Over 200 universities and colleges in Great Britain have one...and that is a Christian Union. Regularly shortened to "CU" to those involved in one, have been involved in one, or have a close relation to them. Another acronym that I often use is "UCCF", which stands for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship - this is an organisation that oversees CUs across the country. UCCF provides CUs with help in the form of a staff team including a staff worker, and a relay worker. A staff worker works with a few CUs, helping them in anyway they can, and a relay worker is participating in a training scheme called, 'Relay'. This is a year's scheme where the graduate assists the CU in its events, organisation and preparation...but at the same time, it is a discipleship course - which means to increase their knowledge of the Bible, but not only gaining head knowledge but being able to apply it to their lives, and to grow in their relationship with God through it.
This is what a CU in principle is...but there is much more to it.
When I first came to university, I wanted to join the CU. I was a young Christian, and I wanted a circle of Christian friends. Joining the CU is a great way of meeting other Christians who attend the same uni as you...however, I soon realised that CU was much more than just a holy huddle of Christians who met every week. The CU is a mission team. Christians believe that God created everything, and everyone - and that during the events of the Fall, humans rejected God as their creator and King, and wanted to rule themselves. This sin was passed down generation by generation - where every person born was a sinner, who naturally in our hearts wanted to rebel against God. For this, as God is a just God and the fact that everyone has rebelled and rejected God - the punishment is death. However...God is not only just, but a loving God. He sent Jesus - who was born pure and holy...he committed no sin...and was blameless. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, was beaten, flogged and hung on the cross - and died. He took our sins, and died for them there. One atoning sacrifice. If we leave the story there, Jesus was a man... but three days later, Jesus rose from the dead....conquering death, and showing he was God in human form, and had authority over anything. This death, this payment...restored our relationship with God. And God wants us to know him, He created us, He designed us, He wants to know us...and us to know Him. He is a personal God - who we can talk to, and rely on. We, through Jesus' blood and sacrifice, can trust him, and ask for forgiveness for those sins that Jesus died for...and turn away from our lives which are all about us, and turn to our Creator. We no longer have to fear death, as Jesus died for us...and He has taken our place so we can have a relationship with God. We can now make this decision, to either live for ourselves in this life or live for God and be free.
This is what Christians believe...and this is what CU is about. Sharing this amazing message to everyone on campus. CUs are not trying to convert you to achieve higher numbers in meetings, but to give everyone the opportunity to hear the good news, or the "gospel" as it is called in the Bible, and provide everyone so they can make their own decision. The CU is a way for the gospel to be spread, so people can hear and ask questions. It is a huge decision...and the CU is made up of members who will be willing to answer those.
The CU is often disregarded by Christian students, as they may not see the importance of sharing this good news. We are at university for a very short time, and we have this incredible opportunity to talk to thousands of people about Jesus. It makes me upset when students have this opportunity and ignore it. I don't know why they do...because this message is the most important message you can ever hear. We were told about the gospel, via friends or family, or CU events, and have made that decision for ourselves...so why do we shy away from sharing the message with others and keeping it to ourselves? No idea...I know I'm guilty of falling into the trap of feeling like I *have* to go to CU sometimes, but I remember Jesus and the price he paid for me, and me being able to tell my friends about Jesus and meeting with other Christians to talk about Jesus is just amazing...the freedom we have in GB is incredible. There are students in other countries who would give almost anything to meet with other Christians and share the good news, but can't due to oppression and persecution. We should be seeing that the CU is a great opportunity, as we can share the gospel of Jesus with the only fear of being said "No" to. This is nothing compared to the sacrifice Jesus made for us, so go out and share the news as it is totally worth it.
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