"Serving with InterVarsity Link was one of the biggest shaping experiences in my leadership."
- Tom Lin, President InterVarsity USA
Student Ministries in AFRICA
There are numerous invitations from ministries in East and Southeast Asia. Some of the most needed ministry placements are below, and include Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and others.
See descriptions for these placements below, and contact Kurt Thiel for more info.
Africa | Rwanda
Though this IFES movement is officially in Francophone Africa, the language of the university and students is English.
This is an established movement looking for IVCF staff and graduates who will come and lead in outreach and discipleship among students.
They have a special desire to grow in scripture study and to produce materials to serve this movement of 2000 students. They ask for a commitment of 3 years.
Africa | Zimbabwe
The IFES movement in Zimbabwe has 10 staff, serving 35 of the 50 universities in the country. They ask for experienced staff, though also have an apprenticeship program for new staff if you are just starting out.
They have a high value for theological education, which is possible to acquire in Zimbabwe. The movement is excited to partner with humble Americans desiring to serve this country.
Student Ministries in the CARIBBEAN
The IFES in the Caribbean reaches out to not only university students but grammar and high school students.
We’ve been asked to send staff who would be willing to serve the university students in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago. There are student groups there but some have been without university staff for several years.
You would be part of a national team but most likely the only university staff worker on the island.
Student Ministries in ASIA
There are numerous invitations from ministries in East and Southeast Asia. Some of the most needed ministry placements are below, and include Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and others.
See descriptions for these placements below, and contact Jane Pelz for more info.
Personal Assistant | IFES Regional Coordinator | South Asia
From the IFES Regional Coordinator:
“I would dearly like to have someone with writing skills; who is empathetic and perhaps at ease with South Asian culture who can build up Epistle – my communication tool; plus my ability to reach and build up partnerships for South Asia IFES.
This is a critical need for me or even if you have someone who can work with me to invest in my skills in doing this. I want to work with Diaspora in particular to invest in IFES South Asia and contribute to our team/initiative costs so that IFES SA is self-funding before I would leave to my current role.”
Professor in Bangladeshi or Nepal Medical Schools
From the IFES Regional Coordinator:
“I am thinking the Bangladesh ministry may like to consider asking for a professor (or any personnel that Bangladeshi Universities find it challenging to fill) in the Bangladeshi Medical Schools.
This so that the ministry can expand its reach to both medical students and the many, many international students who come to Bangladesh that can be served and reached by BSFB. This may apply to Nepal as well.”
Myanmar-English language program staff
Link staff would be welcomed in Myanmar to work with the English language program alongside the National Movement's staff.
This program is the main entry point for meeting university students as the NM is not allowed on campus directly.
Movement A
Mov A is one of the pioneering movements in East Asia. There are a few student groups running regularly yet it is not so sustainable.
As this is a closed country, all of the activities are carried out discreetly in cafes and rented flats. We have three local staff workers now, yet one of them is on study leave till 2025.
We need a Link staff who has a passion for students, is able to work in "underground" mode, and is willing to learn and live out the local culture/language.
Student Ministries in EURASIA
There are numerous invitations from ministries in East and Southeast Asia. Some of the most needed ministry placements are below, and include Armenia, Moldova, and others.
See descriptions for these placements below, and contact Mike York for more info.
Eurasia | Armenia
The population is just 2.7 million people, although there are more than 7 million Armenians living in other countries. Many of them were spread around the world because of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Immigration is still high because of the wars we had. The last war was in 2020 where Armenia lost a big part of its territory and had around 7,000 human losses. And till now in the conflict region Nagorno Karabagh people are under a brocade which is very painful topic for all Armenians. The Armenian people are very much familiar with suffering and most of them have lack of hope.
Armenia is surrounded by three Muslim countries and Armenia is the 1st country in the world that accepted Christianity as a state religion, but sometimes this is the only fact people know about Christianity.
94% of the Armenians consider themselves Christians, but very few of them really understand what it means. The dominant church is the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, which usually focuses more on the traditions and the rules, and they spread propaganda against the protestant churches. So the protestant church is considered a cult or a sect.
Our vision is to see transformed students through a relationship with Jesus. We want to rise student initiative, and help the believing students to grow spiritually, to discover their identity in Jesus and to be brave and courageous in sharing their faith and hope with their nonbelieving friends. Our goal is to have prayer and Bible study groups in the universities and make the Good News available for more students.
Eurasia | Moldova
Moldova is an Orthodox Christian country, but has so far resisted any Russian-type restrictive religious laws. There is a fair amount of liberty to share the gospel here, relative to other former Soviet countries – something to Praise God for!! Indeed the church here is a healthy sized and seems to be growing in numbers.
Many students consider themselves Christians. Many students are searching for reality in their faith. On the flip side, few people go to church more than once a year, and few have little understanding of the gospel, even if they are familiar with its stories.
In Moldova, there are 46 colleges and High schools with a total of 32,000 pupils. Also, there are 33 institutions of Higher education with a total of 60,000 Moldovan students and 1,000 foreign students from Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Syria.
The Community of Christian Students from Moldova (CSC Moldova) is a growing student ministry in the two largest cities in Moldova – Chisinau, and Balti. Through social engagement, clubs, and regular small groups, evangelization camps, discipleship conferences, CSC engages both Christian and non-Christian students with the claims of Christ.
Our mission is to form a community of students who respond to Jesus' call to follow Him and show God's love in the university and society, that every student can find a vibrant, open, and inclusive Christian community where they can explore faith and be inspired to put faith into action.
From the Moldovan national ministry:
“We believe that God has called us to be among students so that we can tell them the gospel and they can receive eternal life! Generations of students need to receive the answers to the fundamental questions of life through the Bible. Also, they need to form convictions and develop character through Christian principles and to see an example of an authentic and practical Christian life.”
Student Ministries in LATIN AMERICA
There are numerous invitations from ministries in East and Southeast Asia. Some of the most needed ministry placements are below, and include Armenia, Moldova, and others.
See descriptions for these placements below, and contact Hans Nyberg for more info.
Latin America | Bolivia
The campus ministry in Bolivia (CCU) has campus groups in most Bolivian cities, thanks to high student initiative, and many have volunteer staff to support them.
The groups along Bolivia’s “central axis” are strong and have good traditions and support, but some groups, especially in Tarija, are isolated and it has been difficult to find someone to disciple and support the student ministry there.
CCU is looking for someone to live in Tarija to disciple and connect with students in Spanish, and help integrate their group with the rest of the country.
Experience in student discipleship and leadership development is key, and an ability to work in a smaller city, being a short flight or long bus ride from other staff.
Student Ministries in the MENA Region
There are numerous invitations from ministries in the MENA Region. Some of the most needed ministry placements are below, and include the following.
See descriptions for these placements below, and contact Kurt Thiel for more info.
MENA | Personal Assistant
Time: this could be around 10-15 hours a week, (this may be less dependent on the projects in place)
The major responsibility would be :
- to communicate with the IFES regional staff team,
- Draw up reports linked to the region's activities (5/6 a year)
Travel : You can live outside the region but be willing to make at least two trips a year to the Middle East/North Africa.
Language : in addition to English, if he/she can speak French, that would be great, but it's not an essential requirement.
Skills : I'm looking for someone who is discreet, respects confidentiality, and can take the initiative where necessary .
Student Ministries in WESTERN/CENTRAL EUROPE
There are numerous invitations from ministries in Western and Central Europe. Some of the most needed ministry placements are below, and include Northern Macedonia, Poland, Spain, and France.
See descriptions for these placements below, and contact Renée Molitor or Mike Harwood for more info.
Central Europe | Northern Macedonia
The IFES movement in Northern Macedonia has had a number of strong staff in the past and currently there are 3 staff. They are looking for an experienced InterVarsity staff to come and work alongside of them in the 2 cities they have work.
There is ministry both to local students as well as international students. They would like a Link staff to come for 2-3 years and be part of the staff team and help this ministry to grow across the country.
Central Europe | Poland
The IFES movement in Poland has a history that dates back to the days of communism. Since the fall of communism in the late 1980’s they quickly formed a national movement and had a number of staff. Today the movement is in decline and has lost many staff.
They are seeking an experienced InterVarsity staff worker to give 2-3 years to help rebuild the movement. They have a strong board that is helping to support the movement right now but they cannot give all their energy to it. They are talking to recent graduates to be part of the staff team. So aLink staff would work closely with the local staff team and board to help grow the work in the main cities of Poland.
They are looking for someone who has skills in Pioneering student work, good communication skills and is well organized.
Western Europe | Spain
Grupos Bíblicos Unidos (GBU) in Spain is a movement of 12 staff with ministry work in the mainland, on Spanish islands such as the Canary and Balearic Islands, and a pioneering partnership with Equatorial Guinea, in Africa.
Ministry work in Spain can be challenging, yet very dynamic and stimulating. On campus, there is a religious spread of Islam, Atheism, and Judaism, as well ethnically diverse local Spaniards, North Africans, Latin Americans, and immigrants from across the world.
Spiritual and cultural gifts on the GBU-Spain team, in the church, and across the country are: hospitality, people-orientedness, passionate leadership, direct communication, preaching, and teaching. The General Secretary (Joaquín) is asking for Link staff for both Madrid and Barcelona.
Madrid is the biggest priority as there are 300,000 college students in the city and only one staff currently there. In Barcelona, though they have a stable staff team of three, the work has been growing quickly and the need for more staff is high. Link staff in either location would be working alongside the local staff.
Supervision for this Link staff would include a primary Spanish supervisor and a secondary supervisor in a Link Staff Coordinator, providing member care.
Link staff responsibilities for Madrid and Barcelona include: discipling and training student leaders, planting and building witnessing Bible studies, and guiding that city ministry in vision, strategy, and mission. Link staff would receive training and development opportunities from GBU national and regional events. Additionally, they would be asked to serve in national and regional student functions, such as retreats, national assemblies, etc. Spanish language learning is required.
Western Europe | France
France is traditionally a Catholic country, however according to the French national statistics, only 29% identify as Catholic, 10% as Muslim, 10% as other religions, and 51% as non-religious. Evangelical Protestants make up less than 1% of the population.
There are currently 25 staff nationally (regional and local, full-time, part-time, and volunteers) and 80 student-led groups across the country. The GBU national director has specifically asked for Link to send staff for the north of France, specifically the city of Lille, where there are lots of students but few Christians.
A Link staff worker serving in Lille would work in French, be integrated into the GBU national and regional staff teams, supervised by the GBU regional coordinator, and additionally receive member care from a Link Staff Coordinator.
Learning French as well as learning about the GBU, its values and ministry models is important. The job description will set a new staff up well to have time to learn. The local staff in Lille would raise up GBU student leaders, train them to lead Bible studies, and share their faith with their fellow students.
