The third degree

‘What I've discovered is that what works best with non-Christians is opening up the Bible with them.’

So said Doug, a student at Glasgow University, who was surprised at the effectiveness of discussing God’s Word with non-Christian students, in a forum often called seeker or evangelistic Bible studies.

The Christian Union at Glasgow University decided to run a seeker Bible study after their freshers week in September. Originally no one came, but over time a regular core of five students met and read together about Jesus. During the mission week that the CU held in spring, two of these students became Christians. As follow up to their mission week, they launched a second series of seeker Bible studies called ‘Love: Explored’. On the final night Neil decided to follow Christ. ‘I know it doesn't sound like a lot’, comments Caz Dodds, Christian Union Staff Worker for Glasgow. ‘I've just read an update from the Jesus Lane Trust saying there were eight full tables at Cambridge CU’s follow up course, but for Glasgow, this is just brilliant!’ She continues enthusiastically, ‘Students bringing friends; having enough confidence in God's Word to share it with non-Christians; students coming to Christ - all things I hadn't seen at Glasgow before February this year’.

Surprising numbers

I have to admit that I have been surprised by how many stories I’m hearing of students running seeker Bible studies for their friends. This at a time when we hear about the crisis of biblical illiteracy among young people and their lack of confidence in Scripture. While that may well be true, so too are there young Christians full of faith in the power of God’s Word to touch the hearts of those who do not know him. I’ve received many testimonies of students coming to faith after reading the Bible with their Christian friends. Vanessa (not her real name), a student in the South East, tells her story.

‘Two of my housemates came along to the seeker course our CU were leading in the autumn term. I was really excited when they both picked up Bibles and one of them asked if we could read it together. Our Bible study now runs once a week and has four seekers. We've made our way through John over about nine weeks. It has been great seeing people who have never read it before becoming increasingly intrigued by the Bible. One of my housemates said: 'The more I read the Bible, the more I want to read it'. I'm really praying God would continue to break into her life and she would make a commitment to him! The students enjoyed it so much, they asked if they could invite their friends, and the group grew to nine non-Christians. Vanessa has since stepped down from the executive committee, so, at the start of next term, she’s gathering the other eight seeker study leaders in the CU to train, encourage and invite more students in the CU to lead seeker Bible studies.

In February, the South East UCCF Team, led by Team Leader Nay Dawson, invited Rebecca Manly Pippert (author of Out of the Salt Shaker) to train students to read the Bible with non-Christians at the regional CU leaders’ training event. Over 90 student leaders attended.

One UCCF Staff Worker commented: ‘I just spoke at Bournemouth CU and then met the new leaders afterwards. They were absolutely raving about the weekend. It's had a massive impact on them — I mean huge! They are so excited about CU evangelism and so keen to start seeker studies. I am very excited about the potential of these guys’.

Pippert’s pop-ups

Another student commented: ‘Seeker Bible studies are popping up all over the place — partly because of the encouragement that Becky Pippert gave in February, but mainly because of God seemingly preparing scenarios and friendship groups where it feels natural to start a Bible study and placing a hunger in people to want to know more! I've been really challenged that the Bible is entirely relevant and applicable to my friends. I tended previously to use the Bible as a last resort when telling people about Jesus but realise in fact it’s a brilliant place to start’.

Rebecca Manly Pippert will also be delivering training at Forum, UCCF’s national conference for Christian Unions Leaders in September. There, UCCF will be launching a national programme to encourage students to open up their Bibles with their non-Christian friends. Join with us in praying that students will be confident in God’s Word, and that their love for it will fuel their desire to share it with others.

To find out more about student mission, email pb@uccf.org.uk

Pod Bhogal is Head of Communications, UCCF: The Christian Unions

Seeker Bible studies

Surprising numbers

Pippert’s pop-ups

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