June – July 2019 | ifesworld.

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PRAISE & PRAYER

IFES Board Chair Chris Collins, Daniel Bourdanné and Chris Clarke

IFES GENERAL SECRETARY DESIGNATE INDIGENOUS

After a lengthy search and discernment undivided life – not separating the secular
SUPPORT
process, the IFES Board will put Chris from the sacred, or presuming that God’s DEVELOPMENT
Clarke forward to the Fellowship for call was limited to traditional forms of
confirmation as IFES General Secretary at One of the biggest challenges
World Assembly next month. faced by many IFES movements
is that of limited resources.
Chris was born and studied in New
Given the expansion of higher
Zealand, where he was active in the
education globally, all of our
national IFES movement – as a student
movements have opportunities to
president, national board member,
expand their ministry, yet have to
president and conference speaker. He
carefully choose which to pursue.
writes of his involvement in TSCF
In response to this need, IFES
New Zealand: “Simply put,
set up the Indigenous Support
the Lord – through IFES
Development (ISD) program, led by
– has shaped much of
Above, Chris spent seven years as head former NIFES Nigeria staff Kehinde
who I am and how I
of World Vision NZ, (Photo courtesy Ojo, to train national movement
live today. My love
World Vision NZ) and, left, Chris, staff in fundraising in their own
for Scripture, my
Karen, and their sons. context. The program also includes
sense of vocation,
a matched funding program and
my world view, my
church-based ministry. in the last year has expanded
conviction that the
Inspired by the example to include e-learning modules,
gospel is good news
of a Christian professor, he making the training available to
indeed, my heart for
embraced the calling to be more staff in more countries. So
justice and for those
salt and light in the workplace, what has this program helped our
who do not know Christ,
working in the New Zealand Treasury, movements achieve?
were largely formed during my
in public sector health organisations,
university years.” Yuliya, Eurasian movement:
and most recently leading World Vision
“Studying the Bible passages
An evangelist and pastor at heart, Chris NZ, the country’s largest faith-based
had a big influence on changing
assumed that he would serve God humanitarian organisation.
perspectives and helped to
through full-time Christian ministry. But
Much of Chris’ work over the years has deal with fears in fundraising. 
it was through TSCF that Chris first came
been cross-cultural. He is passionate As a team we really grew in
to appreciate the importance of living an

continued overleaf >> continued overleaf >>


ISD program beneficiaries: Left, SLEFES Sierra Leone students from Kamakuwe,
Magburaka and Kono. Middle, IS/IVCF Guyana students have benefited from new
groups and programs. Circle, Kehinde Ojo who leads the ISD program.
IFES GENERAL SECRETARY DESIGNATE continued...
about growing Christian leaders who are
Biblically-grounded, socially-aware and
globally-engaged. At TSCF conferences,
Chris caught the vision for the global
nature of God’s salvation plan. He
recalls being particularly captivated by
a presentation about student ministry
in Russia, hearing about the worldwide
reach of the gospel and its transforming
power. Yet it was day-to-day interactions
with international students that
proved to be most formative. His eyes
were opened to the challenges and
opportunities of being part of a global
movement, sharing a common faith.
Since then, Chris has had the opportunity
to live overseas and travel extensively.
Chris is married to Karen who shares his
passion and sense of call to support the
ministry of IFES. Karen has also served in
various roles with TSCF New Zealand and
she is currently leading youth and young
adults’ ministry for the Anglican Diocese
of Auckland. They have two adult sons.
Chris is looking forward to joining
IFES and says: “IFES has played such a
significant part in Karen and my lives that
it feels like we are ‘coming home’. I am
pleased, humbled and more than slightly
daunted by the opportunity to serve the
INDIGENOUS SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT continued...
understanding that God expects us to
be able to give not just to receive as it
was years before. In the last two years
due to the impact of the ISD training
and mentoring, the staff team grew
from six to 12 staff!”
William, SLEFES Sierra Leone: “We
appointed resource mobilization
volunteers and charged them to
reach out to new donors through
our Christian Union groups and
graduates. The ISD training materials
on church mobilization helped in our
partnership with churches [so they
now] view us as partners instead of
competitors! We have now developed
a strategic plan to pioneer student
PRAISE & PRAYER
Jun - Jul 2019
Fellowship. Each generation must find Lord to serve the Fellowship will enable
fresh ways of communicating and living IFES to flourish in the fast-changing
the gospel. At the very time the rest of student world. I give thanks to God who
the world is building walls, we need to granted IFES with the gift of a new leader
be digging wells - finding ways of sharing and am delighted to welcome Chris.”
and living the gospel in ways which are
Please join with us to thank God for
winsome and compelling. As I look around
Chris and for Daniel, and ask that God’s
IFES, I see so many examples of faithful
presence and guidance be with them and
students doing just that. What a privilege
their families in this time of transition.
it is going to be to join them.”
As we welcome
Chris, it is important
to remember the
huge contribution
that current IFES
General Secretary
Daniel Bourdanné
has made, both as
General Secretary
and in previous
roles with IFES
Francophone Africa,
which we will be
celebrating in the
next Praise & Prayer.
Daniel has spent time
introducing IFES to
Chris. He shares: “I
These three seem to get along -
am confident Chris’
the transition is in good hands!
clear calling by the
ministry in many more campuses that
have emerged in recent years.
Flemlyn, IS/IVCF Guyana: “The IFES CONTACT
ISD program has made amazing DETAILS
contribution to the growth of student
ministry in Guyana. The “Matching ifesworld.org
Fund Initiative” of IFES stimulated us
to reach beyond our comfort zones IFES International Services (UK)
and explore previously untapped 5 Blue Boar Street
opportunities. We improved Oxford OX1 4EE
significantly on our relationships with United Kingdom
partners by making it more convenient
+44 (0)1865 263 777
for them to give, and by providing
adequate feedback and updates. As L’IFES est une organisation déclarée à
a result, we have been able to serve Lausanne, Suisse. IFES is a registered charity
more students, travel to farther in England and Wales (247919), and a
counties and initiate new programs.” limited company (876229).