Region / Country: South Asia

Far-off followers find fellowship

Shiuli felt far from God. She knew about the Christian faith but had never really believed it. One evening, at the national camp organised by IFES movement Bible Students Fellowship of Bangladesh (BSFB), that all changed.

It was “revival night”. As students prayed, Shiuli was in a corner, on her knees. She wanted to see Christ, to feel him and know him. But all she felt was that she was in a deep, dark hole – all alone.

“I prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord Jesus, please forgive me’,” she recalls.

“And then I saw Jesus standing before me with outstretched arms, dressed in a shining purple robe. He said to me, ‘My child, I never forget that I forgive you.’ It was then that I truly understood God’s love for me – and that all my shortcomings are forgiven.”

Shiuli returned from the camp committed to live for Jesus. She wants to know him more deeply and serve in his kingdom. She actively encourages others to experience God’s love and has become the secretary of her local BSFB group in Bandarban city, many miles from the life-changing conference in Jashore.

Shiuli’s testimony reveals how the national camp is vital, not only for those who are spiritually far-off, but also for those who are geographically far-off. Her family home is in the remote hill track district of Bandarban.

Many of the 2,200+ students involved in BSFB come from rural areas – for them, communication, travel, and finance are huge challenges. Those from a different faith background often face pressure or hostility from family and some are cast out from their communities. They’re left isolated, with few resources to support their growth in Christ. BSFB groups and conferences help meet that need; last year’s annual camp brought together around 365 students from across the country.

Over the years, as students have found fellowship and been strengthened in the Word, they’ve brought blessing to the movement and beyond: worship songs composed by BSFB members are now sung in churches across the country, and in June, in partnership with Wycliffe Global Alliance, the movement will publish translations of the New Testament in four ethnic languages. Now, some of those who feel linguistically far-off from Bengali will be able to encounter Jesus in their native tongue.

So, as BSFB celebrates its 50th birthday this year, let’s give thanks with and pray for them:

  • Give thanks for Shiuli’s encounter with Jesus and pray that her witness to the reality of God’s love will draw in many others who are far-off.
  • Ask the Lord to lead those who are feeling isolated geographically, emotionally, or spiritually to a local BSFB group.
  • Thank God for 50 years of BSFB ministry and the blessing this has brought to individuals, churches, and society. Pray for the Spirit’s guidance and inspiration as they take stock and look ahead – particularly as they transition from Peter to Lasar as BSFB General Secretary.

See glimpses of the BSFB 2023 national camp here.

Connecting the word with the world

Like some of its neighbours in the region, this South Asian country has experienced great suffering in recent years. Despite the end of the civil war in 2009, tensions remain between the three main communities (and are exploited by various parties). In addition, a three-year long economic crisis has inflicted serious hardship on and fuelled hopelessness in many of Sri Lanka’s 22 million inhabitants.  

Even so, there have been signs of hope. The protests of 2022 brought together many from different communities, in both the capital Colombo and other towns around the country, to rally against bad governance. In the process, discussion about the country’s history, economy, and politics were brought into ordinary conversation. The quest for justice came to the forefront. 

Students have been important dreamers and movers pushing for change in the country’s past. This remains true today, but they are also facing intense difficulties. Stress levels are high as is the incidence of suicides. Christian students suffer depression too, but because of the stigma, they tend to keep their problems to themselves rather than ask for help. Many graduates, Christians included, leave the country to find better jobs and “greener pastures.” 

Paheerathan, Northern Regional Lead for the Fellowship of Christian University Students  in Sri Lanka, tell us that FOCUS faces a complex scenario – including diversity in language, ethnicity, social demographics and Christian denominations. Fellowship groups may comprise a mix of all of these, making communication a challenge, while timetable clashes make it difficult to meet up. Yet Paheerathan tells us that: 

“Amid the collapsing economy and shortage of essential food and fuel and 152-day Aragalays (struggle) against the government, our students experienced last year the hand of God.” 

The Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) and the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) played a major part in the Aragalaya. Many Christian students and academics joined their colleagues in marching and camping out to protest corruption in government, and demand that the then-President step down. In the process, students were moved to consider the theology of protest and the Christian response to what was unfolding around them. 

“They had conversations on protests, political process and their role in the dream for a system change, towards a transformed Sri Lanka that reflects God’s just rule.”  

In response, FOCUS was prompted to abandon their plans for an annual camp, and instead facilitated “Word and World” exposure trips for teams of students and graduates. Accompanied by staff workers, over sixty took part in trips to all corners of Sri Lanka.  

“God led us to amazing people and places… God spoke to [participants] through the work they witnessed [as they felt called] to uplift the marginalized and the poor in our society – and [also through] the word they meditated [on] during their stay among them.” 

This week, Paheerathan is attending his first IFES World Assembly, where he’s looking forward to testifying to God’s goodness. He says: 

“I want to learn new things and unlearn things as well. I want to understand how other university movements face similar and different challenges to ours and hear their stories of how God works in diverse nations around the globe.” 

Please join us in praying for Paheerathan, FOCUS Sri Lanka, and World Assembly: 

  • Give thanks for Paheerathan’s commitment and that of other staff and students at FOCUS. 
  • Pray that God would reveal more of his goodness to Christian students and graduates in Sri Lanka and that the Holy Spirit would comfort them in their troubles.  
  • Pray for the students, that their experiences of protesting for change, and working with some of the communities in their country that are struggling the most, would shape their ambitions for their own lives as well as their vision for Sri Lanka. 
  • Pray for all attendees at World Assembly this week, that they would come ready to learn from each other, open to the Spirit, and would be encouraged and empowered to make a difference back home. 

Power, Poetry, and People

This week’s Prayerline comes to you from the IFES Scripture Engagement team. Yohan Abeynaike, the Scripture Engagement Lead for South Asia, highlights recent work in the region and shares their hopes for the year ahead.

“Build me up, Lord, keep me firmly rooted

So the truth I’ve found doesn’t become diluted

Let me abound in grace and wisdom

So I may not concede to a worldly system

Lord, make me stronger, take me farther and deeper,

Establish my steps, so I may be a way keeper.”

Excerpt from a poem by ST; artwork by Timaandra Wijesuriya

You might recognise the verses that inspired ST to write this poem.

ST is a member of the IFES South Asia Scripture Engagement Multipliers Network which is made up of student ministry staff and graduate volunteers. Together we explore how God engages the hearts and minds of South Asians through his Word.

At a recent gathering of the Network, we reflected on Paul’s letter to the Colossians and its impact on us today. We noticed the underlying themes of power and wisdom in the letter and how Paul helps the small Christian community in Colossae to recognize Jesus as the true source of power and wisdom.

This sparked a discussion on where power rests in South Asian society (political entities, family relationships, social structures, memories and interpretations of history, etc.) and how we witness to Jesus and God’s kingdom in the midst of this reality.

We recognized the importance of letting the word of God dwell amongst us in a communal setting (Colossians 3:16) and how God uses those conversations to reveal the fault lines in our communities as well as in areas of our personal lives that need transformation.

For South Asian Christians – who form small, minority communities in their respective countries – this experience was both challenging and encouraging. In shame-oriented and violent cultures, airing personal and community issues presents a challenge. However, the witness of Paul, whose imprisonment by Roman authorities did not stop him proclaiming the universal Lordship of Jesus, was deeply encouraging.

As is evident in ST’s poem, itself inspired by reading Paul’s letter to the Colossians, God’s living Word continues to speak and minister to us in our various situations. This year, the IFES South Asia Scripture Engagement Multipliers hope to continue to meet, reflect on, and listen to God’s direction through his Word. In our gatherings, we want to spend time exploring Scripture engagement in terms of:

  • Creative expression – exploring the interaction between the Scriptures and artistic expression (such as poetry, song, dance, drama, and digital media).
  • Spiritual formation – exploring how the Scriptures lead us into greater personal intimacy with God and maturity in Christ.
  • Contextual engagement – exploring how the Scriptures speak into the issues present in South Asian societies and mindsets.

We’d value your prayers as we take these next steps together… and encourage you to share in this journey by reading Colossians in your contexts!

Let’s pray for the Scripture Engagement team:

  • Pray that God will meet the Scripture Engagement Multipliers powerfully as they seek him through his Word. Pray that God would give them creativity, maturity, and wisdom as they have asked.
  • Pray that meetings planned this year for the Scripture Engagement team in South Asia would be able to go ahead safely and smoothly.
  • Pray that Scripture Engagement would help other regions and movements to explore how the Scriptures speak into the unique issues and challenges within their cultural contexts.

If you’d like to hear more regularly from Scripture Engagement, you can sign up to their quarterly newsletter here.

Nonetheless, God is moving

Since the military coup in February last year, the people of Myanmar have endured widespread violence at the hands of the military junta. Armed conflict has displaced thousands of people, and according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the nation remains “trapped in a cycle of poverty and displacement, human rights violations and abuses … the lives and future of Myanmar’s people are hanging in the balance.” 

Sawm is the General Secretary of MFES, the student movement in Myanmar. He reports that while people are returning to work, and over a year has passed since the coup that led to the “Spring Revolution”, life remains far from stable. “The military arrest young people who are in the vicinity of any attack from the armed wing of the shadow National Unity Government, the People’s Defense Force – even if they weren’t involved”, says Sawm. “In many towns people dare not go out in the afternoons, and their houses stay dark at night. Some, even middle-school aged children, can’t stay in their own village, because they will be accused of being involved in armed resistance. The military arrest whomever they suspect, without proof.”  

There aren’t many options for young people; as Sawm puts it, they either “join the PDF, find poorly paid factory work in cities, or leave the country.” Ongoing and widespread violence and injustice – which has included the murder of one of Sawm’s neighbours – have also deeply impacted students. Many would-be students have joined armed resistance groups instead of universities. “Last week”, says Sawm, “one of our students went missing on the way to church. We still don’t know where he is exactly, but it seems that he was taken by the military. In the same week, three others were met by robbers on the bus and lost their cell phones and bags.”   

But amidst the turmoil and suffering, God is moving, and student ministry continues. 

“God has answered our prayers and given us a ministry centre, a comfortable and safe place to build friendships and share the gospel”, testifies Sawm. “We’ve started a new English Club, as well as our Bible Study and fellowship gathering.” MFES has a vision built on the initial success of the ministry centre: “We want to create a neutral space for all students, where we help them educationally and emotionally during this time of crisis and share the gospel. We really need prayers, advice, and help, so that the ministry would be meaningful, effective, and growing, even now.” 

Despite everything, growth is exactly what’s happening. Sawm recently spent three days visiting students in a city on the opposite side of the country. “It was a great privilege”, he says, “to explain the importance of student ministry for spreading the gospel throughout Myanmar and seeing change in our society. Together we reimagined the possibilities for effective student ministry.’’ As they studied Colossians, Sawm’s group ‘’reconsidered the Lordship of Jesus in every aspect of our lives, and we prayed that this truth would shape us into being ‘salt and light’ in our chaotic world.” 

Pray with us for Sawm and the students of MFES:  

  • Sawm asks, “please keep praying that God would heal our collapsed country soon.” 
  • Pray that God would grant MFES the wisdom and strength to serve him effectively.  
  • Praise God for the ministry centre he has provided and keep praying for the finances of the centre. 
  • Pray for the quick release of the MFES student who has been detained by the military, and that he would be able to return home safe. 

Creating the space for student ministry

Sumathy wondered how she could get the board to engage. While she had a wealth of governance experience from various secular contexts, when she became board chair of FOCUS, the national movement in Sri Lanka, she realised that there were problems that she couldn’t fix on her own. And in an ongoing search for a new general secretary for the movement, the timing was crucial.

What’s a board chair to do? Sumathy arranged online training sessions with the IFES Governance Development team. She ensured they would get the most out of it by including prospective board members, including two recent graduates. They were all set for a transformation.

The training prompted this transformation in a number of areas. The board initiated new procedures, to build up their organisational memory and prevent meetings from being spent on the same conversations every time. Training leader Mirek Pieszka, Governance Development Program Director for IFES, brought in board members from other IFES movements, with specific wisdom for FOCUS Sri Lanka’s circumstances.

Dan Anderson, Board Chair of AFES Australia, for instance, helped them formulate procedures. The board modeled their new regular Strategy Day on the example of Nelson Gitonga from FOCUS Kenya, and Christy Jutare from IVCF Philippines shared wisdom on general secretary transition. The ‘organisational memory’ of IFES was able to draw support from around the world, with guidance tailored to FOCUS Sri Lanka’s exact situation.

What has been the biggest change? The training brought home a fresh vision of the purpose of the board, that it isn’t to stand above the movement with rules and routines, but to serve, by thinking through hard, strategic questions. Sumathy refers to the concept of steering a ship, deciding who to take on board, or which direction to travel in. Mirek imagines the board as a riverbed, through which the day-to-day work of the national movement, led by the general secretary, can flow freely. When board members are engaged and procedures are in place, there is space to think about ship-steering questions. Simultaneously, when boards are functioning well, they create space for student work to go supported and unhindered. Kerwin Stuart, Governance Trainer based in St Lucia and Associate General Secretary of CARIFES, affirms that history has proven the significance of an effective board to student movements – it’s ‘the foundation of the house that you don’t see’. Sumathy feels that as the search for the next general secretary continues, God is directing the board to lay a foundation for a movement freshly empowered to reach the students of Sri Lanka for him.

Pray for FOCUS Sri Lanka:

  • Pray as the board works through the General Secretary transition. Ask that God would lead them to the right leadership and take FOCUS forward into a new chapter of flourishing and growth.
  • Pray that God would lead the Governance Development team to movements where they can make a difference, as in Sri Lanka.
  • Pray that all national movement board members would understand the significance of what they are working towards and fully take ownership of their God-given responsibility.

Hearts of prayer, hands of service

It was a very small act of compassion. But the students of Kathmandu Valley CBS Nepal hoped their idea would symbolize something with eternal value. On World Student Day 2020, a day dedicated to prayer for students around the world, they wanted to show their community that they were also praying for them.

 They raised funds from graduates and distributed one-time meals in one of the worst slums in Kathmandu, an area ravaged by COVID-19. They served more than 250 of the neediest families. More than half were students.

The students from CBS Nepal knew that one meal would not make a dent in the area’s poverty. However, they hoped the community would understand that they were in their prayers. At the end of the day, they met with the seven other provinces over Zoom to share stories and pray for those they had served.

World Student Day is coming soon. Students around the world will gather to pray for the global university. Some of them will find innovative ways to pray or evangelize on this day. Like the students from Nepal, some will go into their immediate communities to serve. How will you spend your World Student Day?

Though World Student Day is still a few weeks away, you can begin asking God to move.

  • Pray for the students who are planning innovative projects to reach their communities and campuses on World Student Day.
  • Pray that thousands of students, university groups, and churches will hear about World Student Day and want to participate.
  • Pray that this day will bring encouragement, a spirit of unity, and valuable connections between everyone in our Fellowship.

Strength in Shyness

Bharat was shy. Sometimes it was hard for him to strike up a conversation with someone new. But that did not keep God from using him. He became involved in student ministry as a key leader in the training department of his national movement. It was challenging for him to work in a group sometimes, especially in a culture that valued being expressive and friendly to others.

His perspective on leadership changed when he joined IFES’ Global Leadership Initiative. This program took his cohort through a deep journey to understand the ethos and calling of leadership within IFES, training up the next generation of leaders so that national movements would have people ready to take on increased responsibilities in regional or global projects and positions.

Being in an international cohort exposed him to different people from around the world with different personalities, cultures, and leadership styles. He says this experience helped him recognize and develop the gifts he already had.

“GLI helped me to discover my different strengths related to my spiritual gifts. By understanding those aspects, it also gave insight into my ways of leadership. It helped me develop those areas to best work in the team and use my gifts and strengths to develop staff team and students. For me, learning from GLI was not only an opportunity to be trained, but was also an opportunity to apply what I learned in my day-to-day involvement with the movement.”

Bharat began implementing what he was learning, encouraging his students to take ownership of their spiritual formation, and creating a learning environment that encouraged active participation, rather than lectures. Being in a culturally diverse cohort also helped him relate better to the students in his own culturally diverse country of Nepal.

Bharat is part of the first cohort of promising young leaders who are being mentored through the Global Leadership Initiative. Previous participants have been appointed to regional leadership roles, have contributed to regional projects, and have been invited into the program planning team for World Assembly. Pray with us for this program that is developing the next generation of IFES leaders.

  • Pray for this cohort, which is still on their journey, delayed by the pandemic. Pray that they would be encouraged to keep going.
  • Pray for the individual ministries of each cohort member. Pray that they can practically implement what they learn.
  • Pray for the future leaders of IFES, that they would be the right people, full of passion and wisdom.

In the clutches of COVID-19

As other parts of the world slowly recover from the pandemic, South Asia falls deeper into the clutches of an insidious virus. The situation is grim. Health workers are stretched beyond their limits and essential medical supplies are in shortage. Hospitals are at full capacity and do not have enough supplies to meet the overwhelming need. One member of UESI India says,  

“With tears I received the call from a UESI graduate serving in a rural hospital in central India, that their 90-bed hospital does not have even one ventilator.” 

As of 26 May, more than 1000 people associated with the UESI movement had been infected by the virus, including several who had passed away. The situation is also worsening in other countries like Nepal, where many are unable to get help due to an uneven distribution of resources, and hospitals are overcharging for care.  

Still, IFES movements are doing their best to be salt and light in the crisis, despite many of their own being sick or grieving the death of loved ones. Throughout India, UESI has displayed a wonderful witness of the church, with many UESI alumni opening their buildings, establishing makeshift medical facilities, working as care-givers, and providing provisions. 

IFES leadership in South Asia are asking for help. There is a race for oxygen concentrators in the region, and IFES alumni can facilitate the sending of this equipment to hospitals and COVID-19 care centers. The region also welcomes any medical professionals to consider coming to help with the crisis. IFES South Asia can facilitate student or graduate volunteers to serve for long or short-term commitments alongside local graduates in the region.  

They also ask that you consider linking up with student groups in South Asia to pray and will facilitate such online meetings. A staff member from UESI says, 

“I do believe that some such meetings can be the point of students discovering their call to mission as an answer to the matters that they see, hear, and pray for.” 

To know more about how you can help the situation in South Asia, please contact Reji Daniel at  reji.betsy@gmail.com.  

Pray with us this week for South Asia. 

  • Pray for more funds to buy medical supplies and pray for a quick delivery of these supplies, as the lead time for the delivery of oxygen concentrators is over four weeks now.  
  • Pray for the health workers who are on the frontlines, that they may be given extra strength to press on without burnout. Pray for several IFES alumni who are on medical mission in South Asia.  
  •  Pray that the hospitals would miraculously gain more capacity to care for the sick through better infrastructure and qualified medical professionals. 
  • Pray for the IFES movements and churches in South Asia as they brave numerous challenges to care for the sick. 

IFES is also planning a special Day of Prayer for Friday 16 July in which we will lift this and other current global challenges before the Lord. Further details about how you can take part will be available in upcoming Prayerlines. 

Going West

In June, we prayed for NBCBS student groups in Nepal who were struggling with poor internet connectivity. The movement has persevered in COVID times, withstanding large case numbers, disrupted studies, and limited technology. Now, they have seen one of their biggest prayers answered just a week after World Student Day. 

Pratigya stared at the list of Nepalese student groups on her screen. No one from the far west, she thought. As prayer coordinator for World Student Day, it was her job to contact the student leaders from all 7 provinces in the country. Yet as she worked through the list, she realized that the far west province was not accounted for. In her heart she felt a tug. You could plant a group there from far away. You’ve been doing ministry online for months now. What is stopping you? 

In that moment she felt compelled to pray for a group to develop in this hard-to-reach region. She wondered if she had been given the role of prayer coordinator for World Student Day so she could draw attention to this need. She knew that God could move, but first they had to pray. On World Student Day, 200 Nepalese students gathered on Zoom to pray for the university– and to pray that a group would begin in the far western province of Nepal.  

Before the pandemic, Sharad Lama, the General Secretary of NBCBS, had traveled to the region to identify Christian students. He had managed to collect some contacts and hoped to return to begin a group. But heavy travel restrictions due to Covid-19 had derailed his plans. Still Pratigya believed that an online group was possible. Guided by the prayers from World Student Day and using the contact list from Sharad, Pratigya reached out in faith to five students in the far west. 

The students were very receptive to weekly virtual Bible studies with Pratigya, as much of their lives already revolved around video calls. Over a month later, they are still meeting to open the Bible together and talk about leading fellowships on their own campuses. NBCBS hopes that eventually the students will begin five new groups in the western province.  

This week we are rejoicing with our brothers and sisters in Nepal who saw God move through prayer on World Student Day. Please join us in prayer for the students from the far west of Nepal.  

  • Praise God for answering this prayer so soon after World Student Day! 
  • Pray that these five students would feel invested in their new group and continue to meet regularly. 
  • Pray that they would desire to grow in their leadership abilities and feel confident to start their own group when the time is right. 
  • Pray for NBCBS as they continue to battle with poor internet connectivity. Pray for strong signals especially in their virtual meetings.  

Deep Engagement for Social Change

We had to be part of the solution. Too many lives were lost to a deep hopelessness rooted in my country. How could we watch these people suffer when we ourselves knew of a hope to heal their anguish? After World Student Day, our FOCUS Sri Lanka group challenged ourselves to identify the societal problems in our country and to act. We had dared to look, and upon examination discovered one abhorrent word – suicide.

This word was not unfamiliar to us. It was mentioned many times on the news or even whispered among friends. We knew it was a problem, but like most people, we had never directly faced it. Suicide is an uncomfortable topic, one that isn’t easily discussed at dinner tables or family gatherings. But without understanding, our efforts would mean nothing. We had to talk to those affected by suicide.

Understanding the Issue

Last year, the theme for World Student Day focused on breaking down barriers within universities and challenged students to examine issues within their society. Rebecca and a group of students from FOCUS Sri Lanka were ignited to address the problem of suicide in their country. In order to understand the issue, they designed a research project to gather data from those most affected in the eastern region. Through a network of pastors, they made a list of villages to conduct interviews. Though it was an uncomfortable topic to air, they hoped the initiative would lead to change.

Their efforts were well received in each place they visited. Rebecca says,

“When we went into the villages, the leaders gave a good welcome to us. They appreciated our initiative and supported us. They shared the practical issues of their villages and the main struggles they were facing together.”

Before beginning the interview process, students spoke with village pastors who advised them on potential challenges. As they engaged with different households, students were grateful for the prior guidance. While many people wanted to contribute to the research, broaching the delicate topic required sensitivity. Through heeding the words of their advisors, these difficult conversations led to substantial results. Rebecca says their research revealed how little they had previously understood about the people affected by suicide.

“In the beginning we had a narrow mindset about suicide. We thought that the people who attempt suicide are youngsters. We understood the real situation after contacting the particular villages.”

The study showed that most victims were married women from the age of 25 to 35. Most commonly they were agricultural workers driven to hopelessness by financial issues. While these cases were the majority, the students also discovered that many young people between the ages of 16-25 were committing suicide because of relationship issues.

Taking Action

With their new knowledge, the students moved to the second phase of their plan. They began a campaign in each village, speaking at churches and secondary schools about how suicide is not the solution. They advised attendees to share their problems with people they can trust and encouraged them to expand their career prospects through education. Most importantly, the students shared about the compassion of God and the power of prayer.

Rebecca was amazed by the response to their campaign.

“Soon after each awareness program, at least one person came to us and shared their feedback. Some shared their issues, some asked us for further help. They wished us well and encouraged us to do similar events in other villages and churches.”

The students were moved. They could not believe that a simple idea inspired by World Student Day had actually made an impact. Rebecca says,

“We learned how we should do more for our future society, how to reveal God in identifying and dealing with social problems, and how we can help society as Christians.”

What can you do to create change in your society?

Rebecca says that in order to address injustices, you must take the focus off yourself and open your eyes to the issues of others. She recommends starting by identifying the injustices occurring on your own campus and raising your voice against them. Finally, she reminds students to let their own testimony of God’s love be the thing that encourages them to action.

Focus Sri Lanka is an example of students who identified a problem and took initiative. Don’t wait for others to act against the injustices in your society. Look around you, identify the problems, and use your voice to create change.