Blog

Forum 2020 - what happened?

In August, around 2,500 students from Great Britain and across the globe tuned into Forum, UCCF’s annual training conference. This year, rather than taking place in a marquee in North Wales, the conference moved online due to concerns around Covid-19. So, while in previous years students would roll …

Seven ways to make the most of Forum 2020

One of my favourite parts of being a Staff Worker is going to Forum. It’s a time for great teaching, really getting to know each other as you co-exist in a tiny tent, and having lots of fun. But it also equips, excites, and energises us all for a year of CU mission. If you’re part of the CU or a …

Safe in His hands

No one started off the last academic year expecting to receive grades that were estimated not earned, adjusted and not achieved. But here we are. Results day 2020 saw social media blow up with frustration, anger and worry. News headlines were taken over by people analysing algorithms, league tables …

God has marked out your place

I remember my Results day. I remember feeling like a dam was about to burst. I knew that logging in and looking at those three letters could either bring waves of disappointment and worry, or floods of joy. But since then, I’ve realised that whatever feeling waterfalls over us in times like these, …

What's a CU to do?

Are you planning for a socially-distanced freshers’ week and looking for inspiration? Or perhaps you’re wondering how best to reach your university online? If that sounds like you, read on! We’ve had a look back at all the ‘virtual’ CU activities since March and we’ve chosen some of their best …

Welcoming New Staff

A community of Christian students Uni life is more than just getting a degree. Today’s students are exploring perspectives that will shape their worldview forever. The student world presents an incredible opportunity to reach whole generations with the good news of the gospel, and Christian Unions …

Colour-blindness is a deficiency to be acknowledged not a virtue to be celebrated

The human eye that does not recognise the individual colours of the rainbow is failing to perceive the varying wavelengths of light. Physical colour blindness is, of course, a defect of vision – an inability to differentiate and enjoy colours. The Apostle John’s great vision of the universal church …

It begins with conversation: Striving for inter-ethnic unity in the CU context

The events surrounding George Floyd’s violent death have placed ethnicity and race relations back in the public eye, not only in the United States but around the world. People of a whole range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds have been prompted to re-examine their own views and practice when it …

Life together: pursuing community in ethnic diversity

Meditating on the hope of the gospel recently left me longing for the new creation, when our sin-sick world, the petri dish for racism and every shade of ethnic conflict, will finally be wiped clean. Be assured: perfect justice will be served by the perfect judge when the perfect comes. I believe …

Carrying the gospel baton

At one of my last Christian Union meetings as a student, I heard a talk on 2 Timothy, where Paul passes on his final messages to the younger Timothy. The pastor paused in the middle of the meeting to ask us, ‘What will you pass on to the younger years when you graduate and leave them?’ That is …

A long way from home

The Covid-19 outbreak has had an impact on lots of us. For international students, it’s been tricky in entirely different ways. Here, Chichester CU student Sian explores how the book of Esther can be an encouragement to those far from home during this time. The last few weeks have been challenging …

Virtually an events week?

At the end of May, supported by UCCF Relay Workers and Associate Staff Workers, the CUs in Scotland joined together to run an online events week called Hope . Bekah, vice president of Dundee CU, reflects here on what happened. We first saw lockdown as a disaster. It was ruining plans and bringing …

Relay blog: adapting to change

This years' cohort of Relay Workers have had a surprising end to their year. Both the way they support the CUs, and the way they themselves are supported, has changed significantly. Here, Georgia from Leeds reflects on what lockdown life is like on the Relay programme. Hello and a very good …

The latest on CU mission and Covid-19

Thank you for your prayers for us over these past couple of months. We were successful in our application to the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and have received the rebate for April salaries, as per the terms of the scheme. We are grateful to the Lord for this provision and …

Reading the Bible online

It can be tricky to work out how to read the Bible with a friend when you're not with them in person. Here, Bath CU student Evie reflects on her experiences... I began reading the Bible with Sarah (name changed) back in December. At the time she was just a friend of a friend who I got along well …