Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (NIV)
2 Timothy 2:1-2
2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (NIV)

Disciples of Jesus, strong in God’s grace in Christ, from all nations, sharing God’s grace with others who also become disciples, strong in God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

This is euFOCUS’s vision – under God, to see Sydney Uni students from the nations following Jesus, empowered by God’s grace, sharing that grace with others, so that every international student hears Jesus’ gospel. Will you join us in praying that the God who’s brought five international students to a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ this year in euFOCUS will work in and through us to see this vision become more and more reality?

One recent new believer is David* (names have been changed). David joined the euFOCUS StuVac Study Sessions at Barney’s Church, Broadway in early November. It seems David was more keen to study Jesus and the Bible – so Howie (ministry apprentice) Ira Fung talked with him for 3 hours! The conversation pushed Ira’s Mandarin language ability, cross-cultural adeptness, biblical and theological acumen and endurance, but praise God He moved David by the power of His Spirit to take a significant step of faith to follow Jesus, even while he continues to seek understanding. Please pray for David – that he would keep seeking and finding answers to his questions, but even more so a growing, intimate, eternal relationship with Jesus as his Saviour and Lord.

But how did David end up at the euFOCUS StuVac Study Sessions?

David’s friend Phillip* brought him along. We welcomed Phillip into our Christian family in week 11, towards the end of October, at euFOCUS’s Thursday night Come Home Dinner, where he decided to follow Jesus! That night, after a Bible Talk on Jonah from Senior Staffworker Seth Fellows, Phillip told his Chinese Christian friend Harry*, ‘I want to become a Christian.’ With the help of Google and euFOCUS’ Senior Staffworker Chim Ho, Harry led Phillip in a prayer of repentance and faith. Then, sharing the joy of the angels in heaven at another lost child found, Seth prayed for Phillip in English with Chim and I and a group of Christian students from Hong Kong, China, New Zealand, Vietnam and Australia. Truly Jesus Christ is Lord of every nation!

Phillip joined euFOCUS from the beginning of Semester 2, enjoying the loving community, coming regularly to Come Home Dinners, cared for by domestic and international students and staff who’ve listened to and prayed for and with him. Please pray for Phillip – that he would grow deep roots in Jesus, and continue inviting friends to experience and explore God’s love in Christ in euFOCUS.

But how did Phillip come to join euFOCUS?

Towards the end of 2021, in partnership with a Howie Grad now serving as a missionary with Pioneers, euFOCUS ventured into the digital space by starting ‘Hope Groups’. These were online social media communities seeking to connect with international students studying or planning to study at Sydney Uni before they arrived in Australia. Some groups were in English; others in Chinese. Students were invited through posts in social media groups, as well as through friendship networks. Members connected with one another, sharing tips on preparing to live and study in Sydney, and caring for one another. Already studying online in China, Phillip joined one of the Chinese Hope Groups. So when he arrived in Sydney in July, he joined euFOCUS.

And how did Hope Groups start up?

EU Grads Fund Supporters like you pray and give so that EU Staff like Chim, Ira, Seth and I can be set aside to labour alongside EU students, both international and domestic, on campus at Sydney Uni. Through your partnership, we establish and run Hope Groups and Come Home Dinners, and within the euFOCUS family of God, lead, love, evangelise, teach and train students as grace-empowered disciple-making disciples of Jesus.

Thank you and praise God for our partnership in Jesus’ gospel for people of all nations!

Ben Lim

EU Senior Staff, euFOCUS