{"id":50573,"date":"2026-02-03T02:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=50573"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:25:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:25:24","slug":"against-the-odds","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"Against the Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"Equatorial Guinea: Against the Odds\" 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=avpjv-1a36eea-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=8bbb4e&#038;font-color=ffffff&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=1b1b1b\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two IFES staff arrive to visit a&nbsp;remote, newly built campus&nbsp;in Equatorial Guinea.&nbsp;They\u2019re&nbsp;met by a student leader, who&nbsp;guides&nbsp;them across the site, into a building, down a corridor,&nbsp;into a closed room&nbsp;in which&nbsp;the cleaners&nbsp;usually eat.&nbsp;Ten students are gathered for a \u201csecret\u201d Bible study.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone on&nbsp;the services&nbsp;team has let them use the space for a couple of hours&nbsp;before&nbsp;workers&nbsp;arrive&nbsp;because&nbsp;\u201creligious&nbsp;meetings\u201d&nbsp;are not&nbsp;permitted&nbsp;on campus.&nbsp;Towards the end of the time,&nbsp;they\u2019re&nbsp;responding in prayer to the story of the burning bush&nbsp;when they&nbsp;hear knocking&nbsp;on&nbsp;the door.&nbsp;It\u2019s&nbsp;a&nbsp;tense moment. They&nbsp;continue praying&nbsp;but&nbsp;realise they must finish.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-abdbc9761f4c57b557e64b7f575ad9ca\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-epsa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-abdbc9761f4c57b557e64b7f575ad9ca\"><strong>New Life Against the Odds<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When&nbsp;the person&nbsp;knocking&nbsp;finally&nbsp;opened&nbsp;the door, they&nbsp;all&nbsp;assumed he was the contact&nbsp;who&nbsp;had&nbsp;helped&nbsp;provide&nbsp;the room.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawrence (IFES Associate Regional Secretary for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/region\/epsa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">English-, Portuguese-, and Spanish-speaking Africa<\/a>),&nbsp;who&nbsp;was leading the study on God\u2019s call to Moses,&nbsp;invited&nbsp;him&nbsp;in.&nbsp;The&nbsp;man declined,&nbsp;but&nbsp;he&nbsp;didn\u2019t&nbsp;cause a stir. He just asked them to finish and leave.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That day, despite the isolated location (including no nearby churches), despite the campus ban on religious groups, despite the unsettling interruption, four of the 10 students decided to respond to God\u2019s call. That day \u2013 against the odds \u2013 four students received Christ as Saviour and Lord.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-b507d70c3a1d4d0a4131d7df048b33d4\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-epsa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b507d70c3a1d4d0a4131d7df048b33d4\"><strong>Growth Against the Odds<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aida, the other IFES staff visiting that day, says this has been God\u2019s way over the last seven years. Through the IFES&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/pioneer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Breaking New Ground program<\/a>&nbsp;and her national movement&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gbunidos.es\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GBU Spain<\/a>,&nbsp;she helped pioneer student ministry in Malabo but had to leave when the pandemic hit.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIt was so hard for me to have to return to Spain. Often<\/em><em>,<\/em><em>&nbsp;we&nbsp;couldn\u2019t&nbsp;meet online because of the poor internet connection. I wondered if the group would survive. But God continued his work! When I returned to Malabo in 2022, I saw that, against all human odds, the group had grown. And students who came to our first meeting in 2019 are still with us today.<\/em><em>&nbsp;<\/em><em>For me, it was a lesson in faith and humility that will last a lifetime.<\/em><em>\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, groups are active in three cities, connections have developed with church pastors, and a board has been formed. However, the country\u2019s process for registering associations is severely backlogged, with permissions for new evangelical groups currently blocked.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the meantime, the team is hopeful that the movement can&nbsp;operate&nbsp;under the umbrella of an already-registered religious body. Against the odds, ministry will continue.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-1a3333a549c06ca89fae8175620f4522\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-epsa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1a3333a549c06ca89fae8175620f4522\"><strong>Pray<\/strong>&nbsp;&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 the way he has been a light and stronghold against the odds (Psalm 27) \u2013 for his presence in the pioneering ministry over the last seven years. Give thanks for the four students who recently professed faith, the groups meeting in three&nbsp;different locations, and a fledgling movement.&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 that the students and movement will continue to thrive despite the obstacles \u2013 may they be renewed with courageous worship and resilient faith.&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 Aida, Lawrence, and the EPSA regional team. On&nbsp;their&nbsp;next visit,&nbsp;they&nbsp;will have important conversations&nbsp;around the appointment of&nbsp;a local&nbsp;as a national&nbsp;coordinator. Pray that God will prepare hearts and&nbsp;guide all involved in this process.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":50575,"template":"","area":[456,513],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-50573","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-epsa","area-equatorial-guinea"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Against the Odds &#183; IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Two IFES staff arrive to visit a&nbsp;remote, newly built campus&nbsp;in Equatorial Guinea.&nbsp;They\u2019re&nbsp;met by a student leader,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Against the Odds &#183; IFES Prayerline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Two IFES staff arrive to visit a&nbsp;remote, newly built campus&nbsp;in Equatorial Guinea.&nbsp;They\u2019re&nbsp;met by a student leader,\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"IFES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-03T14:25:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Malabo-group-1-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1654\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/\",\"name\":\"Against the Odds &#183; IFES Prayerline\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Malabo-group-1-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-03T02:57:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-03T14:25:24+00:00\",\"description\":\"Two IFES staff arrive to visit a&nbsp;remote, newly built campus&nbsp;in Equatorial Guinea.&nbsp;They\u2019re&nbsp;met by a student leader,\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Malabo-group-1-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Malabo-group-1-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1654},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/against-the-odds\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Prayerline\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Against the Odds\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/es\/\",\"name\":\"IFES\",\"description\":\"A movement of students sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ. 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