Dear CU member....
During our time as an exec we have met, prayed, discussed and delved into God's Word to seek where God wants us as an exec and a CU to be going this year. We met in March for a 'vision weekend' to devote ourselves especially to this and since then we have spent the last few weeks praying for and clarifying this vision. This is the vision we feel God has led us to...
As a Christian Union we seek to make disciples of the students (and staff!) of Leeds University through mission and maturity.
The passage we believe God has placed on our heart to lead and inspire us (and you!) in this is 2 Timothy 4:1-2:
"In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful insruction."
So just how are we going to do this??
MISSION...
On the evangelism front we are expectant for God to move in people's lives this year. Jesus teaches in Matthew 22 after telling the fig tree to whither that:
"if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." -- Matthew 22:21-22
We want to be a people that believe that God hears and answers our prayers.
Vision Cards
This year we have handed out prayer vision cards to each member of CU (if you haven't got one and would like one please contact us!). each card has a space for three of our friends' names, this is so that we may be constantly reminded to pray for them that they may come to know Christ.
On the back of the card of the card is 1 John 5:14. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." The Bible tells us that God loved the WORLD - He does not want even one to perish. It is His desire that all our friends come to know HIm. Thes careds, we hope, will remind you of this and focus your attention and actions around living as God's witness to them.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." -- Colossians 4:2-6
This year is going to be brilliant and as a CU we want to be making the most of our opportunities to share Jesus with our friends by building relationships where Jesus can be spoken of, backed up in our lifestyle. Please be asking for God opportunities to be used by Him to share your faith with others.
Cells and Saturday Nights
We want to see the CU trained up to share the gospel with others. We see cells and saturday nights not as separate entities but complementary to each other. Through mission in cells we want to see the groups multiply and grow! This will happen at one-off days but also in the autumn term of this year where mission and evangelism training will be our focus. The Saturday night meetings will be used as a base where God's word will be taught and where we can be equipped for mission. They will also be used every so often specifically to invite friends along and to give them opportunity to hear the gospel.
Within the CU we will not forget the internaional students of Leeds University. We want to welcome internationals and get excited about sharing the Gospel with them, many of whom will have never heard the name of Jesus and are very keen to learn! The Living Room international café is the perfect forum to share Jesus with our interantional friends. We really want to see more people getting involved and excited about it! With the success of the Introduction to Jesus and the Bible course, a follow-up group has started and the ocurse will be repeated next term.
Mission Week
As a focus to, and as an encouragement towards evangelism, we will be having an official Mission Week from 21st-26th February. This is a fantastic opportunity for mission and should be an absolutely amazing week of getting the gospel out on campus! Please be praying for this event, that God will work powerfully, and be thinking of ideas and how you can be part of it! Ken Cowen will be coming to head up the mission team as we look to see people confess to faith in Jesus and begin their wlak with Him.
We are passionate to see our CU grow. We want to bestruggling to book rooms that are big enouh because there are so many people who want to come to CU! Wouldn't CU in the refectory be so wonderful?!!
"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Prayer is absolutely essential if we are going to see this vision happen this year! Our 5 o'clock Tuesday CU prayer meetins are a major focal point for our CU prayer life.
Our departmental prayer meetings are also a way in which we seek to cover our campus in prayer (with an aim to see every department having prayer meeting - we are pretty close, there are now only two departments without prayer groups!). We want to see more and more prayer going on, ensuring God is at the centre of everything we are doing. We also want to encourage everyone to be getting involved and seeing prayer as a priority if we are to see change for God. We want to see God move this year - we need to pray and have faith that He will!
MATURITY...
The big emphasis here is on discipleship! We are not simply called to 'evangelise to all nations' we are called to 'make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:19).
It is vital if we are going to be effective in living for our Lord and Saviour, and sharing the gospel with our friends that we are looking to be disciples of Jesus, rooting ourselves in God's Word and striving for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. We need to be looking to disciple others also; when our friends become Christians we need to support them and guide them, 'teach, correct rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instrcution', just as Paul instructs Timothy.
This is facilitated in a number of ways
Support for our vision
UCCF (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship) are a nationwide organisation that seek to support and facilitate CUs in universities and colleges all over the country. Paula Love and Mark Stone are our
UCCF staff workers and seek to serve and support us in whatever way they can, whether that is Bible studies, training outreach or meeting up for a coffee and a chat!
We hope you will share this vision with us and are as excited about it as we are! Let's get excited about the gospel and the power that is in it. There are thousands of students on campus, many of whom are our friends who have a desperate need to hear it!
"Peace to the brothers, and love with fiath from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." -- Ephesians 6:23
Dan (male pres.)
Kat (female pres.)
Ester (Secretary)
Adam (Evangelsim Sec)
Nathan (Cell Co-ordinator)
Russ (Saturday Night Co-ordinator)
Rhian (International Sec.)
Danny (Prayer Sec.)
Tim (Communications Sec.)
Geoff (Treasurer)
LUUCU Vision:
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
