I still remember that feeling, one of the strangest feelings I’ve had in my life. They were gone. Just gone. I couldn’t quite believe it. Here I was, all alone in Bristol. My parents had just driven away, back home to Yorkshire. Of course this had always been the plan, and I was really excited to be starting uni. I was excited to leave home and begin an adventure in the big wide world. That said, it was happening now, and suddenly it all felt rather daunting, a little overwhelming even. I was alone in my new room in my new halls in this new city. I knew no one, and I wouldn’t see my family again now until Christmas. I didn’t really know what to do with myself. In the midst of all the excitement, for the first time I felt more than a little nervous…
The next morning, I went to Church. I’d used the Student Linkup App to have a look at churches in the area before I even got to Bristol. A few churches had reached out on the app to welcome me to the city, and I’d shortlisted a few that I thought I might check out. I’d got chatting to one student pastor called Tom and said I was planning on visiting that Sunday – my first full day in Bristol. He said he’d look out for me when I came and also invited me along to have a free lunch with him and the other students!
When I walked into Church that morning, it was so nice to have someone waiting to say hello - who already knew I was coming and was ready to welcome me. Tom introduced me to some other students and to a few other people in the church. What could’ve been a pretty daunting experience - walking into a new Church for the first time, knowing no one – was made a whole lot less daunting. We all chatted over some delicious Lebanese food after the service and I enjoyed the experience so much I decided to go back again the next week!
The next Sunday, during the worship, I had a profound moment with God in which I had a deep sense of his love for me and that he was with me. I felt an overwhelming peace, and a sense that even though I had no idea what was coming over the next three years – God knew the plans he had for me. I tried a few other churches after that, but soon decided to call that first church home. Some of the people I’d met that very first Sunday became my closest friends throughout my time at uni. I got involved in serving in the church in different ways and got to know people of different generations. It was amazing, in the midst of all that change, to have a church community around me from day one.
