This current unreached and often un-noticed student people group has historically shaped and even transformed the society we live in. They have been instrumental in shaping and informing policy in law, medicine and education and have been at the heart of many previous moves of God. The alarm bell is getting louder and the snooze button no longer works. It is time to act.
Historic Fires
God has always been at work among students and the activity of his Spirit has fired up students to reach their generation. As student culture has evolved down the centuries God has raised up students who will give their lives to seeing people encounter the risen Christ. Student movements have always risen up against the religious and political status quo.
It was people like John Whitcliffe in the 14th Century who caught a fresh vision for a biblical community, a vision that would go on to change a nation. In the 16th Century students at great cost stood firm in their convictions as fires were lit and the Church reformed. Almost all modern mission movements can be traced back to 6 students at Halle University at the beginning of the 18th Century. They too lit a fire and kept it burning, fuelling a continuous prayer meeting for 100years and giving themselves to foreign mission. This fire warmed the heart of John Wesley who famously declared "I set myself on fire, they come to watch me burn". This nation changed again through members of that Holy club.
In the 19th Century, out of that period of about sixty years, 20 000 went out from Universities to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Many unknown heroes with untold stories found their destiny in God. That was a student movement. With every major student movement there has always been three strands; prayer, mission and holistic gospel have been at the heart. Fuelled by prayer, men and women would preach Jesus, his life, death and resurrection and as part of the message would demonstrate the goodness of God through social action and good works.
Numbers Explosion
The 1944 Education Act led to a large increase in the number of qualified school leavers and in 1946 the Barlow Report recommended a doubling of university student numbers. The affects of the influential Robbins Report in 1963 are still being felt now as a new wave of universities continue to grow and multiply. There are now more than 2m students, compared with 340,000 in 1961, and 43.5% of those aged between 18 and 30 now get a university education, putting the government well on course for its 50% target.
The universities and colleges of the UK are now a gathering point for a generation. More will gather in these institutions and in greater number than ever before. Whilst student culture has evolved and changed beyond recognition, church involvement has remained minimal and models for mission have been largely unaffected by time, culture and the growing secularisation. A giant mission field has crept steadily up behind the church’s back.
Huge numbers are unable to connect with the current structures and 1000’s of Christian students are falling away as the 2003 figures for one chaplaincy shows. 57% out of 4421 new students returned a chaplaincy questionnaire. 1394 students identified as being Christian, 635 of whom specified as being Anglican. Around 700 were open to a visit in their first few weeks. Only around 60-70 have integrated into local churches.
Emerging Leaders
Students represent the cutting edge of change in the nation. Today’s students are some of the women and men whose values will shape society, politics, arts, education and mainstream culture over the next 40 years. Depending on what these values are there is the potential to perpetuate consumerism, materialism, individualism or pave the way for the very fabric of society to change.
Universities are very diverse and unique in the opportunities they hold. The student community is like a microcosm of the whole that constantly diffuses into the wider society infecting it with the latest science breakthroughs, ideas and philosophies. The potential locked up in the student community is being continually released so that affects and shapes the ideologies and worldview of generations. Beyond that the arts, education and politics of many nations around the world are impacted
Eight out of the last ten Prime Ministers have studied at Oxford and for 45 of the last 55 years the UK has been governed by an Oxford-educated PM! One in six MPs are also from Oxford. It is far easier to reach a student a university than someone residing at no.10.
Today’s Students
The steady fragmentation of the community and breakdown of the family has led to greater and growing individualism among students. Not surprisingly loneliness creates a dull ache and students desperately want the deep friendships they don’t know how to make. There are few clear boundaries in the generally accepting and tolerant philosophy of today’s students and they are typically experimental and experiential. Not surprisingly depression, suicide and eating disorders are on the increase.
Unfortunately many of the same struggles are found among Christian students – they have their ticket to heaven but they not living free! This poses huge problems for proclaiming the gospel to a generation for whom what you say has far less credibility than how you live your life and belief is practice.
Consumerism quashes passion and creativity and this affects many would be radical students. Demonstrations and rallies are all but consigned to the history books whilst many Christian students are totally preoccupied within the Christian subculture.
Church
The universities and colleges present one of the largest and most strategic mission fields in the UK. The local church holds the key to harnessing and releasing the potential of the generation that gathers there. The increasing desire of local churches to work more closely with the universities and their students signals greater continuity for sustained mission and discipleship amongst students.
Through connecting with more churches, both those that send students away and receive them, Fusion hope there will be greater confidence and skills in the local church for reaching and discipling students. We want to create structures that can both cater for greater numbers of students integrating into local church whilst at the same time empowering students to reach into the grubby grassroots of student culture.
A university city housing 30-40,000 students would typically only have 4-5 student churches so student numbers in individual churches can look impressive even if they never see a student saved!
Mission Shaped Life
A generation is already being stirred and groomed by the Holy Spirit to get their hands dirty and blistered for a mission shaped life. They are men and women with stamina and conviction who won’t settle for building on sandy foundations. They are compelled to live out the teachings of Jesus.
It is the consistency of ongoing leadership and continuity of vision that is desperately needed in today’s climate. Practically we need to create the pathways for mission into C21 student culture and discipling frameworks that enable students to grow in maturity and integrate into local church.
"Investing in FUSION is investing in Student Mission"
Written by Rich Wilson - Fusion Network Manager