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'Cos I gotta have faith

Lincoln student CHRIS BRADY reports on how university life can be all about embracing God - with a little help from church and CU

The prospect of packing your bags and leaving home for university is a daunting predicament for any young believer.

There is, however, help at hand, as Carla Bullen, 20, a second-year journalism student at Lincoln University explains:

"Most universities have structures in place so that people of all religions can follow their faith whilst away from home. Student believers here in Lincoln have both the University’s Christian Union and the nearby New Life Christian Fellowship Church.

"There’s about 60 members of our Christian Union and it’s a terrific place for people of the same faith to meet. The Fellowship Church is also great to have, because it helps newcomers to Lincoln feel welcome as they begin celebrating their faith in a different community."

Society’s stereotyped view of student life portrays an environment of heavy drinking, casual sex and cannabis experimentation. Carla has seen the reality of this for herself and acknowledges that problems can occur, with pressures to conform to how many non-believer students behave.

"Since I’ve been here, there have been a lot of students who have arrived that have struggled to cope with a wave of new social pressures. They feel like they have to dress a certain way and behave in a certain manner just simply to fit in. This isn’t the case, though.

"Thanks to the Christian Union, we have cell groups. I head one of these and people congregate round at my house on a Thursday for a few hours. It’s nice to chat with people who are having similar problems and help each other through them.

"You can detect an atmosphere at university implying that everybody should agree with the student culture of the majority, but it’s important to be confident in your worship, otherwise I think the pressures would make you crack up."

Carla, who left her hometown in Devon to take a gap year which involved five months' missionary work with a tribe in Benin, North Africa, admits to feeling frustrated at aspects of student culture.

"So many girls that I know complain about their weight and feel pressured to boast extraordinary slim physiques. I find this mentality astounding, especially when there are people starving all over the world.

"I’ve learnt to appreciate the non-material elements of life. It’s the larger girls in parts of Africa that are the most desirable to men, as their figures suggest they have led healthy lives!”

Other teething troubles at university can involve the narrow-minded views of a minority of other students.

"You get the odd person who associates the word ‘Christian’ with images of geeks wearing glasses holding onto their Bibles, but I’ve found with most people, that so long as you don’t judge them, they will take the time to get to know you properly.

"It’s about appreciating how other people live," she continued. "Christian and non-believer students may not agree with how each other lives, but it’s important to respect each other. My friends who previously had uncertain or negative views concerning my faith have changed their attitudes dramatically.

"Housemates have accompanied me to Sunday morning service, after witnessing some of my prayers come true. It’s rewarding because they’ve started to show more of an interest in both prayer and God."

A large banner outside Lincoln’s New Life Fellowship Church reads ‘Welcoming All Students’, whilst the church’s Weekly Times newsletter outlines a packed schedule including prayer meetings, worship bands and community activities.

It’s not only Christian students who have ample opportunity to worship during their time at university, but also students who might not previously have had the benefit of learning about the Christian faith.

Carla is especially grateful for the spirited activities that the Church organises in the community, not only because she can share her faith, but also because it highlights the generosity of believers.

"We spent one weekend visiting student accommodation and washing up! There was no preaching to people, but if they asked questions, we were there to answer.

"The exercise made people think and most were interested to know why we were doing it. It gave student believers the chance to both teach and help people, whilst allowing other students the option of witnessing our work."

Edward Kemp, 20, a fellow student at Lincoln, believes that his enthusiasm for God would most definitely have wavered if church and the CU had not been around.

"They’ve both been a massive help, encouraging me to continue following my faith. Back home in Norfolk I often felt obliged to go to church because of my parents, but when you go to university it’s all down to the individual.

"At first I found it really difficult and I think it was really touch-and-go. If there hadn’t been other Christian friends there to motivate me, then I don’t think we’d be having this conversation."

Now in his second year of a Marketing and Advertising course, Edward is closer to God than ever.

"I got baptised for a second time in November, which was really important to me. I wanted to make a statement to my friends, God and mainly myself, that I was taking my beliefs more seriously.

"We’re also starting a worship band at church which is great. At the moment we tend to play songs by artists such as Tim Hughes and Matt Redman, but we’re planning to start performing with some of our own material."

Any believers contemplating attending university take note. It might be worrying to leave home, but God is accessible wherever you are.

Christian Unions and churches nearby to universities are constantly welcoming believers into their congregations. Although becoming a student should primarily further your academic education, there is no reason why it shouldn’t also further your relationship with God.

Chris Brady is in his third year studying journalism at Lincoln University

Helpful contacts: UCCF – www.uccf.org.uk
Fusion – www.fusion.org.uk

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		INSIGHT 'Cos I gotta have faith Lincoln student CHRIS BRADY reports on how university life can be all about embracing God - with a little help from church and CU The prospect of packing your bags and leaving home for university is a daunting predicament for any young believer. There is, however, help at hand, as Carla Bullen, 20, a second-year journalism student at Lincoln University explains: "Most universities have structures in place so that people of all religions can follow their faith whilst away from home. Student believers here in Lincoln have both the University’s Christian Union and the nearby New Life Christian Fellowship Church. "There’s about 60 members of our Christian Union and it’s a terrific place for people of the same faith to meet. The Fellowship Church is also great to have, because it helps newcomers to Lincoln feel welcome as they begin celebrating their faith in a different community." Society’s stereotyped view of student life portrays an environment of heavy drinking, casual sex and cannabis experimentation. Carla has seen the reality of this for herself and acknowledges that problems can occur, with pressures to conform to how many non-believer students behave. "Since I’ve been here, there have been a lot of students who have arrived that have struggled to cope with a wave of new social pressures. They feel like they have to dress a certain way and behave in a certain manner just simply to fit in. This isn’t the case, though. "Thanks to the Christian Union, we have cell groups. I head one of these and people congregate round at my house on a Thursday for a few hours. It’s nice to chat with people who are having similar problems and help each other through them. "You can detect an atmosphere at university implying that everybody should agree with the student culture of the majority, but it’s important to be confident in your worship, otherwise I think the pressures would make you crack up." Carla, who left her hometown in Devon to take a gap year which involved five months' missionary work with a tribe in Benin, North Africa, admits to feeling frustrated at aspects of student culture. "So many girls that I know complain about their weight and feel pressured to boast extraordinary slim physiques. I find this mentality astounding, especially when there are people starving all over the world. "I’ve learnt to appreciate the non-material elements of life. It’s the larger girls in parts of Africa that are the most desirable to men, as their figures suggest they have led healthy lives!” Other teething troubles at university can involve the narrow-minded views of a minority of other students. "You get the odd person who associates the word ‘Christian’ with images of geeks wearing glasses holding onto their Bibles, but I’ve found with most people, that so long as you don’t judge them, they will take the time to get to know you properly. "It’s about appreciating how other people live," she continued. "Christian and non-believer students may not agree with how each other lives, but it’s important to respect each other. My friends who previously had uncertain or negative views concerning my faith have changed their attitudes dramatically. "Housemates have accompanied me to Sunday morning service, after witnessing some of my prayers come true. It’s rewarding because they’ve started to show more of an interest in both prayer and God." A large banner outside Lincoln’s New Life Fellowship Church reads ‘Welcoming All Students’, whilst the church’s Weekly Times newsletter outlines a packed schedule including prayer meetings, worship bands and community activities. It’s not only Christian students who have ample opportunity to worship during their time at university, but also students who might not previously have had the benefit of learning about the Christian faith. Carla is especially grateful for the spirited activities that the Church organises in the community, not only because she can share her faith, but also because it highlights the generosity of believers. "We spent one weekend visiting student accommodation and washing up! There was no preaching to people, but if they asked questions, we were there to answer. "The exercise made people think and most were interested to know why we were doing it. It gave student believers the chance to both teach and help people, whilst allowing other students the option of witnessing our work." Edward Kemp, 20, a fellow student at Lincoln, believes that his enthusiasm for God would most definitely have wavered if church and the CU had not been around. "They’ve both been a massive help, encouraging me to continue following my faith. Back home in Norfolk I often felt obliged to go to church because of my parents, but when you go to university it’s all down to the individual. "At first I found it really difficult and I think it was really touch-and-go. If there hadn’t been other Christian friends there to motivate me, then I don’t think we’d be having this conversation." Now in his second year of a Marketing and Advertising course, Edward is closer to God than ever. "I got baptised for a second time in November, which was really important to me. I wanted to make a statement to my friends, God and mainly myself, that I was taking my beliefs more seriously. "We’re also starting a worship band at church which is great. At the moment we tend to play songs by artists such as Tim Hughes and Matt Redman, but we’re planning to start performing with some of our own material." Any believers contemplating attending university take note. It might be worrying to leave home, but God is accessible wherever you are. Christian Unions and churches nearby to universities are constantly welcoming believers into their congregations. Although becoming a student should primarily further your academic education, there is no reason why it shouldn’t also further your relationship with God. Chris Brady is in his third year studying journalism at Lincoln University Helpful contacts: UCCF – www.uccf.org.uk Fusion – www.fusion.org.uk © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.