Last year 16,000 non-Christian students heard the gospel by attending a carol service hosted by their university’s Christian Union.
As you read this story, several CUs will have held their 2014 services, with many more to follow in the final weeks of term. Thousands of students who have never had the gospel explained to them will hear an evangelistic message through a carol service.
Come and celebrate
‘There is no doubt in my mind that Christmas is the easiest ask of the year’, said Rico Tice, associate minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place. ‘While on sabbatical, I met a couple whose marriage I’m going to take. She is a Buddhist and the only time she’d been to church previously was to carol services. A wonderful question to ask anyone is, “Do you celebrate Christmas?” And it’s just Christian hospitality to then say, “Would you then come and celebrate with me?’’’.
It may well be the easiest ask, but there is also a recognition of the great need for follow-up with those who come to carol services. Michael Green, former rector at St Aldates and a prolific speaker at carol services, says: ‘By itself a carol service will be ephemeral, but used wisely it can open the door to people coming again, and coming to Christ.’ Churches across the country are due to have terrific opportunities to introduce people to Jesus Christ at a time when seekers are most receptive and open to hearing of him. Many students who attended a CU carol service will be looking for further opportunities to unpack the messages they have heard during their Christmas break.
Preparing follow-up
CUs have found that aside of hosting a beautifully presented event, there is no substitute for preparing to follow up with these seeking individuals. Izzie Sims, secretary of Imperial College London CU says: ‘Christmas is a really busy time, which is why it’s important to plan ahead! We always want to make sure that we have follow-up in place that we can offer, and that we contact people who’ve expressed interest as soon as we can. Making sure that you actually have something in place for people who want to find out more is important.’
CUs recognise that some attendees will be ready to profess faith – they are then connected with the CU and given resources to take the first steps in their newly-owned faith. As Michael Green shares: ‘In a service that has been well prepared by prayer and personal invitations I like to call for a response at the end’.
Beyond this however, an environment is created where it is easy for someone who is not yet ready to commit to express interest in finding out more. Attending a carol service is not always the last step for those seeking after Christ, and the major lesson embraced by CUs is to ensure that it is very easy for a seeker to see and take the next step.
What this looks like in practice is explained well by Canon J John, who has spoken at over a 100 CU Christmas events. You need to prepare a team whose main job is to receive those responding and discern how they are responding. You ensure there is an obvious means to respond, to collect their contact details, and that the team clearly know what the next step is for that person, whether this is a printed resource, or a specific seeker-friendly event. And of course, the church should pray earnestly that those who come may receive the word with gladness and, in time, bear a harvest!
