KINGDOM COME

Christian Pichler

Christian is the director of Kingdom Come. His desire is to make students passionate for Jesus and the Gospel. Before joining the European IFES Team, he was General Secretary of IFES Austria (ÖSM). He has a very diverse CV, working as forest manager, ski instructor, Highschool teacher (Science/Spanish), Austrian Military, studying Theology in St. Andrews, and being involved in different church plants and ministries in Austria. With his wife Salomé and their three kids they live in the heart of the Alps in Austria.

Christel Lamère Ngnambi 

Christel’s heart desires to ‘make God matter.’ He is an author, lecturer, teacher, and consultant in public engagement. He supports the work of IFES Graduate Impact, which develops discipleship and learning programmes related to faith and work, focusing on how to be rooted ambassadors of Christ as professionals. 

Emma Diez

Emma is the Assistant Coordinator of Good News for the University, IFES Europe’s academic ministry focussed on equipping students and scholars to pursue their work in the light of Scripture, and to see how their field itself can help them point colleagues and others toward Christ for salvation.  

Eva Petržilková

Eva is from the Czech Republic and, in stereotypical Czech fashion, she enjoys reading, spending time in nature, gardening and picking mushrooms. She loves opening Scripture with other people, so she is exceptionally looking forward to spending time with all of you at the Festival, where we will dive deep into the gospel of Matthew. 

Igors Rautmanis

Igors is from Latvia where he lives with his wife and three children. Works for IFES as Secretary of Staff and Team Development and GLI program director. He has been mentoring young leaders and staff for several years. His mission: right people in the right place for the right reason at the right time. 

Francina de Pater

Francina lives with her husband in the Netherlands. She worked in a ministry reaching out to people in prostitution and started studies in coaching and counselling. In 2009 she started her own practice Precious Coaching & Training. In 2012 she became the National Director of International Student Ministry of IFES Netherlands. Since 2022 she is part of the Regional Team of IFES Europe. 

Dr. David “Monty” Montgomery

Monty is the Regional Director of IFES Europe, overseeing the university ministry in 44 countries from Greenland to Ukraine.  He has taught for IFES groups internationally and was a Presbyterian pastor in Ireland for 18 years before returning to student ministry. He is the author of  “The Unfinished Story: 30 devotionals on Luke-Acts” written to celebrate 75 years of IFES.  

Marina Gnatyshyna

Marina is a Director for Partnership Development for CCX Ukraine (IFES Ukraine). She’s been working as an evangelist and coordinator of student ministry in Kyiv region for eleven years. Marina has an MA in Biblical Counselling from Kyiv Theological Seminary  

“I’m looking forward to coming to the Festival and seeing students from all over Europe who are eager to live out God’s calling.”

Remi Tobler

Remi has served as bible teacher, mentor, and counsellor in various ministry groups of the IFES movement. Currently she serves international students and academics through her local IFES movement VBG and as international student ministry coordinator of IFES Europe. At EFS, she is excited to learn more about bringing God’s kingdom to earth and inspiring everyone to join in! 

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 shared the gospel in their contexts.

Muslim Ministry

Kevin

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.

Finding Jesus in All the Scriptures

Eva Petržilková

How do we engage with all of Scripture, and how do we take our friends there in a way that helps them to engage with his good news? The gospel is like a diamond: one story, many facets, each bright and beautiful. Come and learn how to see more of that beauty in the whole Bible.

Raising Up Women for Ministry

Maiike Verbruggen and Marina Gnatyshyna

Is the Bible sexist? Is Scripture another means of patriarchal control? Come and explore how the Bible is good news for women and men.

Our main stage speaker Laura will share a perspective like no other.

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.

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.

Spiritual 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 than we know – let’s see what the Bible says!

Understanding the Spiritual Reality

Ulvis Kravalis, Mareks and Aija Ignati

Ulvis serves as gen-sec for Latvian national movement LKSB. He is also an evangelist and a team member of Soul Care & Deliverance ministry team in his church, has led several inner healing retreats and seminars, also regularly serving in prayer teams and ministering to people individually. He lives in Latvia with his wife and kids.

Apologetics ABC

Dr. Peter E. Payne

We love students! Over many years, we have found that when we engage in respectful, open discussion with students, they ask lots of questions and want answers about the Christian faith. Peter has clear, reasoned explanations of the issues they raise. He speaks in universities throughout Europe and the USA, with students giving the invitations and choosing the topics.

Passion and Hobby for Evangelism (Art, Traveling, Gaming)

Emīls Rolavs

When You  accepted Christ in Your life You decided to not live life for yourself anymore. Does that mean abandoning all personal interests and becoming an empty husk without hobbies? Absolutely not. Come and find out how to enjoy what God has created for you while still living out Your faith and serving God!

Evangelism

Adam Jones

We all want to talk about Jesus and share the gospel with our friends at university right? But I suspect we would all love to do this more effectively and with greater confidence and passion! Well come and join us at the Evangelism training track, where we will celebrate together the wonder and beauty of the gospel, that forges deep convictions about how we relate and speak with our friends