Questioning students overflow outside at CU mission

An event hosted by Christian Unions in the city of Liverpool was so highly anticipated that students had to stand outside the venue to remain in earshot.

Students in University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, and Liverpool Hope universities (pictured left and centre) came together to host a week of daily, high-profile, evangelistic events entitled ‘Truth Defined’. With students facing a much more unsettled and uncertain future, greater numbers than ever are open to considering faith, with over 100 students crowded into a packed-out venue.

Compared to a decade ago, students are more likely to come to CU events seeking to discuss their questions rather than to listen to an extended apologetic for the gospel. UCCF Events Co-ordinator Esther Court, who took residency in Liverpool as one of the speakers for the week, found that she had to adapt her material to adjust to this new expectation, including planned pauses to facilitate audience discussion in groups.

Esther said: ‘It was more of a challenge to write a talk with pauses, but so worth it. The increase in engagement from students was fantastic, with so many opportunities to answer questions with a gospel message.’

Talk titles during the week included ‘Christianity is a bunch of rules – how can it provide freedom?’ The choice to provide space for questions bore encouraging fruit for the CUs, who saw several students profess faith, or express an interest to explore Christianity further in a follow-up event.

Liverpool CU Staff Worker Scarlett Latham (pictured right) has pointed to the growth of small-group evangelism in the CUs as fuel for their witness. At Liverpool John Moores CU, student attendance grew from around 20 students to a high of 55. This was largely sustained through ‘Impact Groups’: gatherings of no more than eight members, meeting for fellowship and Bible study, using study questions that are engaging for considering students and nourishing for committed believers. This small-group model of witness reflects the desire of current students to talk through their questions before coming to a decision of faith.

The Liverpool CUs joined over 80 other CUs across Great Britain who held events recently, enabling thousands of students to hear the gospel. To hear about events weeks at other CUs sign up online at: uccf.at/en-cu-news