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Wotsit

Students always receive a warm welcome to the church along with everyone else! We usually hold a special welcome meal early in the first term to which all are welcome, even if you don't come again although we hope that you will!

As well as the welcome meal, we provide lunch every Sunday during term time for any students visiting us. We will also provide transport to and from our services.

As well as the food, OEFC also organises a prayer list at exam time so that the congregation can remember those who have exams. You don't have to come regularly to get on the list.

The church is well positioned for students, being a short walk from the Oadby halls of residence.

We encourage any students who are willing, to get involved in the church whether it be in the youth work, as musicians or in any other way.

Choosing a church

Deciding on a church to go to is just one of the many decisions you will have to make in your first term. But, first, the big question.

	Why bother with church at all?

• Meeting with other Christians and being taught God's word is how we grow.
• You will meet Christians of different ages and backgrounds - not just students.
• You will get teaching on important subjects that you wont get at CU.

The patterns you set at university (particularly early on) are a good indication of those you will keep later in life.

Here are some good tips on how to find a good church that will support you over the next few years.

• Ask your home church leaders if they can recommend one - it may well be that they know a good church or have some contacts for you.
• Go along to the CU and see if you can go to church with some of the students from there - they may well be arranging to meet people before church or have produced some sort of 'good church guide' - that way you'll be intorduced to 'student friendly' churches and will be able to go with people you already know.
• Try a couple of different churches - and not necessarily just what you're used to - but be wary of the danger of church-hopping and never actually settling anywhere.
• Don't be put off by just one service - especially if it's not one of their normal ones - try the church at other times too.
• Don't look for the perfect church - many people never settle in church because they are looking for a church which doesn't exist - just find somewhere which is faithful to the Bible, focused on the gospel and welcoming, and stick with it, even if it's not exactly how you would like it!

• Is the church faithful to the gospel and does it teach the Bible? (Titus 1:19)
• Do the church leaders submit themselves to God's word (Titus 1:7-9)
• Is there genuine concern among the believers to spur one another on in their faith? (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Is the church body obviously a Christian community where people love one another? (1 John 3:11-18)

Reproduced with kind permission. UCCF ©