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The Third Degree

Durham mission - RESCUE

On debating religion, Richard Dawkins likens all religious activity to ‘medieval superstition’. He goes on to argue that, ‘The hypothesis of God offers no worthwhile explanation for anything’, and that, ‘Faith is a great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence’. In light of these comments it is interesting to observe the impact the gospel is having on the students at Durham University.

The University of Durham has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence in the fields of science, literature and engineering. Its students are sporty, clever, articulate, and can expect future success. If Dawkins’s hypothesis is correct, Durham is probably the last place in the world you would expect the gospel to be flourishing, but, by God’s grace, it is!

Rescue

Over the past week hundreds of non-believers have attended various gospel events put on as part of Durham CU’s annual mission, entitled RESCUE.

On the first weekend, non-Christian students were welcomed to over 50 small group events around the city. The gospel was preached over a meal in a busy restaurant, on the pitch after a hockey game; there was a testimony delivered over breakfast in a college bar, a gospel presentation at a pancake party in someone's house — the list goes on and the message rings out loud and clear — Durham CU is serious about mission and about engaging with the hearts and minds of non-believers where they are at.

Proclamation

This year's mission speaker, Richard Cunningham (Director, UCCF), gave the majority of the talks. Over 250 students regularly came to hear him speak on subjects such as, ‘What’s wrong with living for pleasure?’ and ‘How can a good, all-powerful God allow suffering?’ These events were held right at the heart of the university, in the Students’ Union ballroom. The talks were engaging, powerful and faithful.

Follow uc

Many students returned to lunchtime and evening talks again and again. By Wednesday, over 100 people had signed up to attend the Christianity Explored follow-up course. One CU guest (an older Christian helping out with the mission) said: ‘It was really encouraging to meet up with a non-Christian student one to one. We’ve been going through the early chapters of Genesis together and it’s been really great to see him engaging with God’s word and asking loads of good questions!’

Mission, missions, missions

The RESCUE mission has been an exciting time of gospel opportunity for Christian students and Durham University. It is, however, only one small part of a much bigger picture. Between January and March the national movement, uccf:thechristianunions, will be putting on no less than 62 missions. From Aberdeen to St. Austell, there will be lunch bars, evening talks, grill-a-Christian events, meals with a message, testimonies and small group events. That means literally thousands of unbelievers hearing the gospel (often for the first time) proclaimed faithfully and persuasively and many are responding.

Praise God for these amazing opportunities and please pray for the many follow-up events due to take place in the coming months.

Pod Bhogal