UCCF has launched its 2013 Student Link Up campaign.
It is giving a special Uncover – Starting Uni edition of Luke’s Gospel to school leavers when they link up to their university Christian Union through uccf.org.uk/link-up.
Helping freshers and parents
Inspired by the Uncover Gospel project, which has seen around 80,000 copies of Luke being personally used by students in their evangelism, the Uncover – Starting Uni edition features a host of online resources specifically designed to help Christian freshers adjust to their new environment. These include a termly Bible reading plan in Luke’s Gospel and video resources that help them find a local church and join the Christian Union.
The link up scheme has been set up as a response to increasing concerns amidst parents and church youth workers about young Christians leaving home and going to university. Gary Brown, pastor of New Life Church in Whitehaven and part-time social worker, will see his son Matthew leave home for university in September. He commented: ‘I worry about the influence of others, new people in a new environment with different ethics and agendas. I worry about him making good friends. I worry about him getting into fellowship with other Christians’. Gary continues: ‘One of the things I’m grateful for is the established ministry of the UCCF. I think it makes all the difference in the world that he has the opportunity to link up with other Christians who will share his worldview, his questions and his battles. I think this is a particular benefit when he first gets to university.
Personal experience
Sarah Wyman is a second year Geography student at the University of Leicester. She linked up to a Christian Union in 2011 and commented: ‘I got an email from the V.P. of the CU introducing herself and the CU. She also added me on Facebook and pointed out some of the other CU girls. The biggest benefit was getting to know the older CU members before I got there’. Sarah, who just finished a year on the CU executive committee recommends link up to new students saying: ‘It can seem really scary leaving home for the first time, moving to a new part of the country and starting a new life at university. Through linking up, I knew that I wasn’t alone and that I would know people when I got there!’
Students who link up will also get a warm welcome from the CU upon arrival at university, an introduction to a variety of local churches through the CU church search programme and support from CU friends who will help them live and speak for Jesus at university.
Uncover – Starting Uni edition Gospels are free for students who link up to a Christian Union at http://uccf.org.uk/link-up. Alternatively, you can link up students you know on their behalf and gift them an Uncover – Starting Uni edition Gospel for just £2.50; also available from uccf.org.uk/link-up.
Pod Bhogal is Head of Communications, UCCF.
http://facebook.com/uccf.thechristianunions
