It all started for Festive ten years ago.
An eclectic mix of people with a heart for Further Education Colleges and Sixth Forms sat around a table and prayed for God to take what they had and multiply it.
There was a retired doctor, some UCCF staff workers, a college manager, two ex-missionaries, a ‘travelling secretary’ from the 70s (with fire in her belly), a minister and a vicar!
This motley crew were united in three things:
• Students in Further Education are some of the most unreached people in the UK in terms of the gospel.
• Christian students, staff and chaplains in FE are under-resourced and lack the support they need to be Christ’s ambassadors where they are.
• God loves the unreached. He is bigger than the colossal need. He can and will do something to empower his children to bring light to over 2 million people in FE.
With the backing of Scripture Union and UCCF, Festive was born with a desire to bridge the g, between schools work and university mission. A ‘launching service’ was held at Kinmel Bay Church (North Wales) on the 26 August, 2007.
Starting with a website, one part-time worker and a voluntary director, Festive sought to offer prayer, advice, resources and training to anyone seeking to be a witness in FE.
God grows things
As the volume of emails increased and ministry developed, God added extra staff and the funds to pay them.
Soon there were team members posting ‘gospel parcels’ to tiny Christian Union groups in Colleges and Sixth Forms across the UK. These CUs of two or three students would then wrap these up in Christmas paper and give them out around College to friends, or through a Christian event with a speaker if they were allowed one.
Chaplains started asking for resources that they could use to exalt Christ in Interfaith week. We were able to meet students at youth conferences and festivals and hold seminars at youth events.
Since 2007, there have been times of great rejoicing too as we have heard of some students coming to faith through the witness of their believing friends. By 2016:
• 1600+ books and tracts were given away in that year
• 600+ ‘How to start a CU’ resources were downloaded from the website
• Festive was linked up to Christians in 141 Colleges
• We were supporting 64 staff and chaplains through advice and prayer
• Toni Coulton was able to pass the baton onto Pete Carrington to steer Festive forward as its new director.
We are amazed at all God has done since that initial meeting ten years ago. We have seen him do ‘immeasurably more than we asked or imagined.’
Still, there’s more to be done. We need to look forward and not back. The ground is tough and we must rely on his power to open doors and open hearts!
Students are increasingly emailing in with questions like: ‘We aren’t allowed to start a Christian Union group. Can you give me advice on how we can still share our faith without a CU?’
We are also increasingly supporting Christian students who are ‘lone rangers’ where they study. They might advertise around and seek to start something, but there is no take up. Ten years ago, this was the exception and not the rule.
Unchanging truth in changing world
16–18 year olds are in selfie-taking, vlog-ger-blogger, smartphone heaven!
We are so thankful for a grant that has enabled us to better reach and equip Christian students where they are today. The creative collective Something More have developed a new Festive brand, App and mobile-friendly website which have been framed around these three areas:
• IN: Inspiring students that Jesus is the best news this world has to offer, letting his beauty transform their hearts so that they can look…
• UP: Seeking God in prayer, asking for his help and power to go… life-transforming message of Christ with their friends through their words and actions!
• OUT: Sharing the
The new App means that students can easily access blogs, Bible studies, videos, resources and advice through their phones while they are at College or Sixth Form.
Our prayer is that they would continue to see their place of study as a place God has also put them for mission.
‘As far as the gospel is concerned there are massive people groups in the UK who are being overlooked as far as reaching them with the good news of Jesus Christ. One of those groups is the young people who are going to Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges. Festive is seeking to plug the gap by working amongst these young people and encouraging Christians to stand and to reach out to their friends in the Colleges. I cannot commend more highly the work of Festive and the young people who are reaching this neglected section of our society.’ (Roger Carswell, Association of Evangelists)
Please pray with us that the next ten years sees many young people, filled with the love of Jesus, holding out the word of life to their friends.
