IFES now in 150 nations

The apostle's vision of heaven, with saints 'from every nation, tribe, people and language' is brought vividly to life by the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).

This summer its' World Assembly drew delegates from 115 national student movements, and from most of the other 35 countries where work has started. As the names of one country after another came up on the screen in the opening meeting, it was hard to keep back the tears. The last countries to appear were those who would formally join the Fellowship that week: Russia, Rwanda, Indonesia, Belize, Lesotho and St. Lucia. They rolled up the screen to spontaneous applause.

The movement in Ukraine joined four years ago. Since then Ukrainian graduates have helped pioneer student ministry in Central Asia and this year there were delegates from all but one of the Central Asian republics. In 1971 the Assembly was held in a medium-sized conference hall in Austria; this year there were 600 participants in one of the largest conference centres in Holland, the host country. The Assembly's last venue was in Korea, and before that Kenya. IFES is a truly global movement.

Global and multi-lingual

The most inspiring speaker of a fine group was Lindsay Brown, IFES General Secretary. He contrasted the seemingly impregnable opposition which so many movements had faced in the past with the overwhelming power of God to break through. Bible expositions were given by Chris Wright of the Langham Partnership, and two IFES staff: Daniel Bourdanne (Francophone Africa) and Jorge Atiencia (Latin America). These were in English, French and Spanish, respectively; all main sessions were also interpreted into Arabic and Russian. It was moving to hear Daniel Bourdanne speak of the way he has applied Paul's teaching on generous giving. Some of his students in extreme poverty will give part of their reams of paper for use in student ministry.

The lively praise of this worldwide gathering was led by Stevenson Samuels from Jamaica. There was great singing from the whole hall, and from national groups - noisy at times, but never for its own sake.

Since IFES is, like its member movements, self-governing, there were business sessions. It is not easy to handle multi-national debate in such a large group, but Barney Ford, the American Chairman for the last eight years, was superb. He listened unruffled to everyone, courteous to those whose culture led them to speak at length, and careful not to steam-roller proceedings. Even where a proposal could not be agreed, he left the feeling that the proposal had been helpful. He also knew when to take the vote and move on. Dieter Brepohl, from Brazil, succeeds him as the new Chairman.

The most interesting parts of the Assembly were the conversations over meals. I met a medical professor from Syria engaged in the Syrian effort to give university places to refugees from Iraq. At the other end of the scale from this sophisticated professor was a girl, trying with difficulty to set up a witness to Christ in a remote university in one of the Central Asian republics.

Russia and Rwanda

Who would have thought we'd see an established (though small) witness to Christ among students in Russia so soon after the momentous events of 1989? This country covers 11 time zones, and students will travel for several days to get to events where they will be taught and encouraged in the faith.

In 1994, the whole Rwandan movement was wiped out, with its 60 student leaders sought out and killed in the early days of the genocide. The newly-built movement, under the leadership of Phocas Ngendahayo, is now in touch with around 80% of the country's students. In the National University of Butare, some 1500 gather in a stadium every Saturday evening for praise and Bible teaching. Christian students here, still emerging from the trauma of genocide, are being taught to think biblically and globally. Their conference planned for October is on world mission, and the part they can play in it. As this movement was welcomed into membership, Lindsay Brown referred to it as 'a sparkle of hope' in a difficult and painful context. Staff, graduates and students had been martyred for the cause of the gospel here, he said, and Phocas stood before the Assembly as a challenge, a rebuke, an example and a joy.

Costly discipleship

There were three evening plenaries on issues facing students around the world; these centred on injustice and poverty, corruption and greed, and conflict and intolerance. All speakers underlined the brotherhood of believers, and only one was carried beyond the tolerance of Christian love, the message firmly re-balanced by following speakers. Although communism has gone from Europe, there are still many countries where Christians have to walk on egg-shells, and cameras were forbidden when some of their citizens appeared on the platform.

One badly-shaken African showed a video of his house after it was bombed recently during street fighting in Bujumbura, Burundi. We heard he found it had been bombed again when he got home. Some student workers are in perilous situations; they and their families have paid no small price in committing to this ministry. Little was made of that publicly. For example the General Secretary in one of the toughest Islamic countries summed things up in a very low-key way as 'not quite easy'.

There were track discussions on major issues. Other ad hoc discussions also took place. One small group looked at the huge problem in so many countries of endemic corruption which seems untouched by the strong growth of the church. It came up with the idea of using IFES connections to form a network which would help Christians in corrupt countries to find customers in countries where customers did not demand bribes. If it comes off, it will reduce the brain drain which takes the best graduates away from their own country, where they are so much needed. It should help the growing church create an honest business culture, which could do far more than outside aid to end their countries' chronic poverty. It was a very stimulating environment for ideas to be born. Those in student ministry from some of the toughest situations brought energy and passion to such discussions.

The Dutch were outstanding hosts. The student helpers in their orange T shirts were hard-working, helpful and courteous. For my wife and I, it was a privilege to be part of the event.

Fred Catherwood

© Evangelicals Now - September 2003
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