Steve Heyes.co.uk

I am coming to the end of my ‘time’ in the CU exec as Evangelism Secretary. Its been a good time. Sometimes frustrating, sometimes a real joy. Last week was our AGM and for it we had to write a report for how the year had gone, so instead of re writing that for a reflection on this blog I’m just going to copy and past it! So here it is:

I’m sitting in Dolche Vita after just finishing off a cup of Spicy Parsnip soup staring at a blank document thinking “How do I start this summary?” I’ve set myself a slot to write this (which I will blatantly not stick to) and it’s not happening! Even after some encouraging words from Jeremy, who popped in to grab a sandwich, I am still drawing blanks.

As with most stories, I guess its good to start at the beginning. While I was praying about what to do for my time on the exec I really felt God showing me how everything fits together. That evangelism, discipleship, social action, prayer, etc are not separate boxes on a tick list of things to do to be a follow of Jesus. Nor are they unattached entities with which you do evangelism one day and discipleship in a bi-weekly two hour meeting.

After many God inspired conversations with Joel and Martin, we drew up a new way of doing CU that incorporated this idea. This model, while not the be all and end all, was not really anything different to what had been done before. The biggest, and exciting change about it was how everything linked together. We felt that while all the various parts of the CU where good, everything seemed a little disjointed and the only thing connecting it all together was that most of it happened on a Wednesday!

The biggest change with the evangelism side is that it teamed up with the small groups, renamed CORE groups. These CORE groups became the main focus of the CUs mission. Through these groups there would be (roughly) an hours worth of evangelism training encouraging people to live as Jesus would in whatever situation that came their way.

Over the two terms that we have been running training through CORE group we have looked at various aspects of evangelism. We started with talking with our friends about what think about Jesus. After that we looked at the Holy Spirits role in the process and how we are collaborators with him, working on what God is already doing in people’s lives. We looked at how prayer plays a part, and how our stories can engage with people on a different level. We investigate what makes up the gospel and how the Kingdom of God fits into that.

There are many models, tracks and material for evangelism, These are great, and we had a look at a few over the year, but they are only tools. Tools to enable people to start to explain God’s love to people. Jo Blower said to me once “the best way to get people to evangelise is for them to fall more in love with God.” This is why it was so great to have the training linked with the bible study, that after we have learnt more about God and his plan of restoration for us and this world that we would learn of ways to get this across to our friends.

It has been a great couple of terms. While there are many things I would of liked to of done, such as more Big Issues and Acoustic nights, I’ve been really happy with the way things have gone. God has been good and with all new things, there is that element of apprehension but it has been a really blessing to see people who have and haven’t got experience in evangelism really blossom and just be Jesus to their friends.

I really want to thank all the Agape and UCCF staff, Martin and Joel have been amazing in supporting me and preparing material for us. I also want to thank the rest of the Exec, particularly Rach as I did make her job twice as big concerning the CORE groups! And also, without wanting to sound cheesy, I want to thank everyone in the CU. Ultimately, it was you guys who have been bringing the Kingdom of God to where you are. My job was to encourage and facilitate the CU in evangelism and, quite frankly, you made my job a heck of a lot easier!

God has been brilliant this year. I have certainly fallen more in love with Him. He has been at the centre of this whole CU since the beginning and has continued to express his love to more and more people. He has continued to use us to bring his restoration and will continue to be the primary witness in whatever Pete does next year and onwards.

And I didn’t stick to my time slot. Not at all. Failed by 5 days.