Find out what’s next for the LCI!
An update from Sophie Van Houtryve, Program Manager
After five fruitful years, we are now coming to the end of the current program, which has been generously funded by the John Templeton Foundation (JTF). Since 2021, we have equipped almost 100 Catalysts as thought leaders in science and theology dialogue. In total, they have led more than 50 groundbreaking projects in 29 countries across Francophone Africa and Latin America.
In February, I had the opportunity to share about the LCI at a webinar hosted by IFES USA, where I was asked a pertinent question: “Considering that the LCI is a new type of program in IFES, has this ‘proof of concept’ worked?”
I was able to respond with a resounding yes! IFES recognises the enormous contribution the LCI has had: Catalysts have been on a journey of transformation through the learning they have experienced, the mentoring they have received, the projects they led and the Christian community they have been part of.
The Catalysts’ personal transformations have made ripples of positive impact in their communities. Their projects have enriched the ministry of their IFES national movements, built bridges with new audiences of students, and tackled pressing issues in their societies.
This is why senior IFES leaders undertook a discernment process to discuss how to build on the momentum gained at the LCI once the funding from the JTF comes to an end in August. IFES leadership have concluded that a natural progression is for the program to continue in a decentralised form, led by regional leaders with some central support. The program would maintain the three core components of equipping, mentoring and project funding, but a regional model would be more adaptable to regional priorities and be less resource intensive.
LCI leaders in Francophone Africa and Latin America are hoping to launch a new cohort of Catalysts in 2026, building on the experience gained and resources created by the existing program. The beauty of this new phase is that other regions in the IFES family may join in and launch their own “LCIs” too.
In fact, what’s exciting is that the regional model we envision is already being piloted in East Asia. Inspired by the LCI in our current regions, IFES East Asia recently launched their own “LCI@EA.” Funded by a generous grant from ECLAS (a global science-faith initiative), made available through the Singapore Bible College, this new “LCI@EA” will retain the LCI’s blueprint of equipping, mentoring and projects while also being adapted for the East Asian context. Find out more in this Conexion blogpost.
In Latin America and Francophone Africa, Catalysts’ projects concluded at the end of March. Our staff are now turning their attention to writing reports for our donor, developing an e-library of resources that will be shared with the IFES fellowship, and publishing two collections of Catalyst essays about their journeys of transformation.
Of course, we are also focused on managing the transition from the JTF-funded program to the new regional model and exploring new sources of financial support for this exciting next step. If you’d like to show your support for the future of the LCI, you can make a gift here.
Please pray for the LCI:
- Thank God for the fruit of the last five years: how the LCI has empowered Catalysts to make a gospel impact and how their projects have transformed students, universities, national movements and societies for the glory of Christ.
- Pray for the new LCI in East Asia, especially for discernment as the staff team reviews project proposals from the first participants.
- Pray for the development of the e-library of resources and the publications of Catalysts essays in Latin America and Francophone Africa.
- Pray for wisdom for IFES and LCI staff as they manage the transition to the new phase of the program.
- Ask that the Lord would raise up a new network of supporters to turn the future LCI into a reality.