United States

Pray for international students in the USA struggling with anxiety and loneliness to find peace and comfort in Christ. Pray that they would feel well supported during this time. With so much time being spent connecting with those back home, pray that Christian international students would be boldly sharing stories of Jesus with their family and friends.

Ross works with InterVarsity USA serving students at Kansas State University. In such a secular context, there are many challenges for Christian students sharing their faith, but also many encouragements. Ross writes: “We're seeing new students draw near to God, especially in the LGBTQ community, among arts students, and in fraternities and sororities [student societies]. Pray that our students would embrace sacrifice for the sake of the gospel.”

For a weekend, a week, or a summer, students step into the lives of those living in poverty in cities, to learn their stories and see the faces behind the social issues being debated in the USA. Pray for the students as they not just serve practically, but through reading scripture and examining life through the lens of the marginalised and oppressed, are brought to a place to confront their own sense of entitlement, materialism, greed and cultural prejudices. Pray that they would experience repentance, forgiveness, and healing in the context of community.

The Christian student movement in America is experiencing a new excitement about evangelism. In particular, many groups have been successfully using creative outreach ideas such as artistic displays designated to help initiate conversations on spiritual issues. However, one particular challenge facing InterVarsity/USA is the rising number of American students studying online, or commuting to campus and returning home each day. Pray for the leaders as they consider how to meet these students where they are.

Population: 323,127,513 (2016)
Literacy: 96%
Official languages: English
GDP (PPP) per capita: $57,220 (2016 est.)
Life expectancy: 79 years
Religions: 51% Protestant, 24% Catholic, 16% Agnostic or Atheist, 2% Jewish, 7% other religions