Blog

Sachin is a first-year student in York who stepped out to share Jesus with his friends and flatmates through sharing food and caring for them. Here he shares his experience in his own words. “Hi! My name’s Sachin, and I’m a first-year student at the University of York. Over the past months, I’ve formed beautiful and meaningful friendships with my flatmates...

In May this year students, like they do every year, were hit by exam and assignment season. Just as the weather turns nice, or as nice as we have come to expect in York, they begin their journey of revision stress, deadline chasing and just wishing they could just go back home for summer and relax. We can all relate...

The Start When we know that something is about to start we often experience a lot of feelings. Anticipation, excitement, maybe even fear or worry. There is a definite buzz in the air when something begins. A theatre goes deafeningly silent when a play or a movie begins. The crowd at a sports game is held in tension as the players...

Student Mission Story: Elliot  The Importance of Boldness What does boldness mean to you? Does it mean taking risk? Does it mean pushing limits? Does it mean standing out? Yes, yes and yes. We are commissioned by God to be bold in our faith. “To be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the...

This is the final stage of a small group, and it is the stage that makes the small group cycle a cycle. Our small groups have been formed, found its feet, grown as a group, turned its attention to Jesus, and looked outwards into mission, evangelism and growth. All of these things are great! The growth of small groups and by...

This is the one. The big one. The moment you’ve waited and planned for. Don’t you just love it when a plan finally comes together!  Small groups are built with vision They exist and work in order to achieve that  vision. Small groups are designed to cultivate growth in faith, and provide opportunities for invitation and evangelise. For small groups to do...

The Rocky films are a success story, and they also mirror the life of our small groups. In Rocky I our hero is new, young and vulnerable. He begins to figure out what his goals in life are. In Rocky II he begins to pursue his career as a boxer to see what it can do for him. He also...

"And so you will inherit a double portion in your land..." (Isaiah 61:7) To us “inheritance” mostly just means money, or sometimes a second hand car. Maybe, if you’re unlucky, a box of collectable magazines. So it might be hard for most of us to think what inheriting a double portion in land actually looks like. Owning land in this world is...

Do you remember being a toddler? Can you recall those early few years where everything was still so new? Thinking back, those years were so full of wonder weren’t they? But they were also full of terrible tantrums. These are the years of most crucial development, but they are also the years with the most screaming, shouting and crying. Now, I...

Avengers assemble! Unite the Justice League! Get the band back together! These are phrases we are almost certainly familiar with, and they are exciting to hear. There is something about bringing a group of people together that makes us feel like something is about to change or like something BIG is about to happen. And it is so true. Maybe it...

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God...

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 I don’t know how this verse makes you feel or what it makes you think of. The first thing that springs to my mind is what I imagine when I hear “Highest Heavens”.  2 Chronicles 6:18 says “‘But will God really dwell on...

After 8 months of covid restrictions, many of us are hungry for deep conversations. I know that, for me at least, the majority of my conversations have been only shallow deep. Most of them go something like this. “How are you?” “I am fine thanks” and that’s about it.   We are often hardwired to seek comfort in lukewarm conversations, but that...

Dear Youth workers, parents, church leaders, teachers and anyone else who cares about seeing their young people encouraged and supported in these difficult times.   This has been quite a year for all of us. We have had to hit the reset button on our expectations, our dreams and our goals. Now, this may be more of a setback for some, but...

What does church mean to you? A place of worship? Yes. Somewhere to hear a thought provoking talk? Yes. Somewhere you can find a fantastic selection of biscuits and hot drinks? Yep, that too. But most importantly, we think of the Church as a community of believers who can share life together. Whole church fellowship is amazing isn’t it? But...

Work or rest? Business or break time? Study or sleep? These are the choices we are constantly facing, but is there a right answer?  In my first couple of years as a student at university I was a bit of a ‘Yes Man’ (feat. the Jim Carrey film). I filled my time with everything I was asked to be a part...

University is a bit of a rollercoaster. So much happens in such a small space of time. Some parts are boring ascents and others are adrenaline pumping drops. I feel that the best rollercoasters, though, are the ones that start well and end better.    So, what happens when the ride doesn’t even really end? When It just kind of stops? You...