At the end of my third semester as a Howie, I can now say that I’ve experienced a full semester of in-person university ministry… and I am full of thanks to God! As we enter week 13, I am reflecting on all the wonderful opportunities that He has given us to meet with, encourage and train students each week. How wonderful to pray with someone before they run to class, to walk together with a student as we head to central station, to run into a student on Eastern Ave and end up in a meaningful conversation.

One of the highlights for me has been, alongside two other Howies, training nearly 30 humanities students in Teaching the Bible: a course designed to help them understand how to read bible passages in their context, draw out a big idea, and think about how we might shape that to teach a particular group of people. To see light bulb moments, as students grasp how to read the bible as one big story, or how to tailor a study to their particular group, or how to adapt the kind of questions they’re asking, is a wonderful privilege.

And so, I leave my training groups this semester with a challenge: how will they use their EU training and their new skills to serve Jesus?

Last year I ran this course on Zoom, and even despite the virtual whiteboards, shared screens and internet drop outs, at the end of the semester, two students felt equipped and ready to start an evangelistic study amongst other students in their course, which has continued running into this year. And so I leave my training groups this semester with a challenge: how will they use their EU training and their new skills to serve Jesus? Imagine the impact of these new leaders, who are better equipped to teach the young people in their churches, empowered to begin groups among pockets in their degrees or communities where there currently are none, and ready to train up younger leaders!

Alice Tricks

Second Year Howie