Belfast school students see God move

A high school in Belfast has seen a wave of students start exploring Christianity and come to faith – their Christian Union (CU) growing by over 100 people in the last year alone.

Belfast High CU (BHCU) has existed for over 30 years, and nine years ago there were just over 20 attendees. There has been steady growth and encouragements in the years since, until this year the CU jumped from 60 people meeting weekly in a lecture theatre to over 160 in the larger assembly hall.

“This year what we’ve seen is God just pour his spirit down on BHCU,” said Jonny, a Year 14 student in the CU. “We’ve seen people saved, and lives transformed. He’s brought people from different upbringings and backgrounds to gather.”

Another pupil, Lydia, added: “We’ve seen people walk through the doors who, a couple of months ago would have promised they will never come to CU. So we’ve really seen the power of Jesus.”

In a recent video, produced by missional youth organisation The Send, students at Belfast High shared stories of friends coming to faith. Student Eva told of how she met weekly with a student who kept coming back to CU for prayer until, on the CU weekend away in February, they gave their life to Jesus.

Another had a friend who had been strongly against Christianity for years. “One day, in fifth year, I got a text from him saying that he ‘really wanted to go back to CU’,” he explained. “And now he’s standing here today as an upper sixth [student] who is passionate for Jesus who has a heart to see young people saved!”

'We do this work for Him'

Laura Rogers is a teacher who co-ordinates the CU and assists the pupil committee. She commented to en, “There has always been some Christian influence in Belfast High – the school currently has 960 pupils in it, and there is a real mix of faiths and backgrounds. We are finding, however, over the past year that there is a real variety attending CU and not everyone coming along is a Christian. It’s really wonderful to see that many pupils feel welcome and willing to hear the message of the gospel.

“It is incredibly humbling to see the CU grow and be reminded that we only do this work for Him. His ways are truly marvellous, and it is God who saves, we are simply telling of His tremendous salvation.

“We would ask for prayer that the CU will continue to grow, but more importantly, that children will come to realise their need of salvation and place their trust in Christ. In the future there could be potential resistance to running Christian groups in schools, and we would ask for prayer for preservation and wisdom to know what to do when trials come our way.”