(Logo credit IFES)
International (MNN) — Today is World Student Day. If you’re not sure exactly what that means, keep reading.
“It’s a great opportunity to pray for future world leaders and church shapers,” explains Andy Moore of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), a ministry partner of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
“Many [university] students go on to hold positions of influence in politics and business and church, and the wider society.”
Not only does the Body of Christ pray for its next generation on World Student Day, but Christian college students worldwide pray for one another. Over 3,500 students have signed up to pray via e-mail and Facebook.
“It’s a great opportunity for students and staff to hear from one another about the various challenges that face them in their contexts,” Moore adds.
(Photo credit IFES)
“This year, we have a multilingual chat site, so people can come along and speak in either English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese, and the chat room will automatically translate whatever they type into the other languages. [It’s] a bit like the early chapters of Acts, where all of the hearers could hear the disciples speaking in their own language.”
Technology plays a key role in minimizing language barriers, getting students to engage in conversation, and facilitating prayer.
“In the past, we’ve had Google Hangouts that connect people in different countries with one another to pray for one another,” says Moore.
“We try to facilitate some things; but equally, it’s great to see the creativity of students as they think about how they can connect with their [Christian] brothers and sisters in different parts of the world.”
Meeting fellow collegiate believers and commiserating about the struggles and challenges that come with bearing the name of Christ on campus builds a special bond among Next Generation believers.
(Photo credit IFES)
“I think [students’] faith is enriched as they engage with students from other cultures, particularly as we get to pray together. There’s a unique unity that’s expressed in prayer,” Moore shares.
Learn more about World Student Day and find prayer needs here.
“We can keep people in contact with the prayers that have been prayed and the answers to prayer.”
