Passionate about unity

Gathering and uniting all Christians around the essential truths of the gospel.

The work of UCCF began over 100 years ago and the vision of this ministry remains the same today as it was back in 1919, ‘to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the student world.’ As a fellowship of staff, students and supporters, we’re united in this mission. And it’s our hope and prayer that we would be marked by our values. Here Ang Dalton (North East Team Leader) shares why we’re passionate about celebrating and protecting our unity.

Love one another

Jesus is on the road to the cross. In a shockingly beautiful act of servanthood, He has just washed His disciples' feet, and is now speaking to them in some pretty big terms. He begins, ‘By this, everyone will know you are my disciples…’ By what? Their preaching, reputation, miracles? No. He finishes the sentence: ‘By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (John 13:35).

These words so often surprise me. At face value, it doesn’t feel like a very dramatic marker for Jesus’ people. But when I stop to think about it, and particularly when I stop to think about my experience with Christian Unions, the truth and wonder of these words is unmistakeable.

CUs are made up of people who are very, very different! Students from different countries, cultural heritages, church backgrounds; people who would choose to spend their free time doing completely different things, who communicate in different ways and have a range of perspectives.

Loving people, loving Jesus’ people, despite your differences, is hard! We see this in the Church and it’s true for student-led CUs too. But we're convinced that Jesus’ instructions to be distinctive remain true and are vital for us today.

1. Unity is a powerful witness

The gospel is powerfully demonstrated as people witness our love for one another. This is why we are passionate about unity and committed to it, even when it’s costly. Time after time at mission weeks, seeking students comment on the welcoming, loving community they find in CU. Friendships form that you could never imagine. The deep love of gospel unity is shown when students who have differing views read the Bible together and invite someone else to join them. Or when they stand next to each other at a first-contact stall, inviting others to consider Jesus.

2. United CUs have a unique mission opportunity

One of my absolute favourite things about working with CUs is this unity because we see the unique opportunity to reach university campuses together with the gospel.

When we stand together in Jesus, people have a better chance of seeing Him. CU students are so uniquely placed to reach their peers with the gospel: as they study in lecture theatres, live alongside others in halls and join university societies. These unique opportunities are made even more of when CUs stand passionately united, and we invite seekers into a distinctive, united campus community.

Scripture talks plainly about the power of dwelling in unity. In Acts we see that the gospel unites people who couldn’t go into the temple together. We see churches built with Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and free. People see their love for each other and for Jesus; the Holy Spirit moves powerfully; the gospel spreads. It’s a totally compelling apologetic. Doing lots of little tribal things separately limits the potential for impact.

We work hard to maintain our unity. We unite around our Doctrinal Basis, core gospel doctrines that we celebrate as evangelicals, because it’s important to clarify what specifically we’re united on! But we also agree to be generous in other areas, acknowledging that we can have differing opinions and work together for God’s glory.

3. Maintaining unity is hard work…but it's worth it

At our Regional Forums, training conferences for CU leaders, we often tell students that at some point every CU member should feel uncomfortable in a CU meeting – that assures someone else is comfortable. This is something we can feel across the whole fellowship, whether staff, students or supporters. At times we might feel uncomfortable, and we must commit again to uniting around core gospel truths.

I’m convinced that our unity is a powerful witness as we seek to reach students with the gospel. It's a unity that's worth protecting.

• When I see a student who is totally different from me come into CU and bring their mate with them, I think, this is worth it.
• When I see students from very different churches in the same city leading a missional group in their halls of residence together, I think, it’s worth it.
• And when a seeking student walks into the CU and asks, ‘What on earth do all these people have in common?’, I know it’s worth it.

And we tell them about our beautiful Saviour who says, ‘By this, people will know that you are my disciples.’ Jesus was passionate about unity; we must seek to be too.

This article was written by Ang Dalton, North East Team Leader. It was first published in our termly magazine, Impact. Sign up today to receive the next edition by post.