Relay is UCCF’s national discipleship and training year for graduates who love CUs and are passionate about seeing students come to know Jesus. Over the past seventeen years Relay has trained, equipped and encouraged over 800 people to love Jesus more, live out the truth of the gospel and pass it on to others.

Relay provides graduates with an unique opportunity to work alongside students and be part of a mission community whilst learning loads and deepening their faith in Jesus. Relay is all about helping people love and serve Jesus with their heart, mind and hands whoever they are and wherever he has called them to be.

Feed your heart

Relay develops your character and deepens your relationship with Jesus.

At the heart of Relay is a conviction that a deeper understanding of God’s grace radically alters the way we live. Relay workers are directly supervised by a Christian Union Staff Worker through one- to-one bible studies and prayer, ministry direction and feedback, and discipleship towards establishing a strong relationship with Jesus. Relay workers are part of a regional UCCF team that benefits from further training and fellowship together as they work with CUs in their area.

Stretch Your Mind

Relay makes you think and expands your knowledge.

Over the course of the year Relay workers attend three specifically designed training conferences for bible teaching, worship and prayer. These are key times of learning in community and are a great chance to build friendships with other Relay workers. Relay also provides a weekly personal study programme focusing on key doctrines in the Christian faith, together with an elective study on a subject tailored to help each worker grow in their particular interests and gifts.

Get Your Hands Dirty

Relay gives you the chance to learn through doing as you support the mission of Christian Unions.

Relay is a great place for people to get grass-roots experience of serving others in ministry. Relay workers are trained in things like leading bible studies, facilitating seminars, equipping leaders, delivering talks and leading people to Christ. There are lots of opportunities to use and develop these skills in a range of settings from CU talks and lunch-bar events, to one-to-one relationships and summer mission teams.

Further Relay Opportunities

Relay workers go on to serve the church in a huge variety of ways and in all kinds of workplaces, both in the UK and abroad. Relay also offers some extra opportunities to help people explore particular gifts and idea for the future.

Relay Arts Elective

The arts elective gathers like-minded Relay workers to focus on what it means to love Jesus in the arts. This includes time to work on their own projects and receive criticism from others, plus the chance to minister to students from art colleges and courses.

Internships

Relay internships combine a year of spiritual growth and CU work with the opportunity for Relay workers to practice their creative skills in a professional office environment. Internships include graphic design, web design and development, and film production.

Homestart

Relay Homestart is an option to spend the Relay year taking part in cross-cultural and language training, with a view to spending another year or more working within an IFES movement in another country. It is a great way to experience something of cross cultural mission and to support the wider IFES community.

Paying for Relay

To take part in Relay you will need to raise your living and ministry costs. Raising finance can be one of the most rewarding ways to grow, live by faith and learn how to use money wisely. You will need £6-7000 depending on location, plus £600 towards training conferences and materials. UCCF will support you through partnering with churches and individuals as you seek to raise finances for the year. To date no-one has had to drop out of Relay through lack of finances.

Find out more

Interested in doing Relay? Why not chat to your CU Staff Worker, or find out more about how to apply.