Updates from Dunedin
VCF
Varsity Christian Fellowship studied the Psalms in semester 1, which allowed for a bunch of different kinds of meetings like a bonfire on the beach with worship and sharing psalms. This semester they are studying the life of David and trying to reach out to students on campus through events and one-on-one meetups. Pray that God’s will would lead the group and be the centre of the weekly meetings, and that the students we reach would be drawn closer to God.
OCF
The Overseas Christian Fellowship in Dunedin studied Genesis and the life of Abraham in first semester. The Easter retreat was a great highlight and a time of growing closer to God. They have also had a number of outings such as a trip to Tunnel Beach and a hotpot night.
Pray they would see God bring along more international students to weekly meeting, and for some current members to step into leadership positions.
CMF
The Christian Medical Fellowship had an encouraging first semester with plenty of second year students coming regularly. We have had plenty of opportunities to bond as a group, forging good relationships through potluck dinners, pizza lunches and our first semester retreat.
Weekly meetings vary from hearing speakers within the Medical school to studying the Bible together and meeting for prayer with the other health sciences groups.
Pray that the group continues to follow God and meet its potential in terms of outreach and equipping future doctors to take their faith into their workplace. We are thankful that God has raised up a committed group of second year leaders going in to second semester.
DCG
The Dentistry Christian Group meets each week to study James. It’s been great seeing new faces, and they now have people representing all the different areas of dentistry. They will also be welcoming students from Malaysia who are joining for the rest of their degrees.
A particular highlight was the retreat just before Easter. Coming up they have a bake sale to raise funds for IFES groups overseas, and would appreciate prayer for this and the other TSCF-wide outreach they are involved in.
PCG
The Pharmacy Christian Group has heard speakers from the school of pharmacy talk about how faith interacts with being a pharmacist. The group provides a great opportunity for students across the year groups to interact and support each other. They would appreciate prayer for God to raise up new leaders from within the group for next year.
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As a whole, TSCF students at Otago University were really encouraged by the midyear Summit Conference and the team of Californian InterVarsity students who stayed with us in the following week. We were stretched in so many ways by their Story Project outreach, which required us to go up to passing students and invite them to have a conversation with us about God and different stories from the Bible.
We kicked off semester two with a quiz night and the Barn Dance outreach. Please pray for all the leaders, that God will lead them and that we will be able to take all the opportunities provided by these events to share the gospel.
Pray for the students we have already reached, that God will touch their hearts.
TSCF also has a student flat in Dunedin where students are encouraged to live in community. There are nine students taking part in this this year, committing to be around the flat at meals and to praying together during the week. This has been a great growing experience for those involved, pray for the residents this year and also for the coming year as we look for next year’s residents and try to expand what we are able to do.