'Hundreds flooded through to grab a coffee and chat...'
Why do UCCF exist?
Since first forming in 1927–8 (then named the Inter-Varsity Fellowship), UCCF have had one goal: to give every student in Great Britain an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel. Today, we have 64 CU Staff Workers equipping nearly 200 Christian Unions (CUs), as they seek to make disciples of Christ in the student world.
Student ministry now
Currently, the CUs are operating in a unique climate. Students are more connected than ever by social media, and yet arguably more lonely. In a recent report, Peter Dray (UCCF’s Head of Creative Evangelism) found that 61% of new students feel anxious about starting university and concluded that, ‘Christian friendship may now be appreciated more deeply than ever and provide a wonderful ongoing platform for the gospel.’
As a result, the CUs are running welcome events throughout the first term aiming to create an attractive community for unbelievers to join – and this has seen gospel fruit!
Gospel fruit
Birmingham CU, for example, ran a pop-up café on campus to meet new students and made 2,500 welcome packs. Hundreds flooded through to grab a coffee and chat, and there are many students now reading the Bible with CU members as a result.
We’re very grateful to St John’s for your support over many years. Please continue to keep this ministry in your prayers as the CUs now look towards Christmas – pray that through their outreach and warm welcome, many would be brought into repentance and faith.