3D ministry is all about letting the joy of the gospel influence every part of our CUs and their mission. If we are truly declaring the gospel, it will be born out of a deep delight in Jesus and will be accompanied by His love being displayed.
Staff Worker Jonny Warke helps us to see how students are displaying Christ at university, esepcially in his particular context in Bristol.
Displaying Christ on campus is not an evangelism tactic or a box to tick. Reflecting the character of Jesus and bearing the fruit of the Spirit are organic outflows of gospel transformation. Throughout the Bible, God displays Himself to and through His people. He creates humanity ‘in his own image’ (Gen. 1:27) and chooses the nation of Israel so that through them ‘all peoples on earth will be blessed’ (Gen. 12:3). Ultimately, the ‘image of the invisible God’ (Col. 1:15) is displayed in Jesus Christ. Now, the Church is used by God ‘to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere’ (2 Cor. 2:14). The beauty of Christ is put on display in His chosen people as we don’t just speak of His love, we embody it!
So powerful is the witness of a student who speaks of Jesus’ loving sacrifice as they show that sacrificial love to others. Christian Unions should be communities that ooze hope, freedom and joy! As we delight in Jesus, we display that delight and the transformative power of the gospel is heard, seen and experienced through CUs.
It’s a wonderful privilege for me to see students in Bristol displaying the gospel on their campuses. Bristol University CU (BUCU) members regularly seek to display Christ on campus through their weekly ‘Coffees on Campus’ outreach. Every Wednesday afternoon, CU students give out free hot drinks on campus. In doing so they often have brilliant conversations where gospel declaration is paired with gospel demonstration. Similarly, during an outreach called ‘Club Loving’, the CU give out hot drinks and biscuits to students coming home from nightclubs. At both these weekly events, when asked why they do it, I often hear CU students telling their peers, ‘We just want to show the love of Jesus.’
This year BUCU has been supported by B&A Church in Bristol, who provide around 120 weekly meals for the CU Central meeting, completely free. As a result, every Thursday students can invite their friends to have a free meal at CU and many get to experience warm, generous hospitality displayed in joyful community. In search of a wonderful partnership, B&A asked the CU if they would multiply the blessing by sending students to help them cook and prepare meals for other ministries in the city. Now, twice a week, students in the CU help to prepare meals for soup kitchens, ministries to the homeless and church outreach in Bristol. It may be quiet and behind the scenes, but it’s a beautiful portrayal of Jesus’ compassion and generosity reflected in sacrificial service.
During their November events week, BUCU generously handed out waffles each day to students on the way to their lectures. For this and many other aspects of the week, the CU won the ‘Society of the Month’ accolade, as the SU recognised that the CU ‘went the extra mile to make everyone feel welcome’ and provided ‘a welcoming space to explore faith and ask questions’. During this week, a wonderful example of students displaying Jesus happened when an international student, Julia*, came to the overflow café after one of the lunchbar talks. Shifra, a student from the CU, got to know Julia for a while, showing genuine interest in her life. During her time in the café, Julia texted her friend to come and join her because she was so happy to have an opportunity to talk to a student in English. She said the CU were the first students to be patient with her language and the first non-Chinese people she’d spoken to properly since moving to the UK in September. Julia and her friend left with a Chinese gospel and Shifra is still in touch with them today. This is what displaying the gospel looks like – it’s in the simple, small acts of genuine love and concern for others. Whether it’s providing free meals and a warm welcome, giving out hot drinks, cooking for those in need or a patient conversation, students displaying the love of Jesus is a powerful message to their campus.
If you’re a church leader and, like B&A Church in Bristol, would love to support CUs in reaching more students with the gospel, find out how you can partner with us at: uccf.org.uk/churches
