A levels? – check.
UCAS acceptance letter? – check.
Ready for university life? – ummmm...
Are you raring to begin university, faith and all, or slightly nervous about whether your relationship with God will survive the transition to campus life? This can be one of the biggest milestones of our lives, and so here are some bullet point headlines to help you as you prepare.
1. God is as present at university as he is at church, that summer festival or that short-term mission
Why not commit to memorising Psalm 139:7-12 as a way to remember his presence wherever you are headed?
2. There are lots of churches eager to welcome you
Here's a simple way to link up with a student friendly church before you arrive.
3. There are other Christians at your university
How about connecting up with a student group that meets at your university?
4. There is no intellectual challenge to your faith that is too big for God to handle
Why not do a bit of reading that will help you handle the most common objections to Christian faith? Tim Keller's The Reason For God is a great one to start with, or watch some of these helpful short videos.
5. The Holy Spirit will help you with how to live, what to say and how to stand up for Christ
Why not ask another member of your church or youth group to stand with you and pray for you or with you (via Skype or Facetime) for at least the first term?
6. There are some brilliant resources to help you get ready
You might want to read some books that are designed to help you prepare for life as a Christian at university. Try Fresh: Bite Size Inspiration for the University Challenge by Krish Kandiah, or Living Mission by Miriam Swafield and Rich Wilson.
7. University can be the place where you see unprecedented spiritual growth as you step out in faith
Why not book an appointment with your church leader or youth worker to discuss how you can make the most of your university experience?
8. Many people discover God's call on their life whilst at university
Next time you are with your church, ask a few people who went to university what their top tips are for making the most of the opportunity.
9. God can use you to help your uni friends come to know Christ
Think about getting involved with Student Alpha or UCCF's UnCover initiative.
10. Standing firm in your principles when faced with a culture of binge drinking and casual sex honors Christ and can win you a lot of respect for having integrity
It's not going to be easy, that's why you need the support of a church and a campus group. Here's Peter's encouragement to stay strong: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1 Peter 2:12).
11. There are many broken and hurting students who will need friends who love them for who they are
Start praying for the students you will share accommodation with and for your future course mates. Ask that God would lead you to people that you can help.
12. Just because you have left home doesn't mean you have left your church family
Get on the mailing list/facebook page for your home church so you can stay in touch. This will make it much easier to get involved when you go back in the holidays or after uni.
13. Your studies are preparing you to play your role in God's plans for our world
This video from Os Guiness may help you think about discerning God's call on your life.
14. You can learn how to live on a budget
Learn to budget before you go and find out about student welfare help if you think you are going to need it. The good people at Christians Against Poverty have a top 10 list of tips for student budgeting. Familiarising yourself with this may enable you to help others as well as avoid patterns that could cause you difficulty in the long run.
15. There is no temptation that you will face at university that is impossible to resist
Hold on to these words from God: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13-14).
16. Brothers and sisters around the world are facing huge challenges for being Christians at their university. Be inspired by their stories, witness and God's sustaining grace
Read these two stories from students in Kenya and Sierra Leone.
17. Thanks to the invention of Pot Noodle and the wonders of church hospitality, you won't starve
Think about learning to cook some quick and simple meals before you leave, not just so that you have enough to eat, but so that you can practice hospitality too.
18. Chocolate can open a lot of doors
If you are worried about making friends, try to be one of the first to arrive and take a tin of chocolates with you. It will be a lot easier to meet people as they arrive one by one than to turn up late and have to meet everyone together.
19. You will have longer holidays than you have ever known
This will give you lots of opportunities to earn money, gain experience in your future career, travel, volunteer and serve God – start planning now! Check out this exciting chance to learn from the global Church.
20. God is greater than any challenge you have to face
Here's a song it might be worth getting into your soul:
My prayer is that you enjoy the university experience, that through it you are brought closer to God and that you make Christian friends for life. I ask God that through you, others would come to know Christ and that you would gain a call from God about how best to use the privilege of your education to show Christ's love to a hurting world.
