{"id":45978,"date":"2025-04-15T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=45978"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:27:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T09:27:06","slug":"a-different-type-of-influencer","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/a-different-type-of-influencer\/","title":{"rendered":"A Different Type of Influencer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"A Different Type of Influencer\" allowtransparency=\"true\" height=\"150\" width=\"100%\" style=\"border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;\" scrolling=\"no\" data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/player-v2\/?i=t38ny-187f445-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=8bbb4e&#038;font-color=000000&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=654771\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>Our greatest need is not for more preachers but for more catalysts. We\u2019ll benefit most from encouragers behind the scenes rather than speakers in the limelight<\/em><em>.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2013 Hussam, Associate Regional Secretary for Training in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/region\/mena\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Middle East and North Africa (MENA)<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is why student leaders and staff from three North African movements explored the character of Barnabas earlier this year. As they engaged with Scripture together at a four-day IFES gathering, perspectives shifted. A fresh vision for ministry emerged.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-8ce0abebbd0ba228cd86a71eda8e8f4d\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8ce0abebbd0ba228cd86a71eda8e8f4d\"><strong>Behind the Scenes<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Followers of Christ in this region often <em>need<\/em> to keep their faith out of the limelight due to widespread persecution from family or government \u2013 we previously described how <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/closed-doors-and-open-windows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">students in one of these three countries must now meet in secret<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, behind the scenes, the church has been growing, and new opportunities for student ministry have emerged. Until recently, the movement in another of these countries mostly consisted of international students from sub-Saharan Africa. But links have developed with six locals \u2013 a graduate couple and four students \u2013 who are eager to build indigenous ministry.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was one of those students who clearly grasped the influence she could have:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>I\u2019d never thought that I could be a Barnabas. But I learned that I could encourage others and help the church grow in this way <\/em><em>\u2013 <\/em><em>you don\u2019t have to be a pastor or worship leader to do that. I want to take this back to my country and be a Barnabas in my church and at my university.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-b89220837f5451714f21300414328016\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b89220837f5451714f21300414328016\"><strong>The Need for Influence<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is good news for campus. Behind-the-scenes encouragement will boost the spirits of young believers facing persecution. And this ministry will have a broader impact. It can also positively influence the many students who face struggles like depression, homelessness, addiction, and identity crises.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help the catalysts-in-training navigate such issues, another MENA movement\u2019s general secretary was present at the conference. As a professionally trained counsellor, Dr Fuad offered biblical and clinical input on mental and emotional health, including anxiety and addiction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One student noted how their perspective was enlarged:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe session on addiction was so important \u2013 it wasn\u2019t just about cigarettes and alcohol but showed how we can be addicted to anything that pulls our focus away from God. It\u2019s really important to talk about this.<\/em><em>\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The students returned inspired and better equipped to be Barnabas-like influencers, sharing God\u2019s encouragement behind the scenes. Let\u2019s pray for them:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-3308647f1b3d369e44f0ff43c427970c\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-mena-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3308647f1b3d369e44f0ff43c427970c\"><strong>Pray<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Give thanks for these student leaders and for their enthusiasm to become influential catalysts. Pray especially for those who attended for the first time \u2013 that the Lord will guide their efforts to build an indigenous witness for Christ.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Please continue to pray for all in this region amid the tragedy and trauma of war. One leader recently shared how discouraging and disruptive the bombings are to their ministry. Pray for an end to the violence and killing.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Thank God for a recent conference in the Persian Gulf, which brought together 50 church leaders, graduates, and students to further the pioneering of student ministry there.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Pray that a MENA student conference (27 August \u2013 2 September) will provide much-needed fellowship and support across the region. Ask for Spirit-led preparations and for the overcoming of any hindrances to student attendance.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":45979,"template":"","area":[461],"theme":[1211],"class_list":["post-45978","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-mena","theme-leadership-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Different Type of Influencer &#183; IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cOur greatest need is not for more preachers but for more catalysts. 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