Open University Student Dan Golding Invites Virtual Students To His Virtual CU!
So the new university students are welcomed! and Fresher's Week is well and truly over. Perhaps you have just settled into Halls of Residence? And are breathing a sigh of relief? Perhaps you are looking for a church to worship at? Perhaps you want to join a Christian Union?...
What if you are not a full time student - what do you do to secure that Christian fellowship and community? Open University student Dan Golding has the answer! He has set up a 'virtual' Facebook based Christian Union for Open University students across the UK!
Read Dan's fascinating 'Q & A' session with Emma!
(PICTURES: DAN GOLDING, OPEN UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN UNION LOGO)
Tell us about yourself?
I've been in Bath since 2007 when I started at the University of Bath. I have since left that degree and am completing my degree through the Open University whilst both working for Bath based charity Golden Oldies and pursuing a career in marketing.
How did you come up with the Fab idea of a virtual Christian Union?
Having been involved with the Bath University Christian Union I really experienced the benefit of having a network of other Christians that a CU made possible; the support and friendships were simply invaluable. When I started with the Open University I realised that if something similar could exist it would have to look quite different but could still play a similar role of support and encouragement for those in a similar study situation all around the UK.
I finally got round to establishing the Open University Christian Union in August this year and it has been slowly gaining members since!
How does the group operate?
The Open University Christian Union is an online group (both on the Open University website and Facebook) for Christian staff and students to encourage each other in their faith and arrange to meet together in prayer and praise.
It is both an online platform to share encouragements, helpful resources and points for prayer and praise with each other and a catalyst for arranging evenings of prayer and praise among local Christian OU students.
What are the main needs for members so far?
The main need is genuinely simply prayer. Now the OUCU is established online it simply needs other Christians to come across it and join up. There isn't really any official way of 'advertising' it as such. Hopefully God can bring people to the group and soon a national network can begin to develop. Please pray that people find the group!
What does it offer?
An invaluable source of encouragement and resources for Christian students who might otherwise be isolated from other Christians in their position. The nature of studying with the OU is that societies and social groups are not prioritised in the same way. Having a connection to other Christians who are studying in the same manner and who can understand similar struggles or ambitions is invaluable.
It will not only provide the comfort of knowing there are other Christians who are in the same situation, support in prayer and with useful resources, but the goal is for Christians in different local areas to eventually meet together for prayer and praise.
How do you want it to develop?
As more people join the groups and online discussions, pockets of local people will hopefully develop where they will be able to meet together to encourage each other, pray and praise together. Ultimately, a national conference weekend would be fantastic to bring people from all over the UK in this position together!
Final words?
Please do let anyone involved with the Open University whether students or staff know about the OUCU groups. They can be found on Facebook or on the Open University website!