There’s always something happening in the EU! – but there are three main activities that are counted as ‘core’ – weekly Small Groups, Public Meetings, and our mid-year conference, AnCon. It is most often in these regular, ‘ordinary’ gatherings that students are growing! I asked three students from the ‘BizLaw’ (Business and Law) faculty to share with me how God has been at work in their lives through these ordinary ministry moments.

Small Groups

Over the past few years, the EU has been running separate ‘first-year’ studies, providing a foundation in gospel and evangelism, and ‘second-year’ studies, which focus on equipping students in bible reading skills (Semester 1) and communicating the gospel across cultures (Semester 2).

Aleina, a second-year who has stepped up to be trained as a small group leader this year, reflected on how these weekly gatherings have been instrumental to her growth:

“Small groups are a beautiful place to grow your understanding of the gospel and surround yourself with like-minded people who pour so much into you through prayer and fellowship! This year, the second-year small group studies have provided me with a framework to study the Bible in a way that unpacks scripture, revealing details that I previously overlooked. The first-year studies from Mark to Acts that I’ve been co-leading as a small group leader-in-training really encouraged me to share the immense joy, hope, and love that Jesus has given me to the people at USYD who desperately need Him.”

Public Meetings

Our Public Meetings (or ‘PMs’) have been a core part of the EU’s ministry for decades! Each year, we preach on books from the Old and New Testaments and wisdom for Christian life, particularly addressing core topics that might help EUers be set up for a lifetime of loving Jesus and faithfully following him.

Chloe, who is one of the faculty leaders with BizLaw this year, shared about how she has been shaped by PMs, this semester and in the past: 

“I always find that the PM talks encourage growth by looking at passages and topics in a way that I wouldn’t usually think about just on my own. Last year, a series on money had probably some of the most challenging talks that I’ve heard! It shook up the way I thought about and used money and challenged me to approach it from a position of pure trust that God would provide whatever you need for your future. The most challenging idea was that you don’t need to have savings but can instead entrust your life and future to God rather than trusting in the idol of savings. It was super convicting and challenged me to become generous in a radical way. This year I’ve continued to be encouraged to grow this semester in the series ‘Growing spiritually even when it hurts!’”

AnCon

Jayden, a first-year, reflects on his first AnCon experience, only two months ago:

“I have grown so much in my Christian faith from my time at the EU! Particularly at AnCon, where I was able to meet so many other people who share the same faith journey here at USYD. It was very encouraging to really dwell deep in fellowship and conversations, especially addressing spiritual revival on campus. It was through those intimate conversations with others in prayer and reflection groups, small groups, and even just a chat with people I had just met at the breakfast table, where I developed strong encouragement and accountability for my faith in Jesus.”

Praise God for the ordinary ministry that happens on campus at USYD! Please continue to be praying for these three core ministries, that through the opening of God’s Word and the work of His Spirit, God’s will would be done on campus, and that he would bring a real revival to Christians and among the lost!