{"id":47416,"date":"2025-08-07T16:50:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T15:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?page_id=47416"},"modified":"2026-01-12T09:27:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T09:27:16","slug":"thriving-with-gospel-hope-impact-report-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/thriving-with-gospel-hope-impact-report-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Thriving with gospel hope"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ORDINARY<\/mark> STUDENTS, EXTRAORDINARY<\/mark> HOPE<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\u201cWe have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed.\u201d\u2003<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>2 Corinthians 4:7-10<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Dear friends<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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I recently visited a communist country in Asia where Christians have faced persecution for decades. One afternoon, I met elderly \u201cEsther\u201d (not her real name). She pioneered student ministry through times when many believers were detained or forced to flee. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Esther and others found innovative ways to translate, print, and distribute devotional and teaching materials. Their faithful \u201csowing\u201d has yielded a harvest in recent years: across the country, thousands of students now live for Jesus! <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The energy, hope, and determination of these sisters and brothers is remarkable \u2013 past and present (it\u2019s still illegal to run Christian activities anywhere beyond a church). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Yet, they are ordinary Christians \u2013 like you and me \u2013 used by God in extraordinary ways \u2013 \u201cjars of clay\u201d with God\u2019s \u201call- surpassing power\u201d. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This is what I see in IFES around the world: the gospel transforming ordinary students so that they can have an extraordinary impact on the university, the church, and society.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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It was the same when Jesus first chose and invested in his disciples. Ordinary people were changed, forgiven, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. They became a movement of hope that\u2019s still changing lives today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This is what I see in IFES around the world: the gospel transforming ordinary students so that they can have an extraordinary impact on the university, the church, and society. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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That\u2019s true even in \u2013 especially in \u2013 the many \u201chard-pressed\u201d places.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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So, please don\u2019t simply read what follows as the annual report of an organisation. I invite you to pore over it as a testimony to how God has been working through ordinary people like us \u2013 students, staff, and supporters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Indeed, it\u2019s with deep thanks that I want to acknowledge the part you\u2019ve played.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Join me in celebrating how the all-surpassing ministry of Jesus continues today as \u2013 together \u2013 we share his good news and nurture thriving, hope-filled student ministries in universities all over the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

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

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A LEGACY OF HOPE<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In September, we were deeply saddened by the death of Daniel Bourdann\u00e9, who faithfully served as IFES General Secretary 2007-2019. Daniel knew what it was to thrive in gospel hope through deep challenges \u2013 as a teenager, war forced him to flee his home in Chad. Yet, Daniel went on to revive student ministry in Togo, engage academia in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, and steer IFES ministry across Francophone Africa and then the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Daniel was one of the first from Francophone Africa to lead a global, multilingual organisation. Given that Chad was one of the world\u2019s poorest countries at the time, that\u2019s testimony to the grace and goodness of God.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Read our tribute: <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The Gospel Embodied \u2013 A Tribute to Daniel Bourdann\u00e9 (1959-2024)<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A HOPE-FILLED VISION<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Locally, nationally, and globally, our vision remains clear:<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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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><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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We continue to connect and nurture locally-led student movements in over 180 different countries and territories. And we\u2019re committed to seeing a student witness established in every university in the world. Four Thriving Together priorities<\/a> currently shape ministry across the fellowship: thriving in witness, thriving in whole-life commitment, thriving on new ground, and thriving into the future. Standing on our foundational beliefs, we are a fellowship of students, staff, and supporters who are thriving together in hope, thankful for God\u2019s gracious and glorious work in the world\u2019s universities \u2013 and beyond.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Our mission and vision are underpinned and sustained by our doctrinal basis and core values, available here<\/a>. <\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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THRIVING<\/strong> IN WITNESS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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University students are at a pivotal point in their lives. In their search for meaning, purpose, and authenticity, it\u2019s vital that they hear about the hope of Christ \u2013 and see it expressed through his followers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thanks to your support, IFES fellowship and training are encouraging and equipping students to declare and demonstrate the gospel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But 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. <\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>ACTS 1:8<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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VOICING HOPE IN EAST ASIA<\/h2>
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Titus* knows the pressures of following Christ in a sensitive country \u2013 he grew up as a pastor\u2019s son under a communist regime in East Asia. In the country where he lives, public evangelism is still forbidden. Yet, over the last 20 years, under his leadership, he\u2019s seen a student movement of around 100 students grow to over 5,000. Titus participated in the IFES Global Leadership Initiative and is now part of the regional team. In July 2024, he led inspirational Bible talks at the East Asia regional conference. The theme, Voice Matters, called students to bear witness, love others, serve society, and be a voice that leads others to find truth and hope in Christ. 500+ students and staff from 17 national movements left better equipped to voice God\u2019s heart for their campuses. Titus says,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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* name changed to protect identity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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When I see the challenges we face, my heart wrestles with fear, pain, and brokenness. But the Lord also shows me signs of hope, mixed with sparkling joy, through those who faithfully and sacrificially serve in the ministry.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>Titus <\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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REACHING THE NATIONS IN GEORGIA
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In Kutaisi, Georgia, what started as three Indian students reading the Bible with a staff worker turned into a group of more than 20 eating and studying Mark\u2019s Gospel together. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Some of the Christian students have now been trained to lead evangelistic Bible studies. One of them joined an IFES evangelism conference in Greece last year and returned with fresh enthusiasm and ideas.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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GLOBAL PRAYER STRENGTHENING LOCAL WITNESS<\/h2>
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On World Student Day, over 34,600 <\/strong>students, staff, and supporters in 140 <\/strong>countries and territories united in prayer. One group in IFES Nederland had asked to intercede for their group to grow and for wisdom to help those struggling with mental health. Later, they wrote:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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World Student Day was so valuable for us! We\u2019ve been blessed with wonderful new members and have seen God addressing some of the mental health challenges. His solutions and guidance have come in unexpected ways.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n \n \n Find out about Immeasurably More: World Student Day 2025 <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Read more about how students proclaimed faith in 2024 in this Conexi\u00f3n blog.<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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