Relay update February 2018
A former convict shares his testimony of how Christ has transformed his life as part of the Tuesday night event on ‘Living for Freedom’
Update from Tim Jackson for February
Living For?
University of York Christian Union (UYCU) – Give thanks for the faith and hope of the students in the Christian Union to have the boldness to run a really excellent week of events for the glory of God. A real highlight was seeing CU students grow in confidence of the goodness and truth of the gospel, as they invited fellow students throughout the week. Do join me in praying on for the CU there as they follow up the gospel opportunities God has provided from the week, particularly that seekers would be lovingly welcomed in to Christian community and that they would see how wonderful Jesus is as they learn about Him. The Tuesday night College CU Bible discussions going through studies in John’s Gospel will be significant for this.
‘D’ – Give thanks for ‘D’s kind hospitality as he put me up for the week. It was a real encouragement and challenge to see the way that he is regularly alongside unbelieving friends, and the opportunities he has for witnessing to them, particularly through the Frisbee team. It was nice to see him attend some events with his friends. He has much to offer the CU and the church he attends as an example of being a good friend to unbelieving mates. At the same time, the CU and the church have much to offer ‘D’ and his friends as a Christian community. Do pray that ‘D’, the CU and the church would serve each other well for the gospel.
‘J’ – J attended every lunchtime event during the week, openly sharing that he appreciated the free food! He was honest about his skepticism, though was happy to agree that Jesus existed and was crucified.
A packed marquee listening to the lunchtime talk on ‘Why would a good God allow so much suffering?’
Pray that he would be convicted of the truth of Christ’s resurrection, and the goodness of the gospel for his life. ‘J’ has been engaging with the claims of
Christianity since before the week, as he is friends with one of the CU members and attends a church in York. Let’s pray that his investigation will continue and culminate in him responding to Jesus in repentance and faith.
‘R’ – I met ‘R’ during the Wednesday lunchbar on ‘Why would a good God allow so much suffering?’ He is a really lovely lad, and we enjoyed continuing to talk about this topic and about student life for a long while after the event. He described himself as an agnostic, and is open to looking at John’s gospel as a thinking adult – which is really exciting! We were able to meet up again later in the week to look through John 1 and discuss this together. His ‘churched’ background was evident in our discussion as we looked at the passage – he recognises the brokenness of humanity. Do join me in praying that ‘R’ would see and know how wonderful Jesus is, as he attends the follow on Bible discussion groups with the James College CU group on Tuesday nights this term.
‘T’ is a friend of the CU who engages with Christian doctrine, and attended the Monday and Friday evening events. Do pray that he would recognise the authority and sufficiency of the 66 books of the Bible, and the finished atoning work of Christ on the Cross.
Others:
‘P’ is an undergraduate student from China, intrigued to learn more about Christianity. Wonderfully she got speaking to Lowri, a fellow Relay Worker, and the three of us were able to look through a dual Chinese-English study on John 1, covering some of the wonderful truths of a loving, relational God who is Three-in-One. Do pray that she would be convicted of the real existence of Jesus. It was nice that one of the CU co-presidents was able to attend church with her on Sunday.
Former Gladiator ‘Ace’ (aka Warren Furman) sharing how he has become a “Gladiator for the Gospel” during the evening themed on ‘Living for Success’.
‘M’ has engaged with the CU already this academic year, through various friends
in the Frisbee team (including my host ‘D’ and another lad James, who is a former Relay Worker!) and their Carol Service in York Minster. Do pray for opportunities for ‘M’ to investigate who Jesus is at a deeper and more personal level, by looking at Him in Scripture with one of these friends.