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East Asia News
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pakistan: responding to the flood
members of the IFES movement in Pakistan
Devastating floods, described by the UN as the worst in a century, have taken at least 1,600 lives and left over four million people homeless throughout Pakistan. Over 20 million people are affected, according to the Pakistani Prime Minister. It is feared that a second wave of deaths might follow as disease outbreaks occur due to poor sanitation and lack of clean water.
Philip Chandi, General Secretary of PFES (the IFES movement in Pakistan) reports that the flood situation has greatly affected the students and their families especially in the Sindh area which is one of the strongholds of PFES ministry in Pakistan.
PFES students, staff and graduates are actively involved in support and relief work, as they seek to stand by those affected by the flood in this most difficult time of their life. Food, clothes, medicines and funds are being collected. PFES is also working alongside relief agencies, helping in any way they can, especially in the most remote corners of the affected provinces where it is quite difficult to bring much needed supplies. Some members of PFES are hosting people who have lost their homes and families.
Pakistan needs prayer as people struggle to respond to this disaster. We need especially to remember a small minority population of Christians in this region. Philip reports that in emergency conditions, relief reaches the majority populace first and then goes to the minorities if there is any left.
As funds pour into the country, pray that they will be used wisely, both for short-term needs and also for the long-term rebuilding of the country.
Let's also continue to pray for the PFES family as they share the love of God in a most practical way, by helping people in their country in this extremely difficult time. Pray, too, for Pakistani Christians at this time, that their faith would remain strong, and that God would be a rock and a fortress to them.
bangladesh: demonstrating God's love
rebuilding a Chittagong church
The Chittagong Hill Tracts combine three hilly districts of the southeast corner of Bangladesh. In this region of ethnic and religious diversity, there has been conflict between local people and Bengali settlers for several decades.
Earlier this year, BSFB (the IFES movement in Bangladesh) heard that some homes of Christian families had been burned, and staff visited the area. They returned with the news that 150 families were in desperate need. On hearing this, students and staff decided to reach out in love to help their brothers and sisters in Christ. Although their resources are limited, and they had recently given a large gift to help the student movement in Haiti as they recover from the earthquake, the movement once again took a collection.
Soon staff were able to return to Chittagong with gifts of rice, clothing, medicine and cooking utensils. In addition they brought with them funds to rebuild three churches that had been burned.
Praise God with us for the generosity of the students and staff of BSFB, for this tangible witness to the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts that our God is a god of love, and pray for this spirit of generosity and practical love to pervade all IFES movements. Pray too for wisdom for the government as they deal with this situation and for peace in this region. Pray for all those suffering from the violence, and especially for Christians to remain faithful and be a witness even in the midst of great distress.
The IFES Living Stones vision talks about 'impacting the church, the university, all of society for the glory of Christ'. What kind of influence are you and your student group having on the church? on wider society? Share with all of us what you are doing by leaving a comment below.
new zealand: from karma to Christ
Duncan, a recent photography graduate, writes to us:
'As a Taoist I was brought up to believe that having good karma was the only way to heaven. My parents' commitment to the temple and the Taoist way of life made a huge impact on what I thought about the world. While I was at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, I met some Christians from the Christian Fellowship. The friendship and the love they showed me caught my attention - when I asked them they just simply pointed me to Jesus. At first I was skeptical, and found it difficult to leave behind the beliefs I had been brought up with.
When my father passed away, my world turned upside down. I had believed he had good karma after doing so much for the temple ? so why had this happened?'
Conversations with Christian friends and a manuscript Bible study kept pointing Duncan back to the person Jesus. At every Bible study he was more and more impressed by the character and the person of Jesus, and left wanting to know more. One night, driving home, he prayed, 'Lord, I don't know if you're real or not but if you could just save my life it would make it a lot easier for me to see that you're alive.'
The next morning dawned rainy and wet. Driving too fast, Duncan lost control of his car and spun into the curb, almost hitting a wall next to the sea. 'I could easily see how my life was saved,' he says. 'From that moment on Jesus was constantly on my mind.'
In November 2009 he attended TSCF's Student Leadership Conference. 'As we sung praise to God, and learnt about Him through our Bible studies, I felt the Lord touching my heart. I cried when we sang songs for Him, and it was weird because I had sung these songs before but now they had so much more meaning. Through the whole week I felt His presence with me.
Duncan continued to struggle with leaving his past behind including the Taoist beliefs which he still clung to out of respect for his father. He prayed for guidance and strength. While at a camp, he had good conversations with people who showed him how someone from a different religion could come to follow Jesus. Realising that these people were being sent by the Holy Spirit to guide him, he gave his life to God.
'A year on,' he continues, 'I am enjoying opportunities to speak to old friends about Jesus. While I don't always get the response I would like, I try to be a good friend, and pray that they might see Jesus through my actions.
'There are days which are harder than others but I don't regret for a second the decision that I've made. I'm thankful to God for the friends I've made, the comfort, guidance and wisdom He gives me though his Word. Most of all I thank the Lord for my salvation.
Pray for students like Duncan who come from a strong religious background, as they struggle to understand and accept the implications of becoming a Christian. Pray for wisdom for Christian students as they dialogue with people from different religious backgrounds, that they will be sensitive and loving, but not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
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singapore: dealing with questions
We might all wrestle with questions at times. Sometimes questions arise that we have never really asked ourselves before. Sometimes there are things we don't dare to ask ourselves for fear of where it might lead us.
'Things I used to take for granted came to the surface and I actually began to ask myself, "What on earth was it that I believed in?" "What exactly is the good news?" and "When does belief become saving faith?" These are among the many questions that sent me on a quest.'
These are the words of Sarah, a second year student in Science and a student leader of a group in FES Singapore, after she attended the Leadership Planning Camp (LPC). LPC is a time for new student leaders to take on their responsibilities for the academic year. It is also a time when issues and challenges facing the Fellowship are discussed. This time, students were challenged to consider how they understand God's mission and explore ways to participate in it.
'Through the camp and the interaction with fellow believers who are strong in their faith, I have learned how to question ? not with the intention of undermining any belief system, but searching for truth. Through the LPC I have also learnt that it is not so much the finding of answers that should satisfy me, but the very journey itself.'
Next month (23-25 September), FES Singapore National Conference will hold a major event. It is a time where students from the English, Chinese and Indonesian sections of the Singapore ministry come together to learn, have fellowship and pray together. The theme of this year conference is Impacting the World, Wherever We Are. Praise God that wherever we are, we can indeed impact the world and be salt and light as Jesus calls us to be. Pray that the students at this conference will ask hard questions of themselves, and will be envisioned to be agents of transformation within the world, engaging culture and applying biblical insights to every area of life.
» To think about: Read the gospel of Mark and look at how Jesus both asks and deals with questions. What kind of questions does Jesus ask? How does he respond to questions? What can we learn from it about reaching out to others who have questions?
taiwan: what are you doing in this place?
How do you preach and proclaim the good news in a way that relates to the needs of the poor and oppressed?
As you go from place to place, from meeting to meeting, from one conference to another, you might ask yourself: why am I here? This is one of the questions the participants to the 11th Youth Missions Conference of CEF, the IFES movement in Taiwan, were encouraged to ask themselves as they prepared their hearts and minds for the conference. 'Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?' (Judges 18:3)
The conference has brought together 1,600 students and 200 volunteers for a week of challenging teaching, prayer and fasting, and focus on mission. Martin Goldsmith, one of the speakers at the event, says that the mission of Jesus and his followers is one of preaching and proclamation that relates to the needs of the poor and oppressed. 'Mission must therefore include an active concern for all people, for the social needs of the poor and for the environment, which is created for Christ (Colossians 1:16) and should be kept beautiful for his pleasure.'
Please join us in praying for the participants at the Youth Missions Conference (11-17 July) who were brought to that place by God, that they will know why they are there. Pray that they will meet with God there, that they will hear, understand and obey God's will for their lives. Whether they stay in Taiwan or leave the country for the sake of the gospel, pray that they will preach and proclaim the good news of Jesus, having in mind and taking to heart people's needs.
Tomorrow is the last evening of the conference and Lindsay Brown, former IFES General Secretary, will speak at the closing session. Please pray for him to preach clearly and faithfully, and pray that the 1,600 participants will 'go and make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28.19).
Comment: How do you preach and proclaim the good news in a way that relates to the needs of the poor and oppressed? How are you expressing an 'active concern' for all aspects of God's creation?
sri lanka: determination, prayer and perseverance
Out of a difficult situation came a wonderful story of success.
Around the world, many student movements use rented rooms or borrowed offices to hold activities. FOCUS (the IFES movement in Sri Lanka) was no exception, and maintained that living in dependence from year to year and from one lease agreement to another was a vital part of their growth and collective learning. However with each passing year, more graduates joined the FOCUS family, the number of fellowships increased, more programs were held, more staff joined the team, costs for meeting places and transportation increased, safety and security issues emerged and the need for their own space grew.
The property committee found an ideal place on the edge of Colombo city. And so began the search for funds to buy the building. Property prices were rising phenomenally due to increased intensity of the civil war causing an influx of people renting and buying properties in Colombo. With the encouragement of the Regional Secretary of IFES, however, an invitation was sent to all those who had in anyway been impacted by the FOCUS ministry to come alongside the movement and raise the funding. So they reconnected with many people who had lost touch with the ministry and raised the funds.
It was pure determination, prayer and a willingness to persevere in the face of what felt like disinterest from outside organisations that led to the movement's investment of time and energy in raising funds for its much needed headquarters entirely from its own sources. Out of a difficult situation came a wonderful story of success. Not only does FOCUS have a great base for their activities in Colombo and throughout the country, but there is a deep sense of ownership among students and graduates of the movement both in the work and in the building they have worked so hard to purchase.
india: from graveyard to vineyard
Places are important to us. Whether it is their history or our own memories of time spent there, place names often bring to mind very clear pictures. Sometimes those pictures are full of life and happiness; sometimes they are of devastation and sadness.
For many of us, Bihar is completely unfamiliar. But to those who know this state in eastern India, a variety of pictures come to mind. While Buddhism is probably not the first religion you think of in the context of India, the state of Bihar is the birthplace of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Bihar is also the place from which Gandhi launched his Civil Disobedience Movement. Tourists might remember Bihar for the many monuments spread throughout the state. The state has a rich and ancient history.
In comparison, IFES ministry amongst students in Bihar is very young and started in the late 1960s. Our friends in Bihar write: 'People say Bihar is a missionary graveyard. Missionaries are beaten, ostracized, and thrown out in many places. In spite of this, the current government is not hostile to Christians. People in remote areas are coming to Christ in large numbers. Students are interested to hear about Jesus. So, pray that the Lord may transform this graveyard into a fruitful vineyard.'
Today, there are over a million students across the state, most of whom do not know Jesus. Please pray for the few believing students as they live out their faith in Jesus amongst their friends. Pray for many unbelievers to have their eyes open and to see Jesus for who he is. Pray too for the Christian students to know the power of God's Word to transform lives, especially as they feel the weight of being part of a very small minority - just 1% of the state's population is Christian.
As you pray for students in Bihar, let us also continue to pray for the work of UESI (the Union of Evangelical Students of India) across this vast country. India is the second largest country in the world with 1.3 billion people. There are about 150 million students in the Indian universities and UESI has about 10,000 student members. Pray for UESI as they work to reach out to students from every language group and in the northern region (Hindi belt) with the good news of Jesus. Pray that Christian students will be eager to apply what they are learning at university to the problems faced by their country.
east asia: living water, living well
So you've graduated. You're no longer a student but a worker, a citizen and a church member.
Many questions arise that your university education may not have prepared you to answer: Should I go for this promotion? What will happen if I lose my job? How to live a life worthy of my calling as a Christian in the workplace? Can I find a balance between my life at home and at work? Where can I find time to be involved in church activities? What should I do to make a difference in the world?
The East Asia Graduate Conference (EAGC) is held every 3 years for Christian graduates. Sponsored by the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in the East Asia region, EAGC addresses the issues graduates face in daily life. As many East Asian graduates face similar problems, this is an opportunity to meet, share, learn, and encourage each other.
Movements within the East Asia region take turns hosting the conference. In recent years, the EAGC had taken place in Japan, Indonesia and Korea. In 2010, it will be co-hosted in Hong Kong for the first time, by the Graduates Christian Fellowship of Hong Kong (GCF HK) and Macao Graduates Christian Fellowship (Macao GCF).
Check out these exciting topics that will be discussed at seminars:
- Business ethics
- Traditional Asian rituals/beliefs (e.g. Feng Shui)
- Collaboration with other faiths
- Unity in diversity and marketplace theology
- Graduates in the church
- Personal financial management
- Social movement and poverty
- Christians in politics
- Global climate change
- Subversive marriage and parenting
- Materialism / consumerism
- Spiritual mentorship
Please pray for this conference to be held on 30 July - 3 August. Pray for those preparing to present, that they will have wisdom and be able to both challenge and encourage the new graduates who attend. Pray for graduates everywhere, that they will stay strong in their faith and grow in their understanding of what it means to belong to the kingdom of God now that they are no longer at university.
Comment: Are you a graduate? Tell us what would have been most helpful for you to know/discuss about the workplace before you graduated.
Are you an undergraduate? Why not organise a conference for students before they graduate to prepare them to be Christians in the workplace.
papua new guinea: overcoming barriers
Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you wanted to talk to someone but they did not speak the same language as you? You wondered: How can I communicate across the language barrier? Maybe you tried to exchange a few words and failed, or you were misunderstood. This is what often happens in Papua New Guinea. With over 800 languages spoken (representing more than 10% of the world's languages) and almost as many traditional tribes, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most diverse countries in the world.
In spite of this great challenge, the ministry of TSCF (Tertiary Student Christian Fellowship, the IFES movement in PNG) has been growing over the years. Since it was first founded in 1966, 100,000 graduates have gone through the movement and gone on to reach out to their respective communities with the good news of Jesus.
Our friends in TSCF write: 'We have many ministry opportunities, particularly to the rural communities of PNG. We have numerous testimonies of what God did through the meetings or fellowship during visits to various ethnic groups. We have seen people being saved, delivered from satanic bonds and healed. The Lord has done wonderful things and this despite the ethnic and cultural barriers. Each ethnic group is different from the other and yet often all barriers have been broken down because God was moving to restore people to himself.
'We have a message and a mission, a vision and a strategy to reach out to the young leaders of this nation using a holistic approach that touches all aspects of their lives. We want to see every young leader become responsible, to become a person with integrity. We have been investing in students and God has raised up a lot of people who are currently serving in leadership capacities in public, private, NGO and religious arenas.'
Praise God for over 1,000 who come to Christ each year through the ministry of TSCF! Praise God for the work of his Holy Spirit in that land and pray that despite the cultural and linguistic barriers, the name of Christ will continue to be proclaimed, understood, accepted and honoured to the glory of God.
Comment: Do you have a story of how God overcame linguistic or cultural barriers in your student group? Please share it with us.
new zealand: graduate culture shock
Two things happened to Ben when he migrated from Malaysia to New Zealand. First, he reacted to his new-found independence from family to take a break from school, relationships, responsibilities and God. Secondly, he suffered from culture shock, and spent the first year complaining about everything from food to the education system to church.
Fortunately for Ben, God didn't take a year off from him but gave him a persistent friend who helped him get involved in the Auckland Overseas Christian Fellowship, part of TSCF (the IFES movement in New Zealand). Ben became a committed member of the group.
Five years later, Ben was back in Malaysia, working long hours in an office, struggling with differences in culture, friendships, the church ? in short, experiencing culture shock all over again! At first he thought most of the problem was the transition from student to working life, but then he began to see other areas where he had to adjust to change.
He writes: 'I had to rebuild old relationships again. When I got past the small talk, I realised that friends I had known for more than ten years had gone down such different pathways in life.'
Ben now looks back on the first months of his new life and sees how God has graciously helped him to adjust in many ways. 'I am learning to serve in church. I am getting to know my childhood friends better. Conversations on faith and Jesus have been few and far between, but by God's grace it comes up from time to time. If nothing else, I would be happy to be home just for these conversations.'
Let's spend some time reflecting on the people God has used in our lives to lead us to him and give thanks for those people. Let's also pray for young people who are wandering, that God would send someone to be part of their journey back to him.
Pray for international students everywhere who may be suffering from culture shock, that God would use their confusion, loneliness and openness to new things to draw them to himself. Pray too for Christian graduates in the workplace, that they will work with all their heart, as to the Lord, and that their lives might show to the world the riches of God's grace.
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