Bradford CU Events week - Final Reflections

I guess you could say I'm beginning to recover from what was an exciting, encouraging and exhausting week with Bradford CU, and as I recover I'm beginning to think about things I've learnt from the week.

One of the things which has struck me from the week was the reality of the spiritual battle on campus at Bradford Uni.  There are just so many other active religious societies on campus that in many ways it was like Paul in Athens when he was distressed to see a city full of idols and wrong worship.  The biggest challenge to preach was the lunch bar on 'Why follow Jesus given there are so many other religions?'  But God is good and we saw lots of people begin to engage with the claims of Jesus, and there were a number of good questions which were asked by those genuinely seeking.  Another factor which ramped up the sense of spiritual battle was the claim of some belonging to sects, which have hived off from historical Christianity, that they were Christians despite not believing in the divinity of Jesus.  But as promised God's Spirit enabled us to answer truthfully and hopefully lovingly.

In fact over the whole mission week a lot of question and discussion seemed to centre around the nature of God as Trinity.  I had deliberately focused in some talks on how the Trinity makes the God of the Bible, Father, Son and Spirit distinctive and attractive and true.  But I was a bit surprised by the way this seemed to become the focus in every lunch bar, in particularly with those from sects.  Please be praying that the word of God which we shared would be a seed that grows in their hearts, and that God would lead them from darkness to the light of salvation in and through God the Son.

The CU went all out during the week and they are a brilliant, bubbly, loving, gospel-centred bunch.  It was a real reminder to me of the wonder of Revelation 7 as so many different nationalities engaged in mission together, prayed together, praised our great God together, and simply loved and encouraged one another.  The CU worked so hard to provide excellent food, flyer, set up rooms, bring friends, love, proclaim and glorify God that it was a real privilege to be asked to work with them.  Partnering with these guys in the gospel was humbling and a joy and they and Bradford will be a regular feature in my prayers from now on.

There are a number of students who are planning on reading Uncover with friends after the mission, please be praying that happens and leads to gospel fruit.  There were others for whom the week introduced them to the CU and who seemed to really value the community they found that would accept them and love them for who they were.  Others came along engaged, asked questions and went away with lots to think about.  Please be praying for the CU as they look at how to follow all these different people at different stages up.

Above all give glory to God for his word, his work and his people there labouring for him, planting seeds, watering them, and let's pray reaping them in the coming months on campus.

Bradford - The Joy of Gospel Partnership

I thought on my rest day I'd look back and reflect on the first two days of Bradford CU's mission and look forward to the next two days.  It has been a real joy and encouragement to partner with students who have so many friends and are keen for their friends to find what they have found in Jesus.

The format of the days is the same and its working brilliantly.  At lunch time in Student Central there is a free lunch bar - always an attraction - and what a lunch bar it has been.  This is not just CU food this is Bradford CU food, to coin a phrase.  The CU have laboured hard at providing an excellent lunch each day.  The venue is right in the heart of the Students union in a busy area where students naturally congregate, which means we get lots of through traffic.  There have been a variety of people there on the first two days as we have looked at 'Why should I follow Jesus given We live in a world full of suffering?' on Monday and 'Why should I follow Jesus given I'm happy as I am?'  The talk titles have attracted people outright along with those the CU have brought themselves.  Particularly on Monday there were questions afterwards and some people were really engaging with questions about God, suffering and the new creation.  Though I think the thing that has struck me the most is just how welcoming the CU is, keen to chat to any and everyone.  They have been great events and the hope is that they grow even more as we gone on through the week.

In the evenings we have been in another uni building on campus in a lovely hall and churches have provided the food for a meal in a nice setting.  Everything has been tastefully done (apart from a certain staff worker putting on 'Hello' by Lionel Richie as background music, thankfully after any guests had left).  The format is simple but has worked brilliantly, people arrive are welcomed really well and then food is served, at about 8 I'm invited up (after the riveting safety notices which have to be given at every event in that venue as a condition of its use) to speak.  On Monday we looked at 'Follow my Leader: who gives your life meaning and purpose?' and last night 'Follow your heart; how can I be loved, just as I am?'

Again there have been good numbers of CU members and guests.  Last night felt a little disrupted as just as the fire safety notice was read out there was a fire alarm, at which point we all had to leave the building.  It seemed to alter the atmosphere a little.  Another fire alarm went off just as I was drawing the talk to a close.  It may, in part, be that which leads me to think it was the talk with which people seemed least connected and engaged.

Today is my rest day but not for the CU, they have a BBQ and an acoustic night today.  Tomorrow and Friday there are lunch bars (Why should I follow Jesus given there are so many religions to choose from? and Why should I follow Jesus given His followers have caused others so much pain?) and meals again (My past follows me; can I ever be free of my guilty conscience? and A hard act to follow; why follow Jesus if it might cost me so much?).  I would value your prayers today as I finish off preparing these talks today and then for tomorrow and Friday.  But please particularly praise God that the CU there in Bradford are so gospel hearted and pray above all that God brings fruit from this week.