Having never set foot on campus, having met only a few members in their CU and feeling uncertain about what university life will be like this term, many Christian Union leaders were especially eager to come to Forum 2021.
Forum is UCCF’s annual training conference for CU leaders, aiming to inspire and equip them to share the gospel in the universities, before they head back to campus in September. This August, over 1,000 students from across Great Britain arrived at the Quinta Christian Centre in Shropshire. They met friends face-to-face, sang praise to God, attended seminars and put their heads together to plan for the year in front of them.
But being able to gather safely in person wasn’t the only new thing about Forum this year.
New energy
There was a distinct hunger for the gospel at the conference. Worship leader Olly Knight has been playing at Forum for 12 years, and at the end of the week he said: ‘I’ve never known Forum to be like it was this year – the students were so eager to get back together and meet with God.’
Students were seen praying in groups long after seminars ended, and unusually-large numbers came up for prayer during main meetings. The call for prayer after the world mission evening saw so many students fill the overflow tent that more staff were called to come and pray with them.
‘There seems to be a real energy in the room compared to earlier Forums, and a large scale of openness,’ UCCF’s Director of Creative Evangelism, Pete Dray, commented.
Some students at Forum were representing CUs that haven’t attended the conference for many years. The three members of Hull CU, for example, were the first from the area to come since 2013 and now can’t wait to take the gospel into their university.
President Jamie said: ‘Forum has helped us see the bigger picture – that we’re a part of something much greater than ourselves and it’s all for God’s glory. This year was really tough, but getting to know so many faithful Christians from around the country has been so encouraging. I was hesitant about coming to Forum, but it was such a powerful week I’ve already cleared my diary for next year!’
New initiatives
UCCF also ran a brand-new event at Forum, called the Circus. In some regions, up to 70% of CU leaders began during the pandemic and therefore have no memory of campus mission. Aware that much of this campus mission is ‘caught, not taught’, the Circus was a series of demonstrations of classic events – such as Dial-a-Doughnut (texting in a question about Christianity and receiving a free doughnut with the answer) and a carol service – to give students a sneak peek into what it might be like. Singing ‘Hark the Herald’ in August was an unusual, but effective, way to envision CU leaders!
After a tough year, it’s been wonderful to see the Lord do new things in the student world. Having seen first-hand the enthusiasm for mission from this generation of students at Forum, we’re excited to see how they will impact the universities in His name. Please join us in praying for them as they continue sharing the gospel this year.
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