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With the GBU Poli we started online studies on Romans, and at the end of each study we stay on zoom chatting or playing, this continues to create familiarity and intimacy in the group.

In the last meeting some very interesting questions came out, but also very complex to deal with. We plan to dedicate a few meetings to address them by searching the Bible for answers and then later, if necessary, ask for someone’s help.

Praise:

  • Group unity and involvement in the meetings

Prayer:

  • Wisdom to understand how to respond to the doubts and curiosity of the group.
  • Trying to involve new friends

My name is Marianna Rinaldi, I am a former student from Milan. I graduated in Planning and Management of Social Policies and Services.

Thanks to the work of some students at my university, I have seen the GBU come to life and grow with a power and richness that I rarely had the grace to experience.

This work has allowed me to discover how there is nothing more fascinating or attractive than the person of the Lord Jesus, known in his word, accessible to every person, and therefore to every student.

That is why today, as a former student, I want to continue to support this very special mission.

Cristiano is a former student from Milan. Proud to be a Milanese doc (a very rare category), he graduated from his hometown with a degree in philosophy in 2020.

Raised with believing parents, he attended church from an early age but only encountered God’s grace in a personal way in his late teens.

Determined not to miss any more opportunities, he met and worked with the GBU at his university during his undergraduate years and discovered a passion for proclaiming the gospel to students and friends.
Having experienced the beauty and effectiveness of GBU, he is now eager to help new students carry on the mission at the university.

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Praise
  • For the new arrivals in the group, because they’ve just started university and will therefore still be at the Polytechnic for the next 2 or 3 years, which will guarantee group continuity.
  • For the students who started to come along in the past and are now our friends, that they too will keep coming to the meetings.
  • The Mission Convention at the start of November where we have been able to have a stand where we can publicise the GBU, speak to some students and make believers from different churches aware of our vision.
Prayer
  • For each group member to be more involved in the activities, that we could be united and happy about the freedom we have to witness at the university.
  • More participation in the weekly studies, that students would come regularly and manage to balance their GBU commitments with those of the university.
  • The end of year event which should be in mid December, that lots of people will come and for those giving biblical talks.
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Praise
  • Because we can share God publicly in our university.
  • For the enthusiasm of the group of believers and that non-believers are regularly joining in.
  • Because we’ve found excellent places where we can meet.
Prayer
  • That God would give us the wisdom and ability to share His Word.
  • That non-believers who come to our meetings would convert.
  • To help us always remember why we’re doing what we’re doing.
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Praise
  • Gifts we’ve received
  • Spaces we’ve been given for the outreach conference
  • That a new group has developed in the state university
Prayer
  • We’ll be doing an outreach activity from 9 to 13 April in collaboration with the REM bus and the Gideons
  • The conferences of Paul Chatfield on 16 April at the Polytechnic on self worth and on 2 May at the Bicocca University, “Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and atheism… who’s telling the truth?”
  • The new young people who are attending our meetings
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In the second week of lectures we handed out 2500 “Short Guides to Polilife”. The idea of distributing a large quantity of these comes from needing to make ourselves known as the GBU within the University. Whereas the idea of the guides comes from wanting to do something nice, useful and free for our friends.

The folding guide is 12 pages long and contains information about how to reach the Polytechnic, where to eat, a map of the various buildings, lecture theatres, playing fields, photocopying shops and other significant places, in addition to an introduction to what the GBU is and our contacts. We’ve translated it all into English so that we can give it to international students as well and we’ve added 10 fun tips on practical life in an informal “student to student” tone.
Several Italian and international young people stopped to ask us for more information or simply why we do what we do, and four of them wrote to us on Facebook to find out when and where we meet.
A lot of people reacted positively, affirming that it was a good idea, and the graphics were done well. A huge number of people were also amazed to read about the GBU.

Praise
  • For how God has lead the distribution of guides and for the young people we’ve made contact with (for example, Valentin, a French believer and young man discovered us through the guide, he’s attending regularly and has become an active member of the group).
  • For the opening event which was a blessing: we had a wonderful evening with around 60 people!
  • For times of growth and training (for example a meeting with staff and two international women helpers which enabled us to deepen the topic of “world views” and how to reach students from other cultures).
Prayer
  • For links with local churches, that they might share and support GBU’s vision.
  • For the “PP”s (Prayer Players), in the smaller prayer subgroups we’ve formed to get to know one another better
  • That there were would be more and more enthusiasm, participation and interest on the part of group members
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Praise:

  • We thank God for the first event (treasure hunt) where we also had new non-believers who came back for the Bible study.
  • We are planning a lot of activities and are very keen.
  • There are two of us women co-ordinators this year. We thank God for the collaboration.

Prayer:

  • We are trying to become an association which will be recognised within the university. Pray there will not be any glitches.
  • For the non-believer contacts we meet up with regularly and for those who we scarcely see that we would establish stable contact with them.
  • For us as believers in the group that we will not lose the enthusiasm we had in the first year and that we will grow spiritually.
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Praise:

  • for how God has always provided a place for our meetings, meaning we have never had to postpone
  • for the great sense of friendship and participation that’s forming in the group
  • for the various non-Christians that have continued to come along since the first meetings, and for the newcomers joining us

Prayer:

  • for the meetings planned for the rest of the academic year, that God would give us wisdom in the organisation and running of both the bible studies and extra events
  • for a student in our group who is going through a difficult time. Her family are Hindu and she’s not free to follow Christ the way she would like. Thanks to the GBU she was able to attend a bible study for the first time in her life, but is now having difficulty coming along. Please pray that God would give her strength during this time and that he could soften the hearts of her family.