“The single greatest thing about my experience at uni has been going to church. I mean that wholeheartedly. It’s been a place where I’ve grown closer to God, been challenged to press deeper into Him and made some amazing friends who constantly encourage me. It’s also the place where I’ve been trained and equipped in areas of ministry I don’t think I even knew existed!” (a recent graduate)
God loves his church; we are his bride, he delights in us. And his heart for everyone who comes to study at uni is that they get rooted in a good church as soon as possible. Fortunately in Manchester that’s EASY! There are so many great churches dotted all over the city that you shouldn’t have any problem at all finding one in which you can settle and grow.
Why?
- Because the Bible tells us to! See that verse above from Hebrews for starters
- To help you survive and thrive as a Christian at uni
- We work better as a team, just like the body. You might be the world’s greatest finger but if you’re not attached to the hand you will never fulfill your potential. Check out 1 Corinthians 12.
- The church is God’s family – we are all called his son and daughters (Galations 4:7)
- and so we need to get know and love each other. Fellowship with other Christians of all ages and backgrounds is also a huge encouragement and support.
- To know God more, grow as a Christian and be better equipped to live a Kingdom lifestyle.
- Evangelism. What better way to introduce your friends to Jesus than bring them along to the family party!
How?
- Pray. Ask God to show you where he wants you and be prepared to follow him – you might not get the answer you were expecting!!
- Look on the internet. Most churches, especially the more established ones, will have websites that should give you a good idea of you can expect from their services.
- Check out your CU’s church guide. They’ll have info about the majority of churches and how to get there. If you’re not sure, ask older students at CU – lots of churches have reps who will be meeting people before the service so you can all go together.
- Try out a few different churches; there are many varieties here in Manchester and it’s good to look around a little to find the right one. Don’t just stick with what you’re used to, try different types of churches, something new just might surprise and challenge you.
- But…don’t ‘church date’! Pick a church as soon as you can and commit to it; otherwise you might spend the whole year touring around the city and never getting rooted in one particular church.
- Don’t be put off by just one service – especially if it’s not one of their ‘normal’ ones – try the church at other times too.
- Get involved. Once you’ve settle on a church throw yourself into everything you can – be an active member not a passenger. You will get infinitely more out of it.
Some Questions To Ask Of A Church:
- Is the church faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ and does it teach the Bible?
- Do the church leaders submit themselves to God’s word?
- Is there genuine concern among believers to encourage one another in their faith?
- Is the church obviously a Christian community where people love one another?
- Can I imagine feeling at home here and getting involved with the life of the church?
One of the great things about uni is the independence you get. And this independence stretches to being a Christian as well – your choices are completely yours to make. But to quote Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility.” No one’s going to force you to go to church, so if you don’t take the initiative and find one for yourself, the chances are you’ll end up not going at all. So go for it! Be proactive. We can guarantee it’ll be awesome!
One final thing: the perfect church does not exist – don’t go chasing the rainbow!
(c) Vinelife/Ralph Pedley 2008 (permission required)
