{"id":49429,"date":"2025-11-11T13:34:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T13:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=49429"},"modified":"2026-01-13T22:21:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T22:21:58","slug":"true-to-life","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/true-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"True to Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"True to Life\" 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=reaaj-19bd4d9-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=654771&#038;font-color=ffffff&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=8bbb4e\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Problem-struck Paul said that God\u2019s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12). Devoted Daniel found favour and success in a faith-challenging environment (Daniel 1). For Emmanuel, these biblical examples are not merely inspirational. They are true to life. They resonate with his experience of God at work in his student group in GBUSS, the IFES movement in Senegal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-15dd49adf2fcdb0b821cf6bb7c371f38\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-15dd49adf2fcdb0b821cf6bb7c371f38\"><strong>Weak Made Strong<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two years ago, the future of Emmanuel\u2019s small group was in question. There were only three members left at <em>\u00c9cole Sup\u00e9rieure Multinationale des T\u00e9l\u00e9communications<\/em> (ESMT), an IT graduate school in Dakar that also draws students from six neighbouring countries. Emmanuel says, \u201cmaintaining a dynamic witness for Christ amid the institution\u2019s religious diversity was a real challenge\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite this, the three members committed to pray, meet for fellowship, and depend on God. Gradually, more students joined the group, bringing new energy, fresh vision, and deep commitment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a concrete example of God\u2019s power being made perfect in weakness. It shows how God is at work in university mission, even with such modest resources,\u201d adds Emmanuel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-5d50dbabd39c784f459ae8363335c7b7\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5d50dbabd39c784f459ae8363335c7b7\"><strong>Double-edged Sword<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The channel for God\u2019s powerful work was Scripture. Emmanuel testifies that the group\u2019s renewal was triggered when they resumed regular Bible studies. The imagery of God\u2019s Word as \u201cliving and active, sharper than a double-edged sword\u201d (Hebrews 4) proved true to life for them:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese times in Scripture were far from abstract studies \u2013 we could see personal and collective growth as the Word shaped our attitudes, built unity, and sparked new zeal for sharing the gospel.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-c403e5991ebe7cda19324e5bc2c61b02\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c403e5991ebe7cda19324e5bc2c61b02\"><strong>Favour for the Faithful<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it didn\u2019t stop there. Emmanuel adds: \u201cit was striking to see how this revival of faith was also being reflected in the academic excellence of our group members.\u201d He notes that several students in the group came top in their class.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe didn\u2019t see this success as mere individual achievement. We interpreted it as a sure sign of God\u2019s faithfulness to us in a demanding environment \u2013 it was just like when Daniel was studying in Babylon. We witnessed for ourselves that Christian faith is not opposed to intellectual rigour, but rather is the source and foundation of all true knowledge.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-559b920633803f86d734eb756edb72a3\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-559b920633803f86d734eb756edb72a3\"><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>Praise God for his work in and through this small group at ESMT, Senegal. Give thanks that the group remained faithful and experienced the truths of God\u2019s Word.&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 consolidate the growth and impact of this group. Emmanuel asks for \u201cJesus Christ to remain central in all our actions\u201d, for \u201can authentic and visible witness to the university community, motivated by a spirit of service\u201d, and for the continued \u201cprotection, wisdom, and success of each member\u201d.&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>Give thanks that around 550 students from across Francophone Africa were able to attend an IFES regional conference in August (PANAF), where they explored \u201cGrowing in every way as a community of impact\u201d. One student from Senegal said, \u201cI learned profound truths that will transform my life and my ministry.\u201d Pray for all those who took part \u2013 that they will see how the Word which inspired them is true to their lives and service.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/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 wp-elements-6e3b45f70aa2803debd111b646d84709\">\n<p class=\"has-accent-color has-white-dark-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-6e3b45f70aa2803debd111b646d84709 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>BRING IN THE HARVEST<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;<br><br><strong>The student population in West Africa is set to double over the next 15 years \u2013 a vast spiritual harvest field that students like Emmanuel are labouring in. Would you consider giving today to help students and staff in West Africa bring in that harvest? What\u2019s more, your gift might count for DOUBLE! <a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/bring-in-the-harvest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-world-student-day-color\">Find out more<\/mark><\/a>.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":49430,"template":"","area":[459,617],"theme":[1631],"class_list":["post-49429","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-francophone-africa","area-senegal","theme-ggd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>True to Life &#183; IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Problem-struck Paul said that God\u2019s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12). 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