Ben Lim, leader of the EU FOCUS staff team who seek to reach international students, is in the habit of quoting the above line from C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series. Aslan is the Jesus- figure in Lewis’ fictional world and Ben quotes it when we hear news of what the Lord Jesus is doing on campus. Praise God that Ben has been repeating this line fairly often this semester!

Excitingly, quite a number of non-Christian students are engaging with the gospel on campus. I recently heard of one bible study group in the Health region where the Christian students didn’t turn up but the three non- Christian members did! Two years of pandemic, the loss of connection with peers, significant levels of uncertainty and isolation – the Lord Jesus is using these to move some towards himself. ‘Aslan’ is on the move in the hearts of lost USyd students!

Whether consciously or not, the COVID19 pandemic has prompted many to look for answers, including many university students. Pray that the Lord Jesus would move in the hearts of many more lost students at Sydney Uni, that they might hear the living God’s appeal.

During Sydney’s last drought, when water levels in Sydney’s main dam dropped below 45% and significant water restrictions were imposed, I remember thinking, ‘Maybe this is what it will take for people to turn to the Lord.’ I’m not sure if any did. However, whether consciously or not, the COVID19 pandemic has prompted many to look for answers, including many university students. Pray that the Lord Jesus would move in the hearts of many more lost students at Sydney Uni, that they might hear the living God’s appeal:

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. (Isaiah 55.6-7)

Rowan Kemp

EU Graduates Fund CEO