Festival was upon us this semester, but what is it you may ask, what do we do to prepare and how could God use Festival? Festival is a name for a 3-week period in semester where students and staff engage the university in heightened evangelism through “opportunities”, and these opportunities could be a lunch, talks, seminars, games, even clothes swapping! The point of the opportunities is to enable non-Christians to come and hear the gospel through a conversation, talk or through dialogue.

Students and staff  prepared firstly, praying. Prayer is essential for it is not ultimately us who save but God, this has been done in small groups and prayer meetings amongst students. Logistically many opportunities were prepared with the festival team helpfully guiding them towards the right direction, and (under God) eventually happen. Students were eager and passionate about making opportunities, and it was so encouraging to see their innovation, passion, love but also faithfulness to the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

By God’s Grace, He can use these opportunities so that His word might bring about salvation to sinners and that their heart might be changed from stone to flesh! For some non-Christian students, it might take more time, years maybe! But the great thing is that, Festival is an opportunity to proclaim the gospel! and through prayer and faithful proclamation, some (hopefully many) can come to faith! Even if it be just one person, that’s still worth celebrating, or should I say worth a festival!

By Paolo Santillan