IVSTR (Inter-Varsity Students Training Retreat) is a Mandarin-speaking camp which was held at Lutheran Highlands Lakeview from 21-25 August 2014. 38 students (from 14 campuses) and 9 personnel came together to form 3 chalet families. It was a time to look at campus issues and holistic growth.

With the theme ‘你我合一,重新建造!’(In unity, let us rebuild!), the camp began with the call to rebuild; campus and country. Based on the book of Nehemiah, students looked at what it means to build an authentic community, the opportunities and threats in campus, the importance to savour the Word and to give hope in Malaysia. At the closing of camp, students were challenged to be watchmen in midst of community. Students took up the challenge and make their covenant with God to go back and rebuild their campus and the country.

Students were also trained to initiate an Evangelistic Bible Study with their friends. Encountering Jesus passages from the Gospels were selected to help them reveal the character of Christ and to see the result of the encounter.

During the holistic growth sessions, students learned to come before the Lord and to meet Him as who they are. They also looked at what it means to encounter self and see what areas should they change or improve. Through these sessions, we believe the process of encountering God and self has begun for the students.

Students were glad for the opportunity to make new friends from different campuses, exchange ideas about CF and see a bigger picture of the student movement in Malaysia. We pray that these students will bring back the vision and lessons from this camp and bless their own campus.