Our CU

We are going to post here photos, testimonies, reports from mission trips and anything else CU members wish to share!

Here's the story of how one CU member became a Christian:

"I was raised in a church-going family, with loving parents who encouraged me to go to Sunday school, and to do the best I could in things. Whilst I may often put on my “ghetto roots”, in actual fact I have had a lovely upbringing that I cannot complain about! As a younger child I took for granted that God was there, that He heard me pray and that I should be a good person as a result (or something like that – to be honest I can’t remember that age too well!).

What I do remember is that in about year 7 I started to ask more than before the big questions – is God really there? Is this just a lot of wishful thinking? What is this life all about anyway? I went to the Christian Union within the school to find answers and was told that “I just needed to have faith”, or words to that effect. As a result, out of frustration I left, and spent the next years wondering how I was going to get these questions answered.

I vividly remember on many nights lying in my bed at night thinking; “What is this all about? I could possibly get rich, famous, a nice family or any of these sorts of things. But where does it lead? What is the meaning? And what happens when I die?”. As I lay there I would often cry out; “God if you’re there – please show me – speak to me”. I didn’t have a clue if anyone could hear me, but something deep down hoped that there was something more.

This wilderness time continued until about half way through year 10. Two of my friends were Christians, and we had many debates and arguments. Often they would annoy me with their certainty on things – it seemed like cockiness, and only made my insecurities on spiritual matters more painful. I remember for ages wanting them to sit me down and tell me how they believed. And I remember making a deal with myself that if I ever found some of the answers, I would give all of those I knew a chance to hear too (part of the reason that I am writing this now).

They invited me on a weekend away with the Christian Union, and I decided it would be good fun, and that possibly I might find some answers (although I was fairly unconfident – I had written myself off as a person who could never have that sort of belief). At the weekend on the first night I had been drafted in to play piano for the band, and so I didn’t really pay attention to much that was being said. On the following day, during the daytime I had some good conversations with people: mainly about girls, but also just about the idea of faith and so on. To reiterate, I could never imagine myself being a true Christian at this point.

On that evening, I was not playing, and so was amongst everyone for the main meeting. During the time of singing, I was a little confused about how some people could get so into the singing, and I remember mocking them by pretending to lift my hands up in worship but really giving “wanker symbols” (technical term) to the band! But then all of a sudden something inside me stopped. I looked up at the words on the screen, and saw that they spoke about Jesus having died on the cross to save us from our sins. It is difficult to explain what happened at that moment – all I know is that suddenly something in the very depths of myself just said “yes!” And I stood there and prayed “God are you really there?” and again this voice (more of an intense “knowing”) seemed to cry out “yes”.

I was filled with a peace and a joy, and a feeling that everything had “fallen into place”. It was as if something inside of me had been awoken. I spent most of the next hour with this same feeling, and dedicated my life to this wonderful God. It was then too that I began to realise just how much I needed God – in many ways I had turned my back on Him and on those around me, and I needed forgiveness. This forgiveness was through the fact that God sent His own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross that I (and all of us) might have forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

Much of this took a while to sink in, but it had begun. Very quickly things started to change for me. Whereas before, I had been insecure, sarcastic and unhappy, I found myself liking people and getting on with them better, being less self centred and more generally full of a deep joy. I began to pray – I remember a time in the week after these events where I really liked a girl, and I prayed with a couple of friends that if it was right, then He would give me sign. Exactly at that moment, she walked into the room! I took that as a yes – for the record I don’t guarantee this as a fullproof method!

I have seen some amazing things since then. I have seen my life change, and the lives of many of those around me who have become followers of Jesus change. I met Kevin when he was a member of a gang in Croydon; he used to walk with weapons, beat people up and do a host of other messed up things. I had the privilege of seeing him become a Christian, and he is now both a dental materials student in London and shares his faith with those around him. He too has been completely transformed. I could list many other stories. I have known God carry me through some difficult times (as many who know me at university will have witnessed), and I have seen Him give me a plan and a purpose. Above all else, I have received His forgiveness and reconciliation through what Jesus Christ has done.

I can only say now that I do love Jesus, and he loves me, and that the life I now lead is for him and because of him. My motivation is from this, and whilst I'm sure I'm not always that best witness of it, this is what I am all about.

My friends, I share this with you not because I want you to take on a Christian label, so that I can feel good about myself. I don’t say it to you because I want to be right. But I know how much this has changed my life. I want each of you to experience this too. I want each of you to know that peace, joy and excitement of coming to know God. I know much of this will sound strange, but I can only say what I have seen!

I invite you all to explore this. Many opportunities exist – St Peter’s Christian Union and many other colleges will be running an “exploring Christianity” course next term, and many similar courses run in Oxford and across the country. Alternatively, if you would like to speak more personally, or have something to read, then please do speak to me or email me (Stephen.hibbs@spc.ox.ac.uk). God is there. He wants to know us, and to make our life complete. I leave you with this passage –

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7"