by Bill Sundstrom
Bristol boasts a strong Christian heritage. George Mueller founded his orphanage here, while John and Charles Wesley used the city as a base for their circuit-riding journeys through Wales. The Agapé team is believing that God will once again make Bristol a centre of spiritual influence.
The city of Bristol, England, is built around two rivers, according to Martin Riddall, a former R.A.F. mechanic working with Agapé in this southwest England city. One river flows to the sea, changing quite dramatically between high and low tide. The second is a river of students, who enter as Freshers and flow out some three years later as graduates. This second river ebbs and flows through the year, with terms and holidays marking the tides.
Martin and his team want to help each of the 36,000 students in Bristol hear the gospel. In order to do that, they challenge Christian students to greater commitment, they emphasise spiritual multiplication, and they work alongside, as he puts it, “anybody who wants to see people saved.”
4,000 Burgers
Martin and Rachel Riddall opened the university ministry in Bristol two years ago. “I believe a “movement” is when you set an idea in motion,” says Martin. “Then when it comes back to you, the person who tells you doesn’t know where the idea first came from.”
During Fresher’s Week this Autumn, Martin and his team helped make a splash by joining forces with Woodlands Church, located in the heart of the student precinct. Church members grilled 4,000 burgers and sausages, sliced up lots of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber, and dished out mile upon mile of cheese – all to serve up a feast for the new wave of students.
Seven people from Agapé joined Woodland’s student outreach team, donning red T-shirts and welcoming a stream of students into “Fresher’s Fest 2008.” Favourites like Wii games, live music and sumo wrestling suits served to draw attention.
The team introduced students to a concept called Soularium. Here’s how it works: participants gather around a collection of 50 different images.
Last winter Martin discipled Chris Harlow—shown above (right) doing door-to-door evangelism—and helped him lead his own group. “I want my faith to be more than words,” said Chris, a physics and philosophy major who graduated last spring. “Discipleship is a way to fulfil the Great Commission that seems to work.”
Then they answer questions about their lives by pointing to the images that best sum up where they’re at. This helps people get to know each other, and allows them to explore each other’s spiritual needs and desires.
Since Fresher’s Fest the team has been in contact with several students. Some have joined an Alpha course which began promptly after the festivities.
A Post-Modern Meeting
After the Fest, the Bristol team began experimenting with a new type of meeting built around a meal. Designed to reach a post-modern age, the meeting involves bringing non-believing friends and chatting about whatever comes up. Usually the conversation turns to spiritual things, and often continues later in the week.
Ideally the group will grow to about 25, and then split in two. True multiplication will begin when students begin leading their own groups.
But this takes a serious commitment by people willing to swim against the tide. So a few weeks into term, Martin invited 24 believing students to his house. “If you want to work with us this year,” he declared, “we require regular attendance at our core discipleship group and deliberate evangelistic activity. Bring your non-Christian friends regularly to our team meals so we can demonstrate Christianity to them. And you must attend the winter conference.”
Raising the Bar
Ultimately, only five accepted the challenge. “We raised the bar high,” says Martin, “and we encouraged students to commit to one group or another.” The Bristol team knows that committed students doing spiritual multiplication will make spiritual waves.
Located in the heart of the student precinct, Woodlands church is well placed to make an impact on students.
“We help students reach their friends,” explains Martin. “That is how I, a non-academic person in an academic world, can make an impact. Train students to reach others.”
And as these students graduate, they will flow into a sea of people who need the Lord, ready to explain their faith and make a difference.
To find out more about Soularium, Click Here