{"id":47747,"date":"2025-08-19T00:12:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T23:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=47747"},"modified":"2025-08-21T10:25:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T09:25:24","slug":"everybody-grows","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/everybody-grows\/","title":{"rendered":"Everybody Grows"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"Everybody Grows\" 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=k7nds-193dc93-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=8bbb4e&#038;font-color=auto&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=3267a3\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a growing ministry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/focusuganda.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FOCUS<\/a>, the IFES movement in Uganda, now serves 132 Christian Union groups (CUs) across 100+ campuses. But, with just 11 full-time staff and limited resources to hire more, the task of supporting student leaders with personal presence felt insurmountable \u2013 until they revived the Short-Term Experience in Ministry (STEM) program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, STEM has given seven graduates the opportunity to receive hands-on training while ministering among students. \u201cIt was an inevitable responsibility that we needed to pursue,\u201d says Patrick Barasa, FOCUS General Secretary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, both students and staff are growing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-101f4a38579832d4d34714f183f1eda2\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-epsa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-101f4a38579832d4d34714f183f1eda2\"><strong>Students Mentored<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The impact of the program is already evident. On campuses where STEM staff have been deployed, student ministry is thriving. At the Allied Institute of Health Sciences, Samuel, the CU Chair, sees the difference:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>Thanks to the expertise and mentorship of STEM staff<\/em><em>, <\/em><em>we\u2019ve been much more effective in planning and implementing our activities.<\/em><em> <\/em><em>As they\u2019ve walked alongside us<\/em><em>, <\/em><em>we\u2019ve developed as leaders \u2013 in knowledge and practical skills. And their active participation in outreach events has boosted our capacity to reach out to peers.\u201d<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such positive relationships are typical. The immediate staff presence on campus means that CU leaders can easily access FOCUS support and receive guidance on championing witness and discipleship in ways that are relevant for their situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-1d6cba42741fa0fff2202bd194c7c122\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-epsa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1d6cba42741fa0fff2202bd194c7c122\"><strong>Staff Mobilised<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And it\u2019s not just the students that are benefiting \u2013 STEM staff are also experiencing personal and spiritual growth. Maureen Nabwire, serving in the Busoga region, notes:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cOver the past few months, I\u2019ve been able to learn how to associate and communicate with people from different societies, how to relate to and engage with students. I\u2019ve realized that I can truly rely on God as my provider even through the challenges of mobilizing resources<\/em><em>.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the start of the year-long program, the carefully selected graduates are prepared for service with training on personal care and development as well as ministry skills, like how to faithfully handle Scripture and effectively engage in mission. This is supplemented by regular mentoring and care from senior staff and volunteers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">STEM staff have grown in other ways, too. Robert Wabulimbo, who\u2019s been serving Samuel\u2019s CU, adds: \u201cI\u2019ve learned to raise ministry funds and to be accountable for writing reports on finances and activities.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">General Secretary Patrick concludes:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWith the growing number of CUs, this strategy not only gives us the best shot at effectively discipling students<\/em><em>. <\/em><em>It\u2019s<\/em><em> <\/em><em>also a way of nurturing<\/em><em> <\/em><em>graduates who will impact<\/em><em> <\/em><em>our churches and society.<\/em><em>\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-445de93c80fc81fcce5d0ec5a618a969\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-epsa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-445de93c80fc81fcce5d0ec5a618a969\"><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 this year\u2019s STEM program \u2013 \u201cthrough earnest prayer and strategic requests, God provided the resources necessary for the training and relaunch\u201d. Thank God for the growth that students, like Samuel, and staff, like Maureen and Robert, have experienced.&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 FOCUS will be able to realise its vision of having at least five STEM staff in each of its eight regions \u2013 and that this will foster further growth for students and graduates.&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>Ask the Lord to stir hearts on 1 September, when FOCUS invites students and associates to give at least 10,000 Ugandan shillings (around 3 US dollars) to support discipleship programs. And pray for a breakthrough with paperwork approvals and financial needs for a building project at the FOCUS office in Kampala.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019d like to partner with the students and associates in Uganda who\u2019ll be giving to FOCUS, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/give\/?switch_language=en&amp;source=UKPL&amp;destination=EPUGA_TSTUD&amp;freq=once\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">donate here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":47748,"template":"","area":[456,535],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-47747","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-epsa","area-uganda"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Everybody Grows &#183; IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s a growing ministry.&nbsp; FOCUS, the IFES movement in Uganda, now serves 132 Christian Union groups (CUs) across 100+ campuses. 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