Good evening, everyone!
On behalf of your brothers and sisters in 162 other IFES student movements around the world it is my honour to congratulate on 100 years of ministry in schools, colleges and universities across this nation. Happy 100th Birthday Laget!
The IFES family give thanks to God for His faithfulness to you, and thank you for your faithfulness to Him.
As I travel to visit different IFES movements around the world, I sometimes find myself needing to acknowledge the historical wrongs committed by my English colonial ancestors. So believe me, it is so so good to come to Norway, knowing that, in this case, it was the Norwegian Vikings who invaded us! And don’t worry—we are happy; it ended well. And you are always welcome, especially if you score goals like Erling Haaland .
Every IFES movement is unique and special, but for many reasons Laget is extra special place within IFES. Some of you may not know that before IFES was officially founded in 1947, there was a series of International Conferences for people involved in university ministry, and the very first one took place here in Norway in 1934. It was Professor Ole Hallesby, who gave the opening address. I re-read his message this week, and even today it is still a powerful call to action. Hallesby says that after many years were he felt the university world was closed to Christian ministry, he now saw God opening doors— not only in Norway but in many other countries at the same time. “This is the Hour of God”, he says, urging the conference to work together and join in with what God is doing.
Reading that talk you can clearly trace the vision and values of IFES to that International Conference in Norway and to Hallesby’s message.
Three themes stood out to me in his message that are hallmarks of Norway’s unique contribution to our fellowship.
The first is the importance of personal spiritual and devotional life, including personal reading of God’s word, prayer, and clear beliefs. This combination has always come through in the people and training programs that you have shared with IFES. Anfin Skaaheim served as Chairman of IFES for many years, and when he completed his term in 1995, he gifted IFES this Norwegian message stick containing our Doctrinal Basis, signed by every chairman. Since then, every time IFES meets for our World Assembly, this message stick comes with us, and we begin by affirming together the beliefs that enable us to work and trust together.
The second theme in Hallesby’s message—and one that also distinguishes this movement—is the belief that our faith is not just a set of doctrines but something we must live out. There’s a section of Hallesby’s talk that could have been written for today’s student workers today. He said:
“Our generation must not only hear Christianity but see it lived out. This age is convinced chiefly by action. If we today will try to live out our Christianity, we will experience mighty progress. Christianity is the Christ-life. And the life of Christ was love, service, self-denial.”
This emphasis on combining personal devotion, good doctrine, and lived-out faith comes through in your contribution to IFES, and even transcends some of the theological debates within global evangelicalism.
The third hallmark of NKSS is a attitude of humility and friendship. At the famous 1910 Missions Conference in Edinburgh, the Indian Bishop Azariah was one of the only non-Westerners present. At one point he stood and said to the Western missionaries, “You have given your goods to feed the poor. You have given your bodies to be burned. But we also ask for love. Give us friends!”
Laget, you are a great example of what he was asking for. You have been a generous movement, building partnerships with IFES movements in Kenya, Ethiopia, Brazil, Bangladesh, and beyond. You’ve given us people who have served faithfully on our board and staff team – Carl Wisloff, Anfin Skaaheim, Jens Petter Johnsen, Øivind Benestad, Øistein Garcia de Presno, Ivar, Tor Erling, Silje. I could mention many more. We want to thank you Laget, for your attitude of friendship and partnership. You never came with an attitude of “we know best” or “this is how it should be done,” but always as friends and partners in the gospel.
We are so grateful.
We thank God for you. We celebrate with you. And as you enter your second century of ministry, and a time of transition, I also pray for you with these words from Philippians 1:6:
“I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Happy Birthday, Laget! May God continue to guide, bless, and protect your strategic ministry.
Tim Adams, General Secretary of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES)