Hady West
Student ministry in Ljubljana, Slovenia
In Slovenia, only 0.1% of the population are Bible-believing Christians—approximately 2,000 people across the entire nation.
Despite a rich Protestant background, Christianity in Slovenia often seems more like a chapter of history than a present reality. With 99.5% of the population identifying as either Roman Catholic or non-religious, evangelical Christian witness remains limited. Pastors are often stretched thin, and many ministries focus primarily on youth, meaning university students can easily slip under the radar. This is where ZVEŠ comes in. As Slovenia’s national student movement, ZVEŠ seeks to reach university students with the Gospel at a pivotal stage of life — when many are questioning their beliefs, exploring new ideas, and searching for meaning and purpose.
Vision and calling
From attending an international school in Lesotho to moving to the UK alone for sixth form, and later serving on short-term mission teams, I have always loved engaging with different cultures and backgrounds. Last summer, as I began praying seriously about cross-cultural student ministry, I found my thoughts repeatedly returning to Slovenia. As I learned more about the country’s spiritual need and discovered that the team were actively praying for an InterAction worker, I became increasingly convinced that this was where the Lord was leading me.
About me
My primary role this year will be serving in international student ministry. Having been an international student myself, I understand both the excitement and challenges that come with living and studying in a new country: the culture shock, homesickness, and search for belonging. I believe this presents a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways while sharing the hope of the Gospel. One of my main goals is to help establish a Bible study and discussion group where international students — both Christians and those exploring faith — can build meaningful friendships, find genuine community, and have the opportunity to engage with the person and claims of Jesus Christ.