If you had strolled into the EPS Launch Lunch in the first week of the semester, you would have seen people praying for each others’ work. EPS – EU Postgrads and Staff – is the EU faculty reaching research postgraduates, academics, and university staff. For several years, EPS has commenced each new academic year by gathering to pray that God would bless the works of our hands in the university. It’s an opportunity to rally existing members of EPS and welcome new postgrads and staff to the EPS community. Offering Newtown Thai for free certainly helps get people there. However, the time spent praying for each other’s work in the university is one of the most commented on and appreciated aspects of the Launch Lunch.

The apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3.17: ‘whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ That is our guiding light as we launch the EPS community each year, praying that as we go about our work and research, we would think, labour, and live in a way shaped by the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

While most prayers were led from the front of the Launch Lunch, we prayed for different segments of the EPS community such as new postgrads and all postgrad students, for postdoctoral researchers and those involved in teaching in the university, for those administrating the university, and for God’s reviving work to happen at the University of Sydney. We hope that the Launch Lunch prayers will model how to pray for their work in line with Colossians 3.17. We also hope it will build a culture of praying for God’s work on campus as the gospel is proclaimed, not just praying for each other’s work at the university.

James, a long-term member of EPS, remarked after the Launch Lunch this year, “I’ve been to several of these lunches, and I always appreciate that someone prays for my work. That I wouldn’t just be fruitful in my research, but my work would be of good for our society. And the prayer that I would be a bold witness to my colleagues of my Christian hope.”

Amy, a new-ish EPS member, commented, “My job here at the uni can feel so detached from my Christian life. It’s not opposed, but there’s a gulf between the two. But to be able to pray for the university, and the work of administrators like me within the university, is such a comfort. It punctures the distinction I can feel between life at university and my walk with Jesus.”

Fiona, another new member of the EPS community this year, said, “I didn’t expect people to pray for my work. But I’m grateful that we prayed for opportunities to share Jesus with our peers. Ever since, it’s been my prayer for myself as I’ve talked with other postgrads, that I would be able to share the gospel with two not-yet-Christians this year.”

Here is the concluding prayer from the Launch Lunch. Would you pray with EPS that God would continue to do his work of growing and building his people among the research postgrads and staff at Sydney University? 

Almighty Father, who commanded us to love you with all our mind, look with your gracious favour, we pray, on Sydney University, that you would bring revival and spiritual renewal so that many may come to call Jesus their Lord. 

Bless all who work, all who teach and all who learn; strengthen the faith and witness of your people; grant that we may all seek and love the truth with integrity and righteousness, strive for the common good, grow in wisdom and knowledge, and in humility of heart ever look to you, the source of all wisdom and understanding. 

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

– Matthew Moffitt, EU Senior Staff