At Hand

The Fusion Manchester hub have been on the road recently. Edinburgh, Cardiff, Lancaster and Liverpool and further afield..

Our goal has been simple. To create space for groups of students to explore how their small groups might fulfill a mission. A mission that, on paper, looks impossible. To reach the thousands of students on their doorstep.

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

If we look down at our hand, we remember it’s close to us, in fact it’s part of us. Perhaps this was the perspective Jesus was speaking of, something so close, so ready to be seen and shared that we look down and see it.

As we’ve begun this conversation with 70 student leaders over the last month, three things have stuck out to me:

1. GROWTH IS AT HAND

When we think about seeing students in our communities, many Churches just look at the 1% of students that are looking for a Church. This is where the idea that only ‘student Churches’ get students. That’s probably because the Christian students looking for a Church know about them!

Do the other 99% of students know about the Church in our cities? Do they know Jesus is alive and moving through the hearts of believers and transforming lives?

We start by having a vision for growth in our own lives. The human heart has a limitless capacity to grow. Deep calls to deep. We are moving from glory to glory as sons and daughters. Our vision then extends to the thousands of students in our neighbourhoods and on our campuses. We believe that one by one we will meet them, smile at them, love them and invite them to believe that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Our small groups become a contagious community where students hear and respond to the gospel and encounter the Holy Spirit. This leads me onto my next reflection..

2. DISCIPLES ARE AT HAND

Matthew 28:19 ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’.

We are in the business of making disciples. Our small groups are not growing attendees, consumers or even participants, they are raising up disciples who will make disciples. New students joining our groups pray out loud for the first time, begin to teach, prophesy over the group, the evangelists find their voice and visionaries are born.

As we lead our groups, we facilitate flourishing. How? By leading by example, guarding the vision God has given us and release the group to grow in maturity. The mature know how to love, how to share the gospel, know the scriptures and how to disciple new Christians. We create space for the Spirit to speak and move us into being and doing what we see the father doing. This looks different in each context because God is doing a new thing in each city. Yes, we can learn from one another but ultimately it’s time to see what God is doing on our doorstep and get involved! I’m expectant to see the quantity and diversity of student ministry fly through the roof this year.

3. STRENGTH IS AT HAND

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Advancing the kingdom is achieved by faith. We don’t see him but are filled with a joy that is inexpressible, by faith, we receive the reward of heaven. As we carry our vision for our student groups and begin to see disciples, we persevere and won’t grow weary of doing good! It’s a freeing thing to realise the strength and appearance of our ministry are not the source of our inner strength. We know that our reward is our seat in heaven and our treasure is stored there. This reality fuels our ministry and expectation on earth and is something to impart and share with the students in our communities. 

Yes, there will be feelings of being disheartened, disappointed, tired, doubtful. That is ok. Jesus said to his disciples; ‘by your endurance you will gain your lives (Luke 21:19)’. I sense God encouraging us to remain faithful to the vision he has given us for students in our city. A vision for discipleship, multiplication and movement. Believing in this and not seeing it is where faith comes in! A faith to go again to share the kingdom which has come so close in Jesus.

My prayer today is that we would be filled with the joy of knowing Jesus! Would he be the unending and limitless source of strength and perseverance, expressed in his death on a cross. As we remain in him, in consistency and perseverance, I pray we’ll see the kingdom at hand in the student work God has called us to do.

Paul Eaton

Regional Team Leader

Paul found faith just before going to uni and became passionate about reaching his mates as a student. He loves seeing students find home in church and has a heart for welcoming international students.

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