KINGDOM COME
European Student Festival • 16-21 AUGUST 2025
A summer break that could change your life!
We’re excited to invite you to Kingdom Come – six days in beautiful Latvia that could change your life – and your friends’ lives too!
🧡 Make new friends from 40 European countries
🧡 Experience multinational worship and inspirational teaching
🧡 Enjoy sports, art, music, dance, food and beach life
🧡 Discover God’s purposes for you and your university
ABOUT KINGDOM COME
Do you sometimes feel that your student life and your walk with God are two different things?
Would you enjoy a fun summer break getting to know other young people from around Europe who also love Jesus?
Would you love to feel more confident sharing your faith with your friends?
The IFES European Student Festival 2025 is for you!
Join us from 16 – 21 August in Jelgava, Latvia for an international student gathering like no other.
Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, you can create an itinerary that suits you. From excellent Bible teaching, small groups, seminars and workshops to the many opportunities to express yourself creatively, or on the sports field or at the beach – this is a summer break you’ll not want to miss!
WHOSE KINGDOM?
If you’re under 30, you’ve been living through some of the most testing times that young people have ever had to face. In an insecure world, where do you find security? Amid hardship, where do you find hope? In an online environment that stretches your resolve, how do you find strength? When leaders fail, in whom can we put our trust? As Christians we look to Someone who promises a new kind of leadership.
At Kingdom Come you’ll encounter Jesus the king and discover the security and purpose that comes from trusting in him and following his ways. And you’ll find new and authentic ways to share this new life with those you love.
Our Kingdom Come main stage speakers – acclaimed Bible teachers Jared Michelson and Laura Gallacher – will take us deeper into the Gospel of Matthew, to discover Jesus as king.
Through enlightening Bible teaching and in the safe space of small groups, you’ll explore what that means. For you as an individual, for your role in the national student movement you belong to and in the place where God has called you to live out this new reality.
EXPECT TO MEET WITH GOD AND BE CHANGED
This reimagined student conference promises to be just as impactful as previous IFES events.
God spoke so much to me! I felt him speaking to me through every sermon, every seminar, every person I talked to. I can see very clearly that God brought me here to hear him.
Student from Israel
It was amazing to experience a connection with other students as we prayed together in different languages. And it was amazing to see how big IFES is — to realise that we are involved in a huge international project.
Student from Italy
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
The day will consist of
- morning session full of impactful teaching, worship and impact groups
- afternoons will be your own to craft – from seminars and workshops to fun activities and rest
- evening session filled with worship, testimonies and teaching + after hours program
- One of the days will be dedicated to an outreach in the city.
MEET THE MAIN STAGE SPEAKERS
Jared Michelson is a respected scholar at the world class University of St Andrews in Scotland, where he holds both teaching and ministry responsibilities.
Laura Gallacher supports the postgraduate community at a large evangelical church in Oxford. She also serves the wider church as a Bible teacher, preacher and trainer.
MEET THE SEMINAR and TRACK LEADERS
Engaging the University Creatively
Michael Ots
How can we publicly communicate the good news of the gospel in creative and engaging ways? From his experience of working with student groups in many different countries across Europe, Michael will share fresh ideas of how students have creatively and courageously been sharing the gospel in their different contexts.
Muslim Ministry
Kevin N.
Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in Europe. Whether it is fellow citizens and students, refugees, or international students, Muslims are now more prevalent in our lives. But how do we reach out to Muslims with the Gospel? This seminar includes discussions and very practical ways to start.
Practical Discipleship – A Way of Life
Christopher Wurm
How do I live as a disciple in the midst of daily responsibilities? How can I grow spiritually and help others do the same? Over three days, you will build practical habits, engage in honest reflection, and step into the calling of making disciples.
Seekers Bible Study
Eva Petržilková
Opening the Bible with Non-Christians can be really scary. “What if I don’t know answers to their questions?” “What if they hate me afterwards?” In this workshop we will tackle the questions above as well as spend time together in the Word in a way that’s welcoming to all people
Is Bible Sexist?
Laura Gallacher
Is the Bible sexist? Is Scripture another means of patriarchal control? Come and explore how the Bible is good news for women and men.
Stories, Literatures & Film
Johannes Tschudi
I am convinced that we can discover a manifestation of God in the truth, beauty and goodness of our culture and make this accessible to our fellow human beings. We take an in-depth look at some Christian motifs in modern films and dive into the world literature of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Faith, Science, & Technology
Johann Mattiat
In this seminar we will examine how science and faith work well together. We will trace the origins of modern science and explore the conviction of its founders. The implications of artificial intelligence on science and faith issues will also be addressed.
Spritual Friendship and Singleness
Mirjam „Mimi“ Grauli
In Christian circles we often keep striving for the one to marry and to share our lives with. Jesus himself wasn’t married and gave his life for his friends. So there must be so much more to friendship then we know – let’s see what the Bible says!
More speakers and seminars to be announced!
THE PRACTICAL STUFF
We are excited to welcome you to Kingdom Come – the IFES European Student Festival 2025!
HOW TO REGISTER
Our registration form includes everything we need to know to make the festival a great place for you. Remember to come back to registration page to pay and secure your spot. Participation fee includes registration, accommodation and meals for the duration of the festival.
SIGN UP NOW for the best price!
Flash Sale price – register and pay on 9 – 10 May!
- € 199 – Camping (dedicated site near the arena – bring your own tent, mattress and bedding)
- € 229 – School (mattress space, shared bathroom – bring your own mattress and bedding; some mattresses available for hire)
- € 289 – Dormitory (2-3 people per room with shared bathroom).
Standard price – register and pay by 15 June.
- € 229 – Camping (dedicated site near the arena – bring your own tent, mattress and bedding)
- € 259 – School (mattress space, shared bathroom – bring your own mattress and bedding; some mattresses available for hire)
- € 309 – Dormitory (2-3 people per room with shared bathroom).
Last Minute price – register and pay by 15 July.
- € 259 – Camping
- € 289 – School
- € 339 – Dormitory
Questions about accommodation or registration? Contact us.
Can’t afford to pay?
Could you/your movement raise sponsorship to invest in this opportunity to grow in discipleship and ministry?
A limited number of scholarships are available for students in need via registration form. Available till 15 June or until they run out – apply as soon as possible!
Cancellation policy
Registration deposit of €50 is non-refundable. Cancel your registration until 15 July and get a refund for the rest of the fee. No refunds available after that.
GETTING THERE
Arrive in time for the opening session at 19:00 EET (18:00 CET) Saturday, 16 August 2025.
Main program and registration location: Zemgales Olimpiskais centrs (Kronvalda street 24, Jelgava, LV-3004)
Depart Friday, 22 August (closing session is on Thursday evening).
- By plane via RIGA International Airport (RIX), then take bus no. 22 to Riga Central Station or Riga Bus Station.
- By train via Riga Central Station.
- By bus via Riga Bus Station.
Jelgava is just over 40 kilometres from Riga and takes 45 minutes by train, or 55 minutes by bus.
HELP US MAKE GOD’S ‘KINGDOM COME’!
Pray, give, volunteer
Help us make this conference a wonderful experience for everyone! There are lots of ways you can help us extend God’s kingdom to hundreds of students from all over Europe, in Latvia this summer.
Pray with us
Prayer goes before everything we do and we’d love you to partner with us in praying for this event.
Help us keep costs down
We don’t want a lack of money to stop any student from being renewed and equipped for student ministry. To keep costs down and to help pay for scholarships we are grateful for donations.
Volunteer
Could you use your gifts and your time to help make this event a real success? We need people to get involved with all aspects of the festival.
- Music, arts, sports
- Technical support
- Translators (French, Spanish, Italian, etc.)
- Security and order
- Setting up and clearing up
- And much more!