Evangelism in exam season

Exam season is not many people’s favourite time of year. The busyness of this time can cause us to press pause on lots of areas of life, including speaking about Jesus to our friends. While our heads are rightly down in our books and cue cards, how can we also have our eyes open to those around us and to the opportunities God is giving us?

Be present

One danger that the exam season can bring is that we turn in on ourselves and hide from others, both in revision and rest. Lots of us will need time on our own to study and relax, but maybe consider:

Work:

• When you’re planning your study time: which non-Christian friend could I ask to sit with at the library tomorrow? Or walk down to campus with?
• What’s a good question I can ask them to see how they’re doing at this time?

Rest:

• How can I make my rest time shared with others? (Perhaps suggest to your flat watching a TV series together rather than retreating to your rooms)
• Or if you want to rest alone: how can my rest time be something which blesses others? (Perhaps bake something simple for your coursemates)

Be real

As well as being away from friends, one barrier to sharing Jesus during exams can often be that we’re aware how much we’re like our friends. Maybe you’ve heard someone in CU say: ‘Exams are an amazing chance to show our mates that because of our identity in Christ we have so much peace and don’t worry!’ Maybe you’ve thought: ‘Well, I don’t feel very peaceful so I must not have much to share!’

Here we have an opportunity to be real, to show what life following Jesus is really like. We may feel like our friends: nervous, anxious, perhaps frustrated by housemates in a tense time. Don’t pretend those feelings aren’t there, instead share those feelings and then talk about how Jesus makes a difference in the ups and downs of those feelings! Let’s honour our friends by being authentic.

Don’t pretend those feelings aren’t there, instead share them and talk about how Jesus makes a difference in the ups and downs…

Another authentic way we can share with our friends is to care for them like we would our Christian friends. If you’d offer to pray for a fellow CU member if they’d shared how stressed they were, why not do the same for an unbelieving coursemate!

Be expectant

One final barrier to speaking about Jesus during the exam season can be that we don’t expect much. Now there are things to bear in mind – there’s a good reason your CU isn’t putting on an events week during this time! Our studies are a gift to be stewarded well. Yet God is the God of events week and exam season.

For me, not expecting much often means not praying much either. So why not regularly pray this simple prayer this exam season:

‘God give me open eyes, open ears and an open heart to those around me who need to hear of your love today.’

And see! Why not share how God answers that prayer with others in your Impact Group or CU group chat to encourage others to do the same.

Sharing Jesus in exam season has its challenges, but it’s not without opportunity. Be present. Be real. Be expectant. Who knows what God might do?