Semester has started and getting back onto campus is such a thrill! It feels wonderfully familiar to be back in Public Meetings, seeing small group bible studies meeting all around campus, finding student leaders meeting in Manning and Wentworth, and seeing green EU t-shirts spotted around campus.

As the EU’s student leaders and staff gathered for our annual Leadership Summit prior to the start of semester, Rowan Kemp taught us from 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, and we considered the opportunity and challenge for the EU to live out its unique community identity within the university: being a community so shaped by the gracious love of God, that every individual and their contribution is deeply valued, and where sincere love for another is our trademark way of relating.

Holding fast to this love of God, these first few weeks have been an exciting time to be serving Jesus in these ways. But this start-up hasn’t been without it’s challenges. Our first week back was disrupted by transport troubles and bad weather; the second week was a (literal) wash-out as the city coped with torrential rain; and as week three comes to an end, there are warnings starting to appear that another COVID surge might soon be upon Sydney. As the university has responded to these challenges, classes have gone online and things have been delayed. Three weeks in, some students still have not had a class in-person. Connecting with, and enfolding newcomers has not been easy when they have not been able to make it to uni. We are continually taught by our God that we cannot wait for our ideal circumstances in order to pursue deep love for others in every part of our ministry.

Despite the challenges, God is at work and growing our love for one another and for the lost amongst his people at Sydney Uni. Walk-up evangelism has re-started, and though the core group of students involved in this ministry has seen a decrease over the COVID years, it is rebuilding under the lead of senior students. Local students are meeting in ‘buddy groups’ with new international students, to be loving Christian friends and support them as they navigate their way through the start up of uni in a new place. Senior students are meeting up with first years one-to-one to welcome them to uni life and their EU faculty, and pray for them. First years coming onto campus are keen to make meaningful connections and friendships and are resisting the trend of minimising campus commitments by opting into a new Equip training course, ‘Getting Life Sorted,’ to help them navigate entry into this new stage of life with strong Christian foundations. Leaders of small group bible studies are gathering new groups together around God’s word and praying for transformed lives in their fellowship.

Our plans and programs re-starting are not at the very centre of our vision, our prayers, our efforts. Right at the very centre is the love of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the call for us to love others in turn.

While we’re excited to be back, our plans and programs re-starting are not at the very centre of our vision, our prayers, our efforts. Right at the very centre is the love of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the call for us to love others in turn. We are praying that this love would meet people in their current circumstances, and also be steadfast and persistent through all the changing circumstances this year might bring. Please pray with us, that God’s love would be shared and seen at Sydney Uni this year, for his praise and glory.

Laura Southam

EU Senior Staff – Humanities