LIFT (English University-aged Ministry)

This year at Lift, we slightly changed our vision to better encapsulate what we want to be on about as a university ministry. We sought to be a community that loves God and loves others. Fleshing this out a bit more we identified some areas we wanted to grow in as a group: our hospitality, belonging to the group and organic-ness. And areas we wanted our members to grow in individually: knowledge and enjoyment of God, His word and His people. To this end, we did things a bit differently this year.

We started the year by going to a road trip in January. We enjoyed the time away spent together in God’s beautiful creation, sharing lives and deepening relationships.

In our regular meetings, we made the exciting change of adopting the cell group model which saw us meeting in the homes of members who generously showed us hospitality. This was a big blessing for us as the home provided not just physical warmth in the colder months, but also the warmth of reading the Bible together, and sharing and praying with one another in a homey environment. We also began cooking and having dinner together. It was challenging at first to shop and cook for a large group but as we adjusted, it became a real joy to come together each fortnight to enjoy a meal and conversations together.

We also moved away from pre-written studies and began writing the studies ourselves this year, exploring the person of Jesus in the book of Luke. We found that this allowed the discussion to be clearer in its flow, more pointed to the specific needs and circumstances of our members and deeper, more personal reflection. Our Lord remains as counter-cultural and expectation-exceeding 2000 years ago as He is to us today. He has challenged us deeply in His teachings yet comforted us tenderly in His compassion.  While the year came with its challenges for Lift, I am reminded that Jesus remains enthroned in heaven and Lord of all. God has graciously brought regular members along to Lift each fortnight and grown them in their desire to know and love Him. I am reminded that Christ’s power is made perfect in our weakness and that He is the one who transforms people and gives us new hearts. He has worked in ways far beyond our comprehension and we trust that He has a plan for the university students at North Side even when the path ahead seems uncertain. I am thankful that my co-leaders Alex and Ruby know and are convinced of these truths and that the love they have received from God overflows into the members they love and care for.

Matthew Lo (on behalf of LIFT leaders)