Our History

In 1930, UQ students gathered to hear English evangelist Dr Howard Guinness. With single-minded devotion to Christ, he spoke on the power of the gospel to transform lives. Students were convicted: they needed to tell people about Jesus on campus. Taking up the call to evangelism, UQES was formed as well as groups on university campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.

Guinness returned to Australia three years later to encourage the fledgling groups. Small evangelical unions began in Perth and Adelaide, and in 1936, this national network became the Australian Inter Varsity Fellowship (IVF). By 1959, around 2,000 students were involved.

The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) formed in 1947, and Australia was one of its ten founding members. To reflect this affiliation, the Australian IVF changed its name to the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) in 1973.

Today, the IFES movement is active in 180+ countries, and AFES has 60+ student groups on campuses around Australia, all working to proclaim Jesus Christ at university. What a joy to be a part of this rich history!

UQES is now a group of more than 150 students, from many countries around the world. After all this time, we’re still meeting on campus, seeking to know Jesus and make Him known!