By Zac Wille
Orientation Week at the University of Otago is essentially a week-long party with lots of activities, fun, and partying. In the midst of it all, our team was seeking ways to meet and connect with students. We tried sitting with strangers over lunch, playing spike ball and volleyball on campus, and handing out thousands of sausages alongside other Christian groups. We’ve been encouraged by the students we’ve made connections with. And we’re also trying to take a learning approach to the campus, Otago students, and O-week in general.
One day, as we were eating lunch with strangers, Catherine, one of our intern staff, and I sat next to Harry and engaged in conversation. Harry grew up in a Christian home but has spent most of University living apart from following Jesus. Last year, he realised he needed to make Christianity a bigger part of his life.
After agreeing to coffee to chat more, I learned that Harry had recently encountered a new flatmate, who was surprised to learn that Harry was a Christian. This startled Harry and prompted him to reflect on whether he was actually living the Christian life he claimed to identify with.
Harry commented that he had heard in a sermon that being a Christian meant being “Christ-like.” He felt as though he was disappointing God in the way he was living and needed to be more like Jesus. I asked Harry if Jesus was sitting next to us, what he thought Jesus might want to say to him? Harry thought Jesus would want to tell him to “lock in.” My hope for Harry is that he would see and believe the deep love that God has for him. Yes, Harry will need intentionality if he wants to reflect Christ better, but my hope is that Harry’s sense of duty to imitate Christ doesn’t cause him to lose sight of the love God has for him. Harry has referred to our connection as a “God moment,” saying he’s really needed to connect with more Christians.
In the coming weeks and months, we’ll see whether Harry remains connected to us, but my hope is that he will grow to reflect more and more of the love of Christ to the watching world around him. I hope that God would use Harry to bring Christ to his non-believing flatmates and friends, and that Harry would be a foundational part of establishing the Otago Navigator ministry.
Would you join us in praying for Harry and for more students like him? Across New Zealand, thousands of students are entering Uni, and many are considering what it looks like to continue living as a Christian in those spaces. Pray with us for more “God moments” where we connect with students seeking hope and encouragement in their relationship with God.
