{"id":47956,"date":"2025-09-16T04:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T03:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=47956"},"modified":"2025-09-16T13:32:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T12:32:00","slug":"it-just-got-real","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/it-just-got-real\/","title":{"rendered":"It just got real"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"It just got real\" 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=3b26g-1967efc-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=3267a3&#038;font-color=000000&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=fb0584\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A team of 10 staff and students from North America were off to Georgia \u2013 but not the one in the United States. They were heading for the Caucasus. They\u2019d been invited to join with <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/region\/eurasia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IFES movements from across Eurasia<\/a> for <em>Formacion<\/em>, a 10-day gathering for student leaders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMissions\u201d just got real!&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-dd7d5c22a0c7f00f70254311a85b95aa\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-north-america-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-dd7d5c22a0c7f00f70254311a85b95aa\"><strong>A Beautiful Exploration<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIt was an exciting way to walk and pray alongside our students and staff who were interested in cross-cultural exposure and seeking God\u2019s heart for every nation. It was a beautiful exploration opportunity \u2013 to learn firsthand from IFES movements in Eurasia, to serve them, to develop relationships with them.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So says co-leader of the team, Liz Dolan, who previously spent two years serving in the region through <a href=\"https:\/\/intervarsity.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">InterVarsity\/USA\u2019s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/intervarsity.org\/missions\/link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Link program<\/a>. She mentions that the North American team was struck by how the Eurasian movements were finding creative ways to overcome various barriers to evangelism.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One team member commented:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe way that staff workers in sensitive countries had faith and still went about doing what they were doing really impacted me. It made me wonder about our situation in the US and think<\/em><em>:<\/em><em> \u2018Why should I be afraid when I have brothers and sisters in Eurasia who are not afraid of what they\u2019re doing?\u201d&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another added:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>That<\/em><em> <\/em><em>place in the Bible that talks about living by the law<\/em><em> <\/em><em>unless it gets in the way of what God says to do<\/em><em> \u2013 <\/em><em>now I\u2019ve met people who actually have to do that<\/em><em> \u2013 <\/em><em>do stuff that<\/em><em>\u2019<\/em><em>s illegal<\/em><em>!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sergei, Regional Secretary for Eurasia, says it was a blessing to watch the North American team take part in all the activities, making friends and sharing lives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>At this Formacion, we<\/em><em> <\/em><em>rediscovered the beauty of short-term trips. For hosts, it\u2019s<\/em><em> <\/em><em>a great opportunity to receive visitors and share about our countries. For visitors, it\u2019s a listening journey<\/em><em>, <\/em><em>watching for how God might be developing a longer-term vision for international ministry.<\/em><em>\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-8c280a72b749382b9be659431e3b830c\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-north-america-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8c280a72b749382b9be659431e3b830c\"><strong>A Buoyant Return<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to eye-opening conversations, Liz notes how God also spoke to their team through Scripture:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cGod very personally met our team, with many finding clarity and direction in their lives<\/em><em>. <\/em><em>Some were affirmed in their current ministry<\/em><em>, <\/em><em>while others were spurred on to explore how to engage more deeply with the nations.<\/em><em>\u201d&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Team members, including a staff worker and student from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivcf.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IVCF Canada<\/a>, took many memories home: students from warring nations reconciled through Christ; the joyous diversity of \u201cculture night\u201d; and, for one, the delight of worshipping in Russian with other Russian-speakers for the first time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being part of a global fellowship became thrillingly real \u2013 a reality they\u2019re now eager to share:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>We can get absorbed in what\u2019s<\/em><em> <\/em><em>happening on our side of the world <\/em><em>\u2013 <\/em><em>except for when we have a slide at a conference saying<\/em><em> \u2018<\/em><em>pray for these people<\/em><em>\u2019. <\/em><em>So<\/em><em> <\/em><em>I want to bring a greater awareness of what God\u2019s doing<\/em><em>.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>My university group prays for one of these sensitive countries<\/em><em> <\/em><em>using the same picture and<\/em><em> <\/em><em>prayer requests every time. But here we got to shoot 16 minutes of video <\/em><em>\u2013 <\/em><em>real<\/em><em>,<\/em><em> specific prayer requests, actual faces and names<\/em><em>.<\/em><em> I&#8217;m really excited to bring that to our entire region.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-57ddf5b43dd091e200dae1d38b750be5\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-north-america-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-57ddf5b43dd091e200dae1d38b750be5\"><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 the cross-cultural fellowship at <em>Formacion<\/em> \u2013 both within and beyond Eurasia. Thank God for the North American team\u2019s eye-opening, faith-strengthening, relationship-building, and ministry-affirming experience.&nbsp;&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>Pray for each team member as they pass on what they learned \u2013 may the Lord greatly use them to inspire others towards a deeper concern for God\u2019s work on campuses across the world.&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>Pray for InterVarsity\/USA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urbana.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Urbana25<\/a> (28-31 December), when \u201cGen Z will be invited to see firsthand what God is doing globally and discover their role in his mission\u201d. Ask that final preparations will run smoothly so that a new generation \u201cfollow God, wherever he leads\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-separator\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph aligncenter\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-accent-light-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re in the USA and interested in serving locally or with another IFES movement, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/link.intervarsity.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">InterVarsity Link<\/mark><\/a> and follow the prompts. Link is happy to help you discern God\u2019s invitation.&nbsp;<br><br>In Europe, you can explore cross-cultural student ministry with <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesinteraction.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">IFES InterAction<\/mark><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":47957,"template":"","area":[462],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-47956","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-north-america"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>It just got real &#183; IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A team of 10 staff and students from North America were off to Georgia \u2013 but not the one in the United States. They were heading for the Caucasus. 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