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Missions

Students for Christ

University students in postmodern Europe live in a spiritual vacuum. Their religious experiences as children were minimal, attending church primarily for weddings and funerals. One university professor explained, "We have our religious life, and we have our everyday life, and we don't mix them." As a result, young people see faith as antiquated, irrelevant and hypocritical.

Rising to the challenge, Students for Christ (SFC) has formed ministry groups on campuses in many European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Poland and Spain. SFC is the international equivalent of Chi Alpha, the Assemblies of God ministry to the United States secular campus.

Stephen and Deanne Turley, missionaries to Belgium , have been working with SFC since 1999. They are dedicated to reaching and discipling university students through Bible studies, outreach and personal evangelism. In five years, SFC Belgium has grown from one Bible study with two students to active student groups at five universities. Over 100 students are involved; plus leadership training or cell prayer groups meet at two other campuses.

The Turley's primary ministry focus, the Free University of Brussels, is officially atheistic. Christian meetings aren't allowed on campus, so the Turleys host students in their home once a week. Their goal is to locate property near the campus for a coffee shop where students could study, snack or visit with friends and listen to music. Steffi, a young woman from Austri , is proof that this kind of fellowship is important.

Steffi turned away from church as a teenager. She often spent time with the Turleys, but never went to the weekly SFC meetings. She told them frankly, "I know I need to turn my life back over to God, but I'm just not ready to take that step."

Steffi returned to Austria to finish her degree. However, God brought her back to Brussels to complete an internship at a local business. She spent more time with the Turleys, and when school started, attended a back-to-school barbecue. The next week Steffi ate dinner with the Turleys. Before the weekly SFC meeting, Steffi talked to Deanne. "Last night I gave my life back to Christ," she said excitedly. "One of the things that really influenced my decision was being here at the barbecue last Friday and seeing how much everybody at SFC cares for each other."

An outreach the Turleys have found successful is coffee giveaways-offering free coffee to students from a table set up near the university gates. Because students lack understanding of spiritual truth, the spiritual climate is open—to eastern religion, astrology and philosophy. Stephen and Deanne witness to many students, giving a copy of the Gospel of John to those who are interested. SFC's challenge is to help students make the leap from the dead cultural religion of their childhood to the living, powerful Christ who speaks to their seeking hearts and cares about their daily lives.