About
So. Year 12 is over. Congrats! What now? If you’re heading to uni (or applying to do so), there’s one important thing to do that you won’t hear everywhere: Join the Christian group on campus!
At Heading to Uni, we’re all about making that happen as smoothly as possible. We really, genuinely, believe that God uses uni Christian groups to change people’s lives. If you give it time, it might even change yours too.
What a uni Christian group actually is
Campus Christian groups/Bible groups/Christian societies are student-led, campus-based Christian communities. While each group has a different story, they exist for similar reasons:
to train students to tell others about Jesus while at uni
to encourage Christians to grow in their faith
to grow Christians in Christian doctrine and leadership, and,
to send Christians into the world as servants of Jesus.
Day-to-day, that looks like meeting together to study the Bible and explore how it applies to every part of our lives, hear talks from people explaining God’s Word and other aspects of the Christian faith, praying together, and doing evangelism on campus.
Uni Christian groups are made up of all types of people: people who are Christian, people who are exploring, or just along for the ride. Everyone’s welcome — that includes you.
A Christian group will help you understand the world from a Christian point of view.
Why we think it’s worth your time
We’ll get down to it: if you’re heading to uni, then being part of your Christian group is an essential part of your uni experience.
Uni is a wild time. Being a uni student means you’re exposed to a whole host of amazing (and some-not-so-amazing) new ideas, people and opportunities. And you’ve got a fresh start. It’s a time when you’ll be sorting out some of the bigger questions of life — questions like ‘Who am I?’ ‘What will I do with my life?’ ‘What is my place in this world?’ In fact, you’re probably already asking most of them already. And uni is a great time to try to find answers to your questions.
Why? Because being part of a Christian group on campus will help you understand the world from a Christian point of view. This really does change everything!
Not only that, but if you’re a Christian then being at uni will be a great time for you to meet other Christians on campus. These are often spaces where lifelong friends are made, as you grow together in an intense and significant stage of life. You’ll also grow together in your Christian understanding, be trained and equipped to serve God’s church, and deeply consider how best to follow Jesus for all your life.
And if you’re not a Christian, then being part of a Christian group will enable you to meet others on campus and consider as an adult the claims of Jesus on your life. The message of Christianity, if true, is literally life-changing. Why not use your time on campus to consider the Bible’s answers to life’s big questions?
“Knowing there were other Christians on campus made the transition to uni a lot less daunting.”
— Emily (Campus Bible Study, UNSW)
What we think it may cost you
Of course it doesn’t cost any money to join your Christian group!
But — we want to be honest — being part of a Christian group at uni may come with its own costs.
Less time to study, because you decide to prioritise Bible study
Less availability for work shifts, because you want to come to a Bible talk on a day with no class
Mocking or disapproval from friends, classmates or teachers
Leaving with radically different life plans from when you entered uni
Consider as an adult the claims of Jesus on your life
And yet…
We really, truly, believe that it’s worth it! We believe that God is powerful and delights in seeing us come to a deeper love and knowledge of himself. Knowing God better, trusting in him more, and having every part of life shaped by his Gospel is better than anything.
We promise.
But more than us promising… God does too.
One more thing… who are we to tell you to join?
Fair question. We’re AFES, or the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students. We’re a national fellowship (it’s in the name) of affiliated student groups on universities all around Australia. We’re students and staff members who are convinced Jesus is who he says he is.
We encourage students to take initiative in reaching their friends with the Christian Gospel and to be trained and equipped for a lifetime of serving Jesus.
Or, in the words of our mission statement…
In prayerful dependence on God, AFES proclaims Jesus Christ at university to present everyone mature in Him, by building student groups that evangelise, encourage, train and send.
AFES is affiliated with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), of which it was a founding member in 1947.
You can find out more info about AFES on our website.