Over the past few weeks, I’ve been in a few spaces across the UK and been moved to tears by what God is doing in the lives of students. Hunger, surrender and a willingness laid down everything for the sake of knowing Jesus and having Him. We are seeing a generation of students who are saying they are ALL IN.

Last week, I heard Ria share what the Lord is doing in her life, this is her story.

Ria, is a 1st year student in BCU studying Digital Marketing. Moving to Birmingham she was excited to meet new people and find a church community that prioritised Jesus at the centre. She felt led to go to Gas Street church in the city. On the first Sunday of moving into her student accommodation, Ria wanted to go to church but not knowing anyone there, she invited her friend, who she’s known from primary school till now, to come to church with her. That Sunday her friend from childhood during the service said YES to following Jesus. Ria could tangibly feel the Holy Spirit at work and from that point onwards regularly attended services and the student gatherings

But this January something shifted, Ria says ‘From the beginning of January this year through to the first few weeks in February, one of my friends and I from home who had moved to Nottingham for university felt stirred to raise our altar to the Lord and intercede on behalf of our family and our generation, praying from 12am-3am each day.’ What started with a friend from home, started spreading like wildfire in her own church community. Over 10 students would gather weekly to pray and not only that, but they began to head out to the streets to share the gospel with others. Last week, Ria gathered 24 of her friends from Birmingham for a worship night in Wolverhampton and they were ignited by the Holy Spirit in such a way they worshipped on the train back to Birmingham and then hit the streets to share the gospel. Many who had joined her that night, had never prayer walked or shared the gospel with others before. 

“I believe God is bringing unity across his body as he raises us up to be revivalists, this is only the beginning” 

This generation is hungry for God and are willing to contend through the night hours to see something shift and not only that, are responding to his call for labourers in the harvest field. Their obedience is catalysing a generation to go.

Every week of the academic year, we are are sharing a story of student mission. If you have a story to share, let us know.