Anna, Formaci\u00f3n launch conference participant, MEKDSZ (Hungary)<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Emerging leaders in the Middle East<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Nearly 200 staff and students from the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region gathered for a long-awaited in-person conference designed to equip young graduates for leadership. Many commented on how encouraging it was to hear about the joys and struggles of the other movements in the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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“I was encouraged to hold tight onto Jesus even though I came struggling with many big issues. I saw how important it was for students to study the Bible in small groups and I want to learn more about how to do this and lead others.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>A participating student (from a MENA country)<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Developing women leaders in South Asia <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Popular training and events for developing women in leadership were hosted by the regional Women@IFESSA, with a focus on spiritual gifts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Impact in the workplace<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The Graduate Impact <\/strong>resource ministry helps young graduates learn to think, speak, and live distinctively for Jesus in the workplace. In 2022, it launched the online and in-person Transition <\/strong>course for those preparing for work. Around 80 students across Eurasia have already used it, as have students in Latin America.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Graduate Impact also conducts the Cross-Current<\/strong> discipleship program, helping young adults connect faith and work through local or profession-based learning communities. In 2022, groups met in 19 cities in 15 countries in Eurasia, Europe, and Latin America.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thriving on New Ground<\/h2>
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As Tim Adams\u2019 introduction illustrates, God so often answers our prayers by harnessing relationships nurtured over years to open up new avenues for our work \u2013 leading students to live with and for Jesus. That includes areas where Christian witness is forbidden, absent or struggling. This year:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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