In two months another 600,000 new students will start at Britain’s universities.
For any new student this is both an exciting and daunting time, and marks the start of what is often a life-defining experience.
This is no less the case for Christian students, and the significance of this new stage of life can cause parents, grandparents and youth workers sleepless nights. Faced with the opportunities and challenges of living as a Christian at university, young people can be tempted to either run for cover, or to embrace the culture in an ungodly way. Which is why UCCF resources and supports Christian students before they even begin university life.
Link Up scheme
UCCF’s Student Link Up scheme connects new students with their Christian Union before they start university. Through this they are welcomed by a friendly face, invited to CU events and introduced to a local church. For many Christian students this is a crucial step in ensuring they continue walking with Jesus at university, as Kate, a first-year Economics student at Cardiff University, shares:
‘I didn’t know anyone in Cardiff before I started uni and I was feeling really nervous about going, particularly about what it would be like living as a Christian. A friend suggested I link up with the Christian Union through UCCF, as this would put me in touch with someone in the CU who would welcome me and introduce me to other Christians.
‘The staff worker in Cardiff emailed me in the summer, welcoming me to Cardiff and giving me some information about the CU, and the CU hall group leaders got in touch and invited me to the first meeting and to their events in freshers’ week.
First CU meeting
‘I went to the first CU event, which was great for getting to know other Christians. The CU also organised a church search for the first few Sundays – representatives from local churches came and told us about their church and then each Sunday we’d walk together to a different church. This allowed me to settle quickly into a church, which was so important for keeping going in my faith.
‘I’m now CU hall group leader, which means I will be welcoming freshers and those who use Student Link Up this September. I’m so excited that I get to look after them in the way I was looked after!’
Not only does early contact with the CU help Christian students to keep going, it gives others an opportunity to make the faith of their childhood their own.
Some Christian Unions run houseparties for new students before the new academic year begins, primarily to enable Christian freshers to hit the ground running when they arrive at university. Last year, many of the 50 new students at Durham CU’s house-party said they made a commitment of faith for the first time that week.
Life changing
Matt, a student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) shares how his life was changed by meeting the CU when he got to university.
‘Before I came to university I thought I was a Christian – I’m from a Christian home and I went to a good church – but there was always this nagging feeling of insecurity and doubt.
‘When I arrived at university I made it a priority to join the CU and a local church because I wanted to make new friends. For the first time since Sunday school I was able to meet with Christians my age, to seek advice and to hear about their stories of faith.
‘UCLan CU changed my life: they helped me to discover what it means to be a Christian. With the support of the CU president and my local church I was finally able to grasp that being a Christian isn’t just about being a good person or ticking items off a checklist, but about asking Jesus to come into your life. As I go on with my day-to-day life in halls and lectures, I am constantly reminded that God sacrificed his son for me, even though I don’t deserve it.
‘I’m excited to be serving on the CU’s fresh-ers’ team this year and as I help to plan events for September I’m looking forward to sharing the gospel on campus with new students.’
Can you help us?
If you know someone heading off to university this autumn why not link them up to their new Christian Union? Go to www.uccf.org.uk/starting-uni to link them up and for more resources on how to support young people starting university.
