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 PrintableVersion The Third DegreeStudent Christmases‘It was a privilege to speak at four packed carol services on December 11 [for Southampton Christian Union]’, commented Adrian Holloway, evangelist at Christ Church in London. He continued: ‘As 550 people filed out of the first service through one door, another 550 entered through a different door for the second! The CU president had to interrupt the service to ask people to ‘budge up’ to create space for these folks to get seats. By the time I started the talk, we also had people sitting on the floor. So it would seem that Christianity is alive and well in the UK!’ Tom Heasman, the CU president, raved how well the event was received and the impact it’s had on the CU’s mission. ‘With follow-up emails going out to over 250 people who responded in one way or another, once again we are seeing God stirring the hearts and minds of many students on campus.’ For many un-churched students, carol services remain a popular and important part of their Christmas tradition. As well as mulled wine, tinsel and horrible songs by Cliff Richard, carol services, it seems, are part and parcel of the Christmas package. Like Southampton CU carol service, which hosted around 2,500 students across four services, thousands of students in Britain will go to a Christmas church service to hear the about the message of Christmas, eat mince pies and sing carols. Sarah Bennington, UCCF’s Head of Development commented: ‘This is a massive opportunity to reach people who would not normally go to a church or a Christian Union event. It’s especially thrilling to see lots of students become Christians this year’. Bearing fruitMatt Shortman, Christian Union Staff Worker in Nottingham, was amazed with how well the gospel was received in Nottingham. ‘There were probably just over 300 students in attendance — but, most importantly, 67 students who are not a part of the CU said that they had prayed the response prayer at the end of the talk.’ In Edinburgh, 900 students attended the CU carol service and over 40 indicated they would like to follow Jesus. The CU in Cardiff were delighted that a number of students made professions of faith at their carol service. Michael Green, evangelist and chaplain for the Oxford Centre of Christian Apologetics, had just led a successful city-wide student mission in Cardiff where around 25 students professed faith and a further 60 signed up to follow-up courses. Brunel, a small CU of around 60 students, saw six people respond after their carol service. Clive Parnel, Creative Evangelism Trainer for UCCF, was the speaker. He said: ‘We’re seeing loads of fruit this year. It’s really exciting’. Strategic opportunityCarol services also provide a strategic opportunity for Christian Unions to prepare their members for the main events week that takes place in the spring term. Charlie Butler, Christian Union Staff Worker in Cambridge, talks of the benefits of having the same speaker for both the carol service and the mission week. He said: ‘Graham Daniels, Director of Christians in Sport, is speaking at the 2011 carol service and the CICCU mission week in February 2012. ‘The carol service is a chance for students to hear him speak ahead of the mission and warm to him — making it easier for Christians to invite their friends to hear him speak at the main events week in February.’ For Graham Daniels himself, though, the real thrill is more immediate: ‘How many students were there tonight?’ he asks, after speaking at the first carol service on Monday evening. ‘About 1,000? What an awesome opportunity, seeing 1,000 students come under the sound of the gospel as part of their Christmas celebrations.’ Commenting on the carol service in Nottingham, Adrian Holloway said: ‘It was a super evening, brilliantly organised and a wonderful opportunity to get to the heart of why we celebrate Christmas. We can now look to build on this during mission week in just a few months time’. Pod Bhogal is Head of Communications, UCCF: The Christian Unions — http://www.uccf.org.uk © Evangelicals Now - February 2012 |
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