UCCF loves it when students hear, engage with and respond to the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ. We want students to ‘live life to the full’ — that is, to know that Jesus loves them and see that life with him is the best way to live.
Here are some testimonies from students, UCCF Staff Workers and Relay volunteers from this last year for you to enjoy.
James, student at Royal Holloway University
‘Within the first term at Royal Holloway a fellow historian scoffed at me when I casually told her that I didn’t follow a religion but that I enjoyed a relationship with Jesus.
The best part of my first year was watching as God called her to him. I was blessed to be a part of her ongoing journey, as the Lord granted me many opportunities to explain, in my bumbling way, how and why God loves her; how and why he died for her.’
Amanda, student at Bristol University
‘I went along to a seeker course run by the CU. After hearing the words of the gospel I started to think more and more about my faith, and one week decided to go along to church. I really enjoyed it and felt myself believing everything I was hearing. Gradually, I could feel myself becoming a Christian and after a while I felt that God was with me all of the time. This was especially evident when I had some conversations with atheist friends, as I knew that God was with me and was giving me the confidence and strength to spread his Word as he intended.
I feel a lot more confident since trusting Jesus as I know that he is always there for me, and if I ever feel down I can pray to him and know that he will be there to listen. I’ve also met loads of great people through the CU and they have helped me so much during my journey.’
Michael Ots, speaker at the university’s Mission Week
‘Sophie is the Vice President of the Atheist Society at her university. A member of the CU had been going along to their meetings and had got to know some of them. As a result Sophie came along to nearly all the mission events. By halfway through the week she confessed to her friend that the only reason she had left for being an atheist is that she was the Vice President of the society! Since then she has been coming regularly to CU and has started bringing the president of the Atheist Society as well.’
Sam, student at Southampton University
I hadn’t initially planned to accept my offer from Southampton University, but a last-minute change in circumstances made me change my mind. During my first few weeks at uni, two of my flatmates announced they were going to the Christian Union hall group, and for some reason I tagged along. I regretted it almost as soon as the meeting started, and when it was announced that we were going to do a Bible study, I was less than impressed. I tried to keep an open mind about it, but I was fighting boredom and frustration for most of the study. I don’t know exactly when it was, but at some point in those 45 minutes or so, something massive happened. Right then, I knew how much God loved me and that the Bible truly was his Word. When everyone went round the circle saying what they felt they had learnt, it was all I could do to choke out, ‘I didn’t realise how much God loved me’. I was absolutely stunned and overwhelmed!
From that day on, God has not stopped teaching me, and it’s been the most amazing journey of my life — he’s changing my life bit by bit, day by day. Looking back, I know now that from the moment I started to walk away from God, all those years ago, he set in motion a plan to get me back in his own time. That still amazes me every day! I know now exactly why I changed my mind to come to Southampton, I know it was no coincidence that two of my flatmates happened to be Christians, and I know what drove me to go to the CU that night. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have been times when I’ve turned my back on Jesus, neglected to spend time with him, but he never gives up on me. Having the support of an active CU has been great, and has helped me to come to really understand the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me, and to be able to serve him. Finally, after 18 years, I have truly met God, and my life will never be the same again!
Please continue pray for the thousands of students involved with Christian Unions as they live and speak for Jesus at university.
