Five things I loved about Forum
We’ve just returned from Forum, our annual conference for CU leaders. 1018 students gathered for five days of teaching, training and equipping, ready to go back to their universities to live and speak for Jesus. Dave Gobbett, former UCCF Staff Worker and now minister at Highfields Church Cardiff, joined us as our speaker on the second night. Here’s what he had to say:
I'm still buzzing after two inspiring days at UCCF's annual Forum conference. Here’s five quick things I loved about it:
1. UCCF has a stunning potential for the gospel.
When I first went to Forum 19 years ago, I was one of around 300 CU leaders there. This week there were over 1,000 of them, along with 400 staff, Relay, support staff and other guests. What an impact these young people might have for Jesus on campus!
2. UCCF is about multiplication.
In the last two days I've repeatedly bumped into UCCF staff and senior leadership who I had known as undergraduate students or even younger, who had cut their teeth in CU leadership. The gospel baton keeps being handed on (2 Timothy 2:2).
3. UCCF is thoroughly Bible-centred.
There is a load of excitement and enthusiasm and fun and games as you'd expect with 1,000 students. But at the heart of what takes place at Forum is a hunger to get into God's Word and to be equipped to share that Word with others. It was a privilege to speak on 1 Peter 3:15 on Tuesday night. Almost every student I saw had an open Bible during the talk, taking notes. Many wanted to pray together afterwards.
4. UCCF is wonderfully creative.
It was so inspiring seeing a high-quality event that firmly believes that Jesus is Lord of every area of uni life, not just the 'spiritual' bits. Christian artists, product designers, classical musicians, politics students, historians, and so on are all thinking about how to do their subject for Jesus.
5. UCCF is like an extended family for me.
So many of my convictions and formative influences have come through UCCF (passion to teach the Bible, priority of discipleship, gospel unity, heart for world mission, etc). And my time with UCCF gave me some of my closest friends in ministry. Being back at Forum brought all those lovely memories back!
These 1018 students have now returned to their respective universities. Want to get more news from CUs? Why not sign up to our termly newsletter and prayer points?
