Out of the 2.3 million students in the UK, there is undoubtedly a proportion ready to hear the gospel and respond. Let us not be discouraged by what we can’t do in this season. Instead, let us look to the possibilities of this season. As you prayer walk your campus and extend the invitation to new students to try church online, be ready to meet students who are ready to say ‘yes’ to Jesus. 

Finding Jesus in Preston 

Back in freshers week, a first-year student travelled from his home in Liverpool to check out Preston where he's studying. We’ll call him K. K came to walk around the area and meet some new people. Preston Minster happened to be outside on the streets that day inviting students to try church. They invited him off the streets into the church for some pizza and chat about faith. The Church was set up so students could walk around, meet new people and hear about the mission the Minster was involved in. K stayed for 2 hours talking about the gospel with a few of the leaders. K read the Bible when he was younger but only the Old Testament and was trying to find Jesus. He said he’d been looking for Jesus in the Bible but couldn’t find him! He signed up for Alpha to explore faith, and also to read the Bible and be connected to the Church.

Plugged in on the street!

As we’ve been prayer walking in Manchester, we’ve met many students on the streets. Recently, one of them was J. J was walking close to the university, we approached him and asked if he’d like any prayer. He said he’d gone to church last year for the first time as a friend had invited him. He also shared he had a friend in the US who had become a pastor and was sending him teachings. We welcomed him to the city and shared he’d be so welcome to join us at church. He seemed pleased and we exchanged contact details. For the past month, J has been coming to church online and meeting weekly for one to one Bible studies. Recently, J was discussing Romans 8 and was sharing how he feels drawn to live by the spirit and leave his old life behind. We’ve been so struck how open J is to the lord and how clear the spirit’s work is in his life. We pray J will be baptised and make a public declaration of faith. 

I hope these stories encourage you. Know there are students in your city ready to receive Christ. We just need to find them! Why not start a conversation for a student whilst you prayer walk? Why not pray students that are ready would be drawn to you? Let us pray students would receive Jesus and find freedom in his grace. 

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone — for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 

1 Timothy 2:1-6

This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all— the testimony that was given at just the right time.