This term sees the launch of one of the biggest inter-varsity missions ever in the UK, and probably the biggest evangelistic strategy that York University has ever seen. Members of the CU will be invited to give out a total of 3500 copies of the good news of John from the Bible, in a very slinky student-friendly format. Hopefully we’ll see these gospels being given to friends, being discussed, being given out door-to-door, being placed on seats at meetings, being used in witness and evangelistic Bible Study groups or in a variety of other ways that you guys think best.

Breakthrough events and opportunities, including a massive publicity blitz of campus, will be centred around the life-giving message of Jesus in John’s gospel but will be based solidly and firmly in prayer, both here in the uni. And throughout the nation and world.

Currently, the Christian Union is developing what we hope will be a useful, and realistic strategy for the mission, but watch out! — We are called by the One “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think”. It’s a big task — and we need everybody’s help — from prayer ‘warriors’ to poster ‘putter-uppers’. We would welcome all suggestions (ie. who we should aim to reach: friends; course groups; bars; corridors; social groups or the wider Uni? How should we do it: gifts to friends; alongside questionnaires under doors in the dead of night [no!];as part of Billy Graham type meetings; alongside DC and Eyewitness groups; at stalls; etc etc?)

I know that at the moment things seem unclear, confusing and a bit daunting, but please bear with us. There will be more information on Breakthrough at CU meetings but in the meantime please contact socs25@york.ac.uk with suggestions or queries. Remember, we are called to:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have

1 Peter 3 v.15

The best thing you can do in life is to introduce someone to Jesus. He has the words of eternal life and so a relationship formed with Him now will last for eternity. Aim for the best, encourage a fellow student to read John’s gospel.

Mission:

I was recently posed the following question:

Do you ever wonder how the history of the church might have developed if you had been one of the first disciples?

The suggested answer was given in the form of two letters:

Dear disciples,
You shall have power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus.

Dear Jesus,
We find your command both challenging and interesting. First, we have decided to investigate the long term feasibility, and have appointed an executive committee to oversee the work. Of course, we don’t feel it’s quite the right time at the moment, what with needing to consolidate and build each other up. There do seem to be real opportunities in Jerusalem and there are a lot of folk from those other places you mentioned here. We’re going to have a chocolate party next weekend to show them that Christians can have fun like anyone else, and hopefully this will get them interested. Perhaps if some real friendships develop we might invite them to the temple courts.
Yours willingly, The Disciples.

Cutting — yes, tongue in cheek — yes, controversial — yes, but there is something about the disciples’ reply that seems really familiar to my own life and the way I’ve often approached mission. Too often I drop my horizons and am ready to settle for second best. I try to be clever and be acceptable to people. I’m nearly always embarrassed and afraid. Many were surprised at the disciples’ boldness and remarked that they were ordinary men who had been with Jesus. The disciples themselves said “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard!”

With Breakthrough, all who follow Christ at this Uni have an opportunity to get involved in an extension of our ongoing day-to-day friendship evangelism. One of the aims of the Christian Union is to “Know God and make Him known.” Please don’t leave it too late to grasp this opportunity for making Christ known.

Gospels are provided to us free by the Bible Society, in conjunction with The University and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF)

David Stark