So, you've reached GKT....

Your life is unpacked into a room the size of a wardrobe, the communal kitchen is rapidly developing new forms of life, and school is a distant nightmare ... you're at Uni at last! A sense of excitement at meeting new people and exploring the sites and sounds of London is mixed with a fear of not quite fitting in or of not getting to know people. The security and comfort of home are a little too far away, and somewhere in the midst of it all, you remember someone saying something about getting stuck into ... a good church?

It's fantastic to be in London and enjoy the things that the city has got to offer, but it's also incredibly daunting - and a challenge to sift through the things which aren't going to help. You may have been a Christian for years - you may have only recently come to know the amazing truth of the Gospel, but either way you'll quickly find people challenging what you may have spent the rest of your life taking for granted.

Why do you believe that? What's the point in going to church? Isn't it ok just to do what you want? It will be difficult to stand out or say no - and why would you want to? After all, God loves us whatever we do, doesn't he?

As a fresher I didn't get stuck into church early on, and I didn't spend much time in prayer or reading my Bible. I experienced enormous pressure to reject right and good beliefs for the sake of fitting in, and little encouragement to stay focussed on the cross. In the absence of solid Christian fellowship and sound teaching, I quickly lost appreciation of the importance of spending time with Him; in the absence of regular study of the Bible and prayer, I rapidly became distracted from the great price that Jesus paid for me.

I was drawn away from the truth that without Jesus, I faced the punishment of death for rejecting God (Rom 6 vv22-23), and that all those around me were in the same position.

Stay rooted in Christ (Col 2 vv6-7)

It is because of the temptations to ignore God and get distracted by competing philosophies that it is essential we stay rooted in Jesus Christ. When we look at all that He has done to bring us into fellowship with Him, dying in our place, it is clear why we want to live lives that fit the fact that we have a relationship with God himself - where we speak to Him, learn from Him, and enjoy many other blessings besides. But it's important that we stay focused on this truth, and don't let convincing arguments lead us astray.

It's important to read the Bible regularly - not because it's a rule we must keep, but because it helps us enormously in our relationship with God. The Bible is God's word (2 Tim 3 vv16-17), His own word, and it is living and active. It's an amazing gift, and it's an incredible way to understand more about God - His character, and His will for us as individuals.

Take time out every day to spend reading the Bible and praying. To be able to talk to our Father in heaven is an amazing privilege - let's not take it for granted, but truly enjoy time with Him, presenting before Him our praises and our concerns (Eph 6 v18).

Keep going (Heb 10 vv19-39)

Get in touch with the CU (e.g. using the form on the left) to find out how you can be supported as you start off your time at Uni. If you'd like to meet up with an older Christian regularly to read the Bible 1-2-1, we'd love to find someone who can help you out. Do look into getting involved in Prayer Triplets, and come along to the CU.

It's really worth getting stuck into a good church. We're encouraged by the writer to the Hebrews not to give up meeting together (Heb 10 vv24-25), and while the Christian Union is a great opportunity to do that, CU is not 'church', it's about sharing the news of Jesus with those on campus. It's more important to get stuck into a good church than go to CU, so it's well worth finding one where you can be well taught and worship God.

So, while University is a great experience, it's also a huge challenge - to stay grounded in the faith that is freedom and life, and not be tempted by a world enslaved to sin. It is a challenge to stand out when others may discourage you in your faith. And it's a challenge - and privilege - to be representing Christianity on campus, making known to the world the truth of the Gospel. Do join us at our CU meetings as we strive towards this aim.