Evangelism

Postholders

The 2010 Team of College Evangelism Coordinators led by the Evangelism Secretary is:

Evangelism Secretary: Simon Desborough
Alcuin CEC: Charlotte Hooke
Derwent CEC: Joe Popplewell
Goodricke CEC: Benedict Sutton
Halifax CEC: Kathryn Parr
James CEC: Will Blundell
Langwith CEC: Naomi Garrett
Vanbrugh CEC: Emily Murdoch

Evangelism – It’s all about Jesus.

At its root evangelism is simple. It is telling people about Jesus. The Christian Union at York has a very clear evangelistic vision: to be a missions based, Jesus-centred group of people, working on campus to show our fellow students God’s love for them.

The University of York is made up of over 12,000 students from all over the world, studying in around 30 different departments and research centres. The CU has about 200 members, representing these different nationalities and departments – from freshers to academic members of staff. We believe that our University needs the love of Jesus, and it is our aim as a group of people to tell the 12,000 students out there that Jesus died for them. But we don’t evangelise because we have to, but because we get to. It is a great honour that God should entrust us with proclaiming His message of salvation, indeed, as Paul writes:

"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making his appeal through us." 2 Corinthians 5:20

What a great privilege! Therefore, our role as a CU is to equip and mobilise our members to really live out their faith, sharing through words and actions all that Jesus has done for them.

The Vision for 2009

Focus

As a CU, we have felt God really call us to be more focused in our Evangelism. This means that we want to serve you and your friends. If you know of a specific need in your college, an event that needs stewarding, some litter that needs picking up or just some people to chat to – get in touch. This also means that we want to serve groups of people, so that might be those doing sports, those interested in music or reaching out to specific subject areas.

Clarity

Moreover, we want to provide more clarity in our evangelism. This means that we put on events with clear aims and ideas. This is not holding events that con people into coming to by bribing them with food. It is to put on events that are clear and focused. It is to be honest and not ashamed of our faith, sharing as the apostles did at Pentecost (see Acts 2).

What does this look like at York?

York, as a collegiate University tends to be complicated so we can look at our evangelism on two interconnected levels:

College level: This is all about serving your college, through small groups, toasties, piazza and film evenings, open small groups, ‘thirsty’…info on what your college is doing can be found through you College Evangelism Co-ordinator (CEC), so get in touch with them!
Uni-wide level: This is about serving the wider university, through social action, stewarding, subject talks, Q&A, gigs, testimonies…this is done by everyone, all the time, so get along to Saturday night CU meetings to find out more about what’s going on this week!

One thing, however, is clear; nothing happens without Gods help and love. Above all the visions, events and strategies there is one verse that convicts me more than any other as I look into 2009, and it is here that the CU must rest:

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

It’s all about Jesus. Amen.

FREE Gospel Project

The FREE Gospel Project is an initiative by UCCF to provide Marks Gospel for Christian students to share with Non-Christian friends. More information on the FREE gospel project website.

Please be praying for the FREE gospel project, more information about practical points for prayer is available here

For more information

Evangelism Sec: Simon Desborough