Each summer UCCF sends teams of Christian Union (CU) students from all over Britain as a tangible expression of one of the core values of being generous in world mission.
Some teams remain in British towns working alongside local churches in their outreach to communities, while others travel further afield. During June and July this year, eight UCCF summer teams headed to places like Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine and Slovakia, to join alongside the CU movements in those countries. Our prayer is that God has used these summer teams powerfully to bring the nations to praise him.
Bible camps
One such team was in Eastern Europe, working in a sensitive country alongside the small but pioneering and faithful CU movement.
The team of seven British students, along with two UCCF staff workers and several local IFES staff (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students), were hosting an English and Bible camp for over 30 native university students. Sleeping in dormitories, sharing meals together, playing games, having English classes and Bible studies using Uncover Luke (UCCF’s seeker Bible study resource in Luke’s Gospel) all serve to form friendships within which the gospel is lived out and proclaimed. Each evening, evangelist Michael Ots delivered a short talk responding to some big cultural objections to Christianity and answering questions the students have.
Seeking God
This camp has been running for more than ten years, and often serves to further the journey of those already seeking God. As many students in this country have a patriotic ‘faith’ rather than a real relationship with the Living God, they are often surprised to hear and see who Jesus is as they read the Bible for themselves for the first time.
Coming to commitment
At church before the camp began, the British team met Genya, who was undecided about Jesus when he was a student attending the English and Bible camp in 2010 and 2011. He is now a committed follower of Jesus, tending the audio visual desk for the church every week and expecting his first child with his wife, Olga. While fruit from this year’s summer teams may not be immediately obvious, we trust that God will use the seeds that are sown so that stories like Genya’s are being told all over Europe in years to come.
