The local church is truly a gift to students; it's the space for them to be part of an intergenerational family outside of the bubble of university life, it's a space of belonging, it's a space of encounter and discipleship. Stories of the local church being transformational are all around us. Narek from Birmingham Vineyard shares the powerful impact of this for a student who joined his church in Birmingham.
‘A few months ago, one of our students invited a university friend to church. The girl who was invited had no church background; she came from a Muslim background. While she wasn’t particularly religious herself, her family were strict Muslims.
After coming to church for a month or two, she was on a phone call with her family and casually mentioned, "Mum, Dad, I’m going to church! Church is such a fun place; everyone is so welcoming and fun." Her parents did not take the news well. A week later, she received news from them saying they could no longer stay in contact with her. Because her uncle is a very religious man with power within the authorities, he told the family that if their daughter returned, there would be consequences. Consequently, the family not only decreased their communication with her but also cut off all financial support.
Finding Refuge
This became a very hard time for her, so she decided to turn to the only place where she felt loved, cared for, welcomed, and a sense of belonging: the church. She went there as a place of refuge. Having already joined a student's small group, she reached out for support from leaders.
She asked to meet for a coffee to chat and share the struggles she was facing. Because they shared the same cultural background, she felt safe and comfortable in opening up to him.
After a long conversation, she told their student pastor, "This Jesus thing must be real. I never felt welcomed and loved anywhere else. When I walked into the church and saw people singing about Jesus with all that passion, I thought to myself, 'This could be real.'"
She also shared that every time people prayed for her at the Student and Young Adult nights, she felt a sense of peace and love she had never experienced before. She cried every time people prayed because she was overwhelmed by this supernatural love. When she confusedly asked what that feeling was, their student pastor replied, "That is Jesus. He wanted to meet you; He loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you."
She began attending church and students' nights regularly. She approached their student pastor again, telling him that this time, when people prayed for her, she felt as though someone had hugged her. He told her again, "That is Jesus!"
Time passed, and she continued coming to church. One night, feeling depressed and financially desperate because her family had cut off all support, she decided to pray to Jesus. Through her tears, she cried out, "Jesus, help me!"
In that moment, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and felt a deep sense of peace. But God had even more for her. The next morning, she went to university, and her supervisor approached her randomly. He told her that because she had such great attendance, they wanted to give her £50. Later that day, she played a game of "pass the parcel" at uni, where the winner received a £20 voucher. She won, walking home with £70.
She realised that the Jesus she prayed to is real. She gave her life to Jesus, was baptised a few weeks later, and is now a regular member of our community.’
Students from near and far in our local campuses are open spiritually, longing for community and wanting a place to belong. The Church is truly a gift for students in this. So, can I encourage you, your invitation matters, our invitation draws individuals into a relationship with Jesus, into the family of Christ and to a place they can truly call HOME.'
