{"id":52222,"date":"2026-05-26T13:19:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&p=52222"},"modified":"2026-05-26T13:19:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:19:34","slug":"the-power-of-follow-up","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/the-power-of-follow-up\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Follow-up"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s literally changed\u202fmy life is that<\/em> <\/em>the student leaders\u202fcared for me after the conference. They took my\u202fcontact\u202fdetails and focused on following me up for more than<\/em> <\/em>a\u202fyear<\/em>.<\/em> They encouraged me to start living out the decision I made.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201c<\/em>For me, a nominal Christian who was living a morally compromised life, this was the game<\/em>–<\/em>changer<\/em>.\u201d\u202f<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Meeting Christ<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Egilson grew up in a Christian family, went to church, and knew the Bible. But he\u2019d never met Christ.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201cThere was no real difference between the way I and non-believers lived<\/em>,\u201d<\/em> he recalls. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

That all changed at university when a classmate invited him to a Bible study group, part of UGBM, the IFES movement in Madagascar.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201cI wanted to show her I knew the Bible even though my life was far from reflecting it<\/em>. <\/em>It turned out that the invitation opened the door for me to meet Jesus.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

It was at a UGBM conference that God spoke to Egilson through the book of Job. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201c<\/em>When I saw that Job was able to be\u202ffaithful\u202fto God despite his circumstances<\/em>, <\/em>I\u202frealised that I was just making excuses to justify my\u202fgodless lifestyle<\/em>. <\/em>I realised I was\u202fwrong and decided to really open my heart to know God<\/em>.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

When he arrived home, Egilson closed the door, knelt beside his bed, and cried out to Jesus, asking for forgiveness.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201c<\/em>At that moment<\/em>,<\/em> I felt the unconditional love of my Lord and Saviour<\/em>.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

But could his life be changed? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Remaining in Christ<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Right after the conference, Egilson received a text message. It was from a student leader who\u2019d been assigned to follow him up. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

She met with him, guided him through a personal Bible reading plan, and encouraged him to regularly \u2060attend the small group studies. He was even coached to lead one. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201c<\/em>They<\/em> <\/em>made me feel like I was part of a big family<\/em>. <\/em>As I continued to attend the meetings, I realised I was growing significantly in my faith. My life began to radically change.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Egilson remembers how one of them pointed him to Jesus\u2019 words in John 15:5 \u2013 \u201cI am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

\u201cThat verse became my compass<\/em>. <\/em>I learned to find strength<\/em>,<\/em> to thrive and overcome many personal challenges<\/em>. <\/em>Throughout this journey<\/em>,<\/em> I\u2019ve really grown. I\u2019ve been able to finish my degree in environmental agriculture and technology and become a truly<\/em> <\/em>grounded follower of Christ<\/em>.\u201d  <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Pray<\/strong> <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
    \n
  • Give\u00a0thanks for this\u00a0UGBM\u00a0group at\u00a0Mahajanga University\u00a0in Antananarivo\u00a0\u2013\u00a0especially\u00a0for\u00a0student leaders Zizia,\u00a0Jessy, and Louise, who\u00a0faithfully\u00a0followed\u00a0up\u00a0Egilson after he\u00a0turned to Christ.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n
      \n
    • Egilson\u00a0says that\u00a0many\u00a0students\u00a0find themselves in\u00a0the same kind of\u00a0situation he was in.\u00a0He\u00a0asks us to pray that\u00a0the\u00a0UGBM\u00a0group,\u00a0\u201cwill\u202fkeep\u00a0the spiritual\u202fatmosphere at the university warm so that\u202fall\u00a0will\u00a0find a way to Christ\u00a0amid\u00a0the\u00a0challenges they\u00a0face.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
      \n
        \n
      • Pray\u00a0that\u00a0doors for UGBM ministry will remain open on\u00a0Madagascar\u2019s\u00a0campuses\u00a0as\u00a0some\u00a0groups have\u00a0recently\u00a0had\u00a0restrictions placed on\u00a0their activities.\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
        \n
          \n
        • Ask that\u00a0Egilson\u00a0will\u00a0find\u202fa scholarship\u202ffor\u00a0postgraduate study\u00a0so he can\u00a0fulfil his longing\u00a0to\u00a0contribute to\u202fthe country\u2019s\u00a0development.\u00a0Pray\u00a0that all UGBM\u00a0graduates\u00a0will\u00a0bring Christ\u2019s influence\u00a0to\u00a0churches,\u00a0local\u00a0communities, and\u202fnation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":52223,"template":"","area":[459,609],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-52222","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-francophone-africa","area-madagascar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Power of Follow-up · IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cWhat\u2019s literally changed\u202fmy life is that the student leaders\u202fcared for me after the conference. 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