If you've spent any time in the city this week you will have probably noticed hordes of young people out and about exploring the city and making themselves at home. The students are back!
The 'student life' is unlike almost any other life stage - new found independence as they move away from home, large amounts of free time, an every increasing social circle, plus exposure to a whole new world of ideas and experiences - some for the very first time.
Students are also laying down significant foundations in the formation of their identity and worldview as they test the things they grew up thinking and believing in the big bold world of the university.
All of this is to say that this is a golden opportunity to be speaking to students about Jesus and helping them become established in the faith as wholehearted followers of Him. There won't be many times in their life where they will be as open and available to explore the Bible and its message of God's love and salvation.
For this reason we put a lot of time and effort (and coffee beans!) into meeting students, sharing the good news of Jesus with them and inviting them to join our church community.
This week we've been in full swing trying to meet with and connect with students. It began by praying for them on Sunday, meeting them at the Clubs Week stall on campus and then inviting them to Community Group, a Welcome Party and Night Church on Sunday.
As Paul writes to the Romans he is asking for their partnership so he might take the Gospel of Jesus even further, as far away as Spain. He concludes his letter by reminding them that someone needs to actually go out and tell people about Jesus, we can't just wait for people to come to us. He writes this in Romans 15:13-14,
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
With so many from around New Zealand and the world coming to Wellington to study all we have to do is spend a few hours and go a few kms to the campus to share with them the hope that we have in Jesus. And if you can't come and be part of welcoming students, you can definitely pray for them. Ask God that he would bless our church with many opportunities to share with students the more important news about Jesus.
Grace & peace,
Andrew