International Fellowship of Evangelical Students

The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) is an association of over 160 evangelical Christian student movements worldwide, encouraging evangelism, discipleship and mission among students. IFES is the world's largest Christian campus movement whose goal is to establish local autonomous student movements in every country where there is tertiary education. The member movements cooperate to pioneer new work and to strengthen existing groups. In addition, there is work in countries where student ministry is not yet affiliated.

IFES is registered in Lausanne, Switzerland, as the Union Internationale des Groupes Bibliques, and has three International Service Centres: Oxford, England; Platteville WI, USA; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr Daniel Bourdanné (Chad) served as the General Secretary from 2007 to 2019.  He was assisted by Tim Adams (Associate General Secretary for Operations) and Martin Haizmann (Associate General Secretary for International Ministries). Previous General Secretaries have been Australian C. Stacey Woods (1947–1972), Singaporean Chua Wee Hian (1972–1991) and Welshman Lindsay Brown (1991–2007). In the spring of 2019, the IFES board announced the nomination of Chris Clarke (New Zealand) as new General Secretary to be confirmed by the IFES General Committee. However in June 2019 IFES issued a public statement that Clarke had decided not to stand for approval by the General Committee in July 2019.  Interim leadership has been identified and the IFES board will re-start the search process with the hope of identifying permanent leadership within two years.

At the heart of the movement are the thousands of students, volunteers and staff who faithfully and sacrificially contribute in their local settings.

History
In 1947, the initiative was taken to establish international fellowship of Christian students. Representatives from Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, France, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United States came together in Boston (USA) to strengthen evangelism, discipleship and world mission among students all over the world.

At the end of the 20th century, IFES had already grown to an organisation consisting of movements in 140 countries. Currently there are about 20 countries with tertiary education where there is no IFES-related student witness. A unique feature of IFES is that it is a federation of autonomous and indigenous movements. The international board of IFES includes representatives from all around the world, emphasizing the fact that it is truly a global movement that models international partnership and collaboration.

A firm commitment to evangelism amongst students, the authority of the Bible and collaborative cross-cultural mission are historic features of this ministry. As the fellowship has grown, representatives from many Christian traditions and denominations have been added, but IFES has sustained an orthodox evangelical expression of Christianity.

Activities
Representatives of all the member movements gather once every four years at the "World Assembly", where the General Committee meets to conduct official business of the fellowship. World Assemblies have been held in Mexico (2015), Poland (2011), Canada (2007), Netherlands (2003), Korea (1999), Kenya (1995), United States of America (1991). The last World Assembly occurred in July 2019 in Bela Bela, Limpopo, South Africa and was hosted by the South African member movement SCO. The 2023 World Assembly will be held in Indonesia, hosted by Perkantas.

For students, regional conferences are organised every few years. In Europe and Eurasia, there is the European Student Evangelism Conference. In 2000 and 2017 it was held in Aschaffenburg, Germany, in Győr, Hungary in 2004 and 2012 and in Linz, Austria in 2008. Previous East Asia Regional Conferences were held at Port Dickson, Malaysia in 2014, in Singapore in 2011, in Tokyo, Japan in 2008 and in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2005.

IFES also offers Summer- and Year-teams (see https://www.ifesinteraction.org/), which are composed of students and recent graduates who use their holidays or an academic year to help establish student movements in Europe and Eurasia by pioneering new work or assisting established movements.

Christian literature distribution is also a feature of this ministry. InterVarsity Press (USA), Inter-Varsity Press (UK), Presses Bibliques Africaines (Francophone Africa), Harmat (Hungary), Andamio (Spain), and Ediciones Certeza (Latin America) are examples of regional publishing houses.

Student missions conferences occur frequently in the fellowship. Examples of this are Urbana (North America), Mission Korea (South Korea) and "Whom Shall I Send?" (Sudan). Plans for future conferences are developing, and at present there are such events planned in India, Rwanda, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. There is to be Eurasia’s first-ever missions conference in Ukraine, and others in South Korea, Taiwan, Jamaica, Mexico, and probably also Bolivia and Guatemala in Latin America.

Member Movements
Recognizing the importance of Christian unity, IFES generally affiliates only one member organisation from any country, although some exceptions have been made for specific linguistic or geographical reasons. For example, there are two movements representing different language groups in Canada, Belgium, Switzerland.

Around the world, more than 170 movements are connected to IFES.

Africa
English and Portuguese - speaking - Africa
Angola: GBECA Angola
Botswana: ICMB Botswana
Ethiopia: EvaSUE Ethiopia
Gambia: FES-Gambia
Ghana: GHAFES Ghana
Kenya: FOCUS Kenya
Lesotho: SULTM Lesotho
Liberia: LIFES Liberia
Malawi: SCOM Malawi
Mozambique: ABEMO Mozambique
Namibia: CSF Namibia
Nigeria: NIFES Nigeria
Sierra Leone: SLEFES Sierra Leone
South Africa: SCO South Africa
Sudan/South Sudan: FOCUS Sudan
Swaziland: INCOSCM Swaziland
Tanzania: TAFES Tanzania
Uganda: FOCUS Uganda
Zambia: ZAFES Zambia
Zimbabwe: FOCUS Zimbabwe

Francophone Africa
Benin: Groupe Biblique des Eléves et Etudiants du Bénin 
Burundi: Union des Groupes Bibliques du Burundi
Cameroon: Groupes Bibliques des Elèves et Etudiants du Cameroun
Central Africa: Union des Jeunes Chrétiens de Centrafrique 
Chad : Union des Jeunes Chrétiens du Tchad 
Congo: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Scolaires du Congo 
DRC: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires de la République Démocratique du Congo 
Gabon: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires du Gabon
Guinea: Groupe Biblique des Elèves et Etudiants de Guinée 
Guinea-Bissau: GBU Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires de Côte d'Ivoire
Mali: Groupes Bibliques des Elèves et Etudiants du Mali 
Madagascar: Union des Groupes Bibliques de Madagascar
Mauritius: Students Christian Fellowship 
Niger: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires du Niger
Rwanda: Union des Groupes Bibliques du Rwanda
Senegal: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Scolaires du Sénégal
Togo: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Scolaires du Togo

Asia

East Asia
Cambodia: Sonoko Cambodia
Hong Kong: Fellowship of Evangelical Students
Indonesia: Perkantas
Japan: Kirisutosha Gakusei Kai - KGK
Macau: FCS Fellowship of Christian Students
Malaysia: FES Malaysia
Mongolia: FCS Fellowship of Campus Students
Philippines: IVCF InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Singapore: FES Singapore
South Korea: IVF InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Taiwan: CEF Campus Evangelical Fellowship
Thailand: TSC Thai Christian Students

South Asia
India: UESI Union of Evangelical Students of India
Nepal: Nepal Biswabidhalaya Bidhyarthi Sangati - NBCBS
Sri Lanka: Fellowship Of Christian University Students - FOCUS

Europe

Central Europe

Albania: BSKSh
Austria: Austrian student mission (ÖSM - Österreichische Studentenmission)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Evanđeosko Udruženje Studenata u Federaciji Bosne i Hercegovine (EUSFBiH)
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Christian Student Union - BCSU
Croatia: STEP Studentski evanđeoski pokret
Czech Republic: Univerzitní kresťanské hnutí - UKH
Estonia: EEUU
Greece: SXEF
Hungary: Magyar Evangéliumi Keresztyén Diákszövetség - MEKDSz
Latvia: Latvijas Kristīgā Studentu Brālība - LKSB
Lithuania: Lietuvos krikščionių studentų bendrija - LKSB
Macedonia: SEAM Exodus
Poland: Chrześcijańskie Stowarzyszenie Akademickie - ChSA
Romania: Organizația Studenților Creștini Evanghelici din România - OSCER
Serbia: Evanđeosko Udruženje Studenata i Srednjoškolaca - EUS
Slovakia: Vysokoškolské Biblické Hnutie - VBH
Slovenia: ZVES

Western Europe

Belgium
Dutch speaking: Ichtus Vlaanderen
French speaking: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et des Ecoles Supérieures - GBU
Denmark: Kristeligt Forbund for Studerende
Finland: OPKO
France: Association des Groupes Bibliques Universitaires de France - GBU
Germany: Studentenmission Deutschland
Great Britain: Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship - UCCF
Iceland: KSH
Ireland: Christian Unions Ireland - CUI
Italy: Gruppi Biblici Universitari - GBU
Netherlands: IFES Nederland]
Norway: Norges Kristelige student- og skoleungdomslag - NKSS
Portugal: Grupo Bíblico Universitário - GBU
Spain: Federación de Grupos Bíblicos Universitarios de España - GBU
Sweden: Credo
Switzerland
French speaking: Groupes Bibliques des Écoles et Universités - GBEU
German speaking: Vereinigte Bibelgruppen - VBG

Eurasia
Armenia: 
Georgia: Saqartvelos Qristian Studentta Kavshiri 
Moldova: CSC Moldova
Ukraine: CCX Ukraine

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda: Inter-school and Colleges Christian Fellowship - ISCCF
Barbados: Inter-school & Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship - IS/IVCF
Belize: IS/IVCF Belize
Cayman Islands: IS/IVCF Cayman Islands
Dominica: Inter-school & Colleges Christian Fellowship - ISCCF
French Guiana: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires - GBU
Grenada: InterSchools Christian Fellowship - ISCF
Guadeloupe: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires - GBU
Guyana: Inter-school & Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship - IS/IVCF
Haiti: Groupe Biblique des Ecoles et Universités d'Haïti - GBEUH
Jamaica: Inter-Schools Christian Fellowship/University and Colleges Christian Fellowship - ISCF/UCCF
Martinique: Groupe Biblique Universitaire de Martinique - GBU
St Lucia: Inter-school & Colleges Christian Fellowship - ISCCF
St Vincent and Grenades: Inter-school & Colleges Christian Fellowship - ISCCF
Suriname: JSSM
Trinidad & Tobago: Inter-school & Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship - IS/IVCF

North America
Canada: Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship of Canada - IVCF
Quebec: Groupes Bibliques Universitaires et Collegiaux
United States: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

South Pacific
Australia: Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students
Fiji: Pacific Students For Christ
New Zealand: Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship - TSCF
Papua New Guinea: Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (PNG)
Solomon Islands: SIE-CU
Vanuatu: PSFC

Latin America
Argentina: Asociación Bíblica Universitaria Argentina
Bolivia: Comunidad Cristiana Universitaria de Bolivia
Brazil: Aliança Bíblica Universitária do Brasil
Chile: Grupo Bíblico Universitario de Chile
Colombia: Unidad Cristiana Universitaria
Costa Rica: Estudiantes Cristianos Unidos
Dominican Republic: ADEE Associación Dominicana de Estudiantes Evangélicos
Ecuador: CCUH Comunidad de Estudiantes Cristianos de Ecuador
El Salvador: Movimiento Universitario Cristiano - MUC
Guatemala: Grupo Evangélico Universitario de Guatemala - GEU
Honduras: Comunidad Cristiana Universitaria de Honduras
Mexico: Compa Compañerismo Estudiantil A.C
Nicaragua: CECNIC
Panama: Comunidad de Estudiantes Cristianos - C.E.C
Puerto Rico: Asociación Bíblica Universitaria de Puerto Rico
Paraguay: Grupos Bíblicos Unidos del Paraguay
Peru: Asociación de Grupos Evangélicos del Perú
Uruguay: Comunidad Bíblica Universitaria Uruguay
Venezuela: Movimiento Universitario Evangélico Venezolano - MUEVE

Bibliography
 Douglas Johnson, A Brief History of the International Fellowship Of Evangelical Students, Lausanne, Switzerland, IFES, 1964.
 Pete Lowman, The Day of His Power, Leicester, Inter-Varsity, 1988. 
 Alice Poynor, From the Campus to the World: Stories from the First Fifty Years of Student Foreign Missions Fellowship, InterVarsity Press, 1986. 
 David M. Howard, Student Power in World Missions, InterVarsity Press, 1979.  (Brief history of North American students in mission beginning with the Haystack Movement through the SVM to the SFMF.)
 C. Stacey Woods, The Growth of a Work of God, InterVarsity Press, 1978.  (Early history of InterVarsity/USA)
 Keith & Gladys Hunt, For Christ and the University: The Story of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of the U.S.A./ 1940-1990, InterVarsity Press, 1991. 
 Lindsay Brown, Shining Like Stars - the Power of the Gospel in the World’s Universities, Inter-Varsity Press, 2006.  (Spanish translation: Brillando Como Estrellas, Andamio. , 
 A. Donald Macleod, C. Stacey Woods and the Evangelical Rediscovery of the University, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2007. 
 Luke Cawley, "Campus Lights: Students Living and Speaking for Jesus Around the World", Edinburgh: Muddy Pearl, 2019.

See also
Cru Christian campus ministry
Passion Conferences Founded by Louie Giglio to provide annual gathering of Christian students
World Student Christian Federation
Lausanne Movement, which many IFES members have contributed to.  https://www.lausanne.org/
Langham Partnership, which many IFES members have contributed to.  https://langham.org/

External links 

Preview of "Brillando Como Estrellas", an introduction and history of IFES by Lindsay Brown (in Spanish)

Category:Evangelical parachurch organizations
Category:International student religious organizations
Category:Organisations based in Oxford
Category:Religion in Oxford
Category:Christian organizations established in 1947
Category:Fellowships