By Tim Simpson
For 4 days in early September, students from Auckland and Christchurch descended on Glenroy Camp near Hororata for our annual National Student Gathering. In the centre of the main hall in large letters was a verse from Joshua 3 v 10 saying “The Living God is Among You”. We definitely experienced this during our time together as we engaged with God’s word, His amazing creation, and with each other.
Our theme for this event was “Encounter – Face to Face with the Living God”, where Brian Wachter shared challenging talks from people in the bible who encountered God, were then transformed by Him and used to be fruitful for Him. We also heard from a special guest, Keiichi Kitahara, of the Japanese Navigators, who shared his own story of encountering God, being personally transformed by Him, and how God is using him to bear fruit among university students in Japan. The challenge was laid down for all attendees to do likewise.
Alongside our main talks, we offered numerous workshops to practically equip students in spiritual disciplines, enabling them to encounter God for themselves. Here are a few reflections that were shared from students who attended:
“This weekend, I discovered that God wants to use me, even if I am not perfect. He knows me and sees me.”
“The NSG helped me to see that I am completely His and He created me for His glory”
“My faith was something I put on the back burner, but now I’m encouraged to encounter God daily and spread it to others”
“As a new Christian, I may not be equipped as others, but I can plant a seed and pray that God can help it grow, just as He did in me”
Praise God for his work through this event! Like all things in our student ministry, our gathering this year has grown in numbers, such that we have outgrown Glenroy Lodge for future years. However, we know that the Living God will continue to be among us as we help students know Christ and make Him known.
