As the year draws to a close, we praise God for the ways He has been achieving Big Kingdom Discipleship in the EU towards its centenary in 2030: 

By 2030 the EU will be a community with a rich grasp of the gospel that bears fruit in loving, voluntary sacrifice & extraordinary generosity for Christ’s kingdom, investing in others that they might live likewise.

In particular, we thank God for two ways He has enriched our grasp of the gospel and borne fruit in extraordinary generosity for Christ’s kingdom. 

Firstly, through regular giving to the EU. The EU Executive Treasurer has had a busy year maintaining the EU’s finances, supporting Faculty and Specialist Team Treasurers, reporting to the Executive, external bodies, and the EU. They’ve also encouraged the EU to give to the ministry. And students have cheerfully supported the EU. In September, 65 gave to help the EU exceed its budgeted income from giving three months before the end of the year. Praise God for His provision and these students’ generous support! Students’ regular gifts to the EU fund Public Meetings, AnCon, campus missions like Meet Jesus, and other Specialist Teams’ activities each year. They create evangelism, discipleship, and training opportunities. However, this isn’t just about funding activities. It’s also about reflecting Big Kingdom Discipleship. A community with a rich grasp of the gospel. A community bearing fruit in extraordinary generosity for Christ’s kingdom. A community investing in others so that they might live likewise. The Treasury Team, Executive, and staff have been encouraged.

Secondly, through interest in Biblical teaching on money, including generosity. In Weeks 9-13 in Semester 2, the EU was challenged through a Public Meeting series of talks on MoneyLove, the Bible’s teaching on money. Hundreds of students gathered to hear about The Foolishness of Moneylove, The Revival of Stewardship, The Freedom of Interdependence, The Secret of Contentment, and The Wisdom of Generosity. Indeed, PM attendance in these weeks was the highest it’s been in corresponding weeks since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted PMs for years. This has led to countless deep conversations between and among students and staff about what it means to serve God, not money. As a result, we ran Q&A before or after Meetings in Week 13 to create opportunities for students, so that students could enquire how they could grow in their understanding. Praise God for the students’ desire to understand Biblical teaching. 

Please join us in thanking God for these two ways He has enriched the EU’s grasp of the gospel and borne fruit in extraordinary generosity for Christ’s kingdom. Please join us in praying that more students would give regularly to the EU, not only for the ministry on campus, but for the sake of many ministries. And please join us in praying that more students would follow the generosity of their Lord Jesus in the way that they steward God’s money.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

– Ryan Carter, EU Senior Staff