GBUR and IFES History

Groupes Bibliques Universitaires du Rwanda (GBUR) officially began in 1984 when Israel Havugimana pioneered the first campus fellowship at the National University of Rwanda (UNR). What started as a small group of students committed to Bible study and prayer has grown into a nationwide movement reaching 30 GBUs across 29 university campuses.

Cambridge University, England - The Global Roots

The roots of the GBUR movement reach back to 1877 at Cambridge University, where a small group of students met regularly for Bible study and prayer. Despite the university's disapproval, these students were determined to share their faith with fellow students. In 1919, the British Inter-Varsity Fellowship (BIVF) was formed, with "inter" meaning "between" and "varsity" referring to university life. The name symbolized the vision of linking Christian students across different universities.

From its earliest days, the movement had a global vision. Students at Cambridge were passionate about spreading the gospel worldwide, and this commitment to missions became a defining characteristic of what would become the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).

The Birth of IFES

In 1947, a historic gathering took place at Harvard University in Boston, United States. Representatives from ten countries—Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Netherlands, Norway, France, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States—came together with a shared dream: to see a clear witness to the Lord Jesus established in every university in the world.

From this 1947 meeting emerged the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), which now unites student movements in over 180 countries. IFES provides a network of mutual support, shared resources, and a common commitment to reaching students with the gospel. The headquarters is located in Oxford, England.

IFES Leadership Through the Years

Representatives of all member movements gather once every four years at the "World Assembly," where the General Committee conducts official business of the fellowship. IFES's General Secretaries have included:

  • Stacey Woods (1947–1972)
  • Chua Wee Hian (1972–1991)
  • Lindsay Brown (1991–2007)
  • Daniel Bourdanné (2007–2019)
  • Jamil (acting, 2019–2020)
  • Tim Adams (2021–present)

IFES Global Regions

Today, IFES operates through regional networks spanning:

  • North America
  • Caribbean
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • Middle East and North Africa
  • Francophone Africa (including GBUR)
  • EPSA (English-speaking Africa)
  • Eurasia
  • South Asia
  • East Asia
  • South Pacific

GBUR History by the Decade

In 1984, Israel Havugimana founded GBUR at the National University of Rwanda (UNR). What began as a small gathering of students committed to studying God's Word and sharing the gospel quickly demonstrated the power of student-led ministry. Despite challenges, these pioneering students were determined to establish a clear witness to Jesus Christ on their campus.

The vision was ambitious: to reach every student in Rwandan universities with the gospel, equip them to be mature disciples of Jesus Christ, and mobilize them to be agents of godly transformation in the church and society.

Ministry Today

GBUR's strategic priorities focus on:

  • Thriving in Witness - Equipping students for effective evangelism on their campuses
  • Thriving in Whole-life Commitment - Developing disciples and leaders who integrate faith with every area of life
  • Thriving on New Ground - Pioneering new GBUs and expanding into high school ministry
  • Thriving into the Future - Building sustainable structures with good governance and accountability
  • Involvement in Missions - Mobilizing students for cross-cultural gospel witness

GBUR continues to be made up of two wings working together: students actively ministering on campuses, and graduates who support the work through prayer, financial partnership, mentoring, and staff service. This intergenerational partnership ensures that the gospel movement continues to thrive in Rwanda's student world.

Through partnership with IFES, GBUR remains connected to a global movement of students and graduates committed to seeing every campus transformed by the gospel, for the glory of Christ.