This term has been an exciting one at St Luke’s as we step into a new season of outreach and mission. We are blessed to be located very close to two of Newcastle University’s biggest student halls. As a student leader I felt strongly this term that we need to make more of this opportunity; to show students living there Jesus’ love and to build relationships with them.
We started the term with a free BBQ for the nearby uni halls at the end of Freshers, when students are usually feeling a little flat after all the excitement of Freshers week. We gave out over 200 hot dogs and met lots of the students living there. Turns out dressing up in a hot dog costume definitely makes you the most productive flyerer, opens doors and helps spark many conversations with people! So many of them were intrigued as to why we were doing it and we were able to tell them about the Church and literally point them to it! I loved seeing too how the students at St Luke's all got behind it and were so enthusiastic and willing to get involved.
Since then we have started a new monthly ‘biscuit blessing’ - giving out biscuits and chatting to people as they head off on nights out – to keep developing relationships with students in these nearby halls. This is a very new thing for us, and whilst there are things we can improve upon, we were so encouraged by conversations we had with people. Everyone was so surprised that we were doing it for free and wanted to know why we were there.One girl we chatted to was really keen to come to Church and has since come along and loved it - she even wants to bring her flat to the carol service! We trust that this is just the beginning of ‘biscuit blessing’ and my prayer is that as it develops we will have the opportunity for more conversations and to pray with people.
We are hoping our December student carol service will be a powerful way to introduce these people to church too. This is something I have felt challenged to pray for everyday since the start of term, according to the command in 1 Thessalonians 5 to ‘be unceasing and persistent in prayer’. Prayer changes things - if we want to see people saved then let's get praying for that fervently and allow God to prepare their hearts and open their eyes to the truth!
So we are praying and keeping developing the relationships with students in the nearby halls, so they will be more likely to respond positively to a carol service invite!
As a student group here in St Luke's we are excited by this new season of outreach and evangelism. We want to see the Holy Spirit bless people, and we pray that what we’ve seen happen so far this term would be just the start of a new move of God among the students!
Emily Keighley studied geography at Newcastle uni, she loves baking and is an avid Liverpool fc supporter. She is currently part-time student worker at St Luke's, Newcastle upon Tyne.
For more blogs like this:
The things we do for Student Ministry
Escape & Pray... Right where you are!
What have you got in your hand?
Why not join in with what God is doing for a couple of hours?
