One of the pleasures of being an EU Grads Fund trainee is watching students develop a servant-hearted approach to ministry. James, Joel, Tilly and Dave are students who have taken their particular skills and interests into areas of service within and beyond university.

Joel gained an enthusiasm for ministry to international students while leading a group in euFOCUS, the EU’s ministry to international students. “A lot of them were becoming Christians. It got me really excited!” A member of St. Barnabas’ Anglican in Broadway, he began regularly attending Overseas Chinese Church, where he focuses on building relationships and reading the Bible with international students. This year Joel is a member of the Focus student committee, and enjoys the way the ministries complement each other in developing his ministry skills.

James has always had an interest in what goes on behind the scenes. He served on the technology team at Katoomba Convention Centre for four years before university, and was soon employing those skills at the EU’s Annual Conference while gaining new experiences on the EU’s Information Technology team and Engineering Faculty Committee. As he finishes his degree, James and his wife Beth have made a commitment to continue serving various conferences and their church through technological support and service planning.

Dave and Tilly serve detained refugees at Villawood Detention Centre. “It can feel like you’re not doing anything,” Dave says, “but the fact that we wanted to meet up with them really meant a lot to them.” Dave is considering the possibility of mission in the Middle East. Tilly would like to move to a less reached, less resourced area. “It has challenged me to serve and love others. Jesus calls us to live this way regardless of our own life circumstances and struggles, so it’s forced me to reflect on why I serve.”

Pray that God would continue to work servant-heartedness in the EU’s students, so that they might share the good news of Jesus on campus, from their churches, and beyond.