Jess is a 3rd year student at The University of Lincoln- she has no faith background, and yet during the gap between Christmas and New Year, she felt drawn to start reading the Bible.
According to The Times, there has been an 87% increase in Bible sales in the last 5 years!
This generation is curious, they are searching, and they are picking up Bibles and encountering Jesus through the living, breathing word of God.
The Universe
“Growing up, we never went to church (not even at Easter or Christmas) and didn’t really talk about faith. However, my parents were very spiritually open; they believed that ‘everything happens for a reason’, and I have grown up to appreciate the good in all situations.
During my teenage years, I struggled a lot with my parents' separation, which led to me developing serious mental health struggles. During this time, I was strongly against Christianity, and I questioned how a kind God could let me endure what I was going through. I took sanctuary in crystals and manifestation instead.
The Bible
When I began University in 2022, I remained spiritually open, sought guidance from ‘the universe’, and continued to collect crystals.
However, at the end of last year, I felt an urge to start reading the Bible. I can’t think of any reason why I felt this urge, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to read it. I downloaded a Bible app on my phone around New Year’s, and as I read, I felt such an overwhelming sense of peace. It felt like coming home after a long day.
One of the first books I read in the Bible was Matthew. The verses Matthew 6:25 and 6:33 really stood out to me. After years of anxiety, I have found peace in believing in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
The Church
As I continued to read the Bible and live by God’s word, I felt the need to find a local church and meet like-minded people who could help me in my journey.
As I was searching for churches and events in Lincoln, I noticed that the Christian Union was posting about a Fusion worship night called Wide Awake. I reached out to ask if I could go along and was told I was welcome to come.
From the very start, I felt so welcome! People shared with me what the night was going to look like and we shared our stories of coming to faith. It was amazing to see so many young people worshipping together and it completely went against the stereotype of what I assumed Church would be like.
The Transformation
Since Wide Awake two months ago, I have been going to Church every week. I have made some lovely, genuine friendships, and feel like my whole mindset on life has flipped.
I have also begun to recognise and listen to God, in my dreams, in my day, and through prayer.
A few weeks ago the service was about listening to God during prayer. Towards the end of the service my friend Anna came over to me and said she had an image of darkness leaving one of my hands and light and the Holy Spirit entering the other.
That night, I went home and started to pray, specifically that I would be able to listen to God, hear from Him, and understand what He shows and tells me. So I said to God, ‘Do I need to focus more on your word?’ and the word ‘yes’ appeared out of nowhere in my mind’s eye, as if it were written in a book.
As I continued praying, an image of Jesus surrounded by light came into my mind, and I could see that He was watching over me.
I promised I would read my Bible first thing in the morning and listen to Him as I read His word. I opened my Bible and began reading John 1:5 - ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
My relationship with God has continued to deepen and I can’t wait to continue my journey.”
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Jess began exploring faith and reading the Bible before she ever entered the doors of a Church.
This generation is waking up to who Jesus is and rocking up on our doorsteps wanting to know more…wanting to be discipled!
As the Church, are we ready to disciple a generation? Are the spiritual mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and grandparents ready to disciple students in their spiritual infancy?
‘How to Make Disciples that Make Disciples’ is a brand new resource designed to help you get alongside another person and disciple them in the way of Jesus! As God awakens a generation, we need every generation playing their part in being disciples who make disciples.
