GBU Milano

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

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.

GBU Verona

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

The GBU group in Verona was formed not long ago but, as the Lord says, “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20), so even if there aren’t many of us, we have seen God working in the group, giving us a unique opportunity to meet together to study his word! We are working to share the blessings that God has given us with other students, in the hope that we can help and support those that need it.

Praise:

  • the opportunity he gives us to study his word with other brothers and sisters.
  • the sense of community and family that exists in the group.

Prayer:

  • That the Lord will enable us to grow as a group, bringing more students along each time we meet together, students who don’t yet know God.
  • For all of us that are part of this group.
  • That God would give us wisdom in organising activities, so that we can speak of him more often in the university context.

GBU Urbino

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

Praise:

  • immensely grateful for the new group of Christian students (and what a group!!!!) that God has given us this year. Here are the reasons why two of our students want to thank God:
  • “We thank God for the work of the GBU and that this year there has been a good number of freshers who have helped with activities from the very beginning. I believe it was God’s will to place me here, and I praise him for that.” Eunice
  • “At the beginning of the academic year, I asked God that I could be more active and useful for him. I prayed this prayer not yet knowing what the GBU was, so the way in which God answered has been significant because, at the same time, I’ve also discovered one of my gifts and how to use it to serve God. I know that nothing happens by chance, God’s plan is perfect.” Rachele
  • praise to God for the active participation of non-Christians in our activities.

Prayer:

  • Giacoma is about to graduate. Please pray that God would give us open hearts and ears to know which students are best suited to continue the work of the GBU as coordinators. More importantly, pray that we’d understand who it is that God wants to fill this (at times, quite challenging) role.
  • For our friends who continue to come along, not missing a single event; that God could break down any doubt or obstacle in their hearts and that he could enter their lives in a permanent way.
  • For the meetings planned for the months ahead, including a mini-training session for local students which we’ll be doing with Giovanni Donato at the end of April. A student from Ancona will also be joining us as he hopes to start a group there.

GBU Siena

Tempo di lettura: 2 minuti

The group in Siena have some important weeks ahead of them!
We’re preparing for the final sprint to the finish line, and in the next two months, marking the end of the academic year, we really are going to be working hard to put on lots of events. From 3rd to 6th May, we have our missions week which we’re calling “I’d like to believe, but…”
Each morning, the GBUers will be out and about doing questionnaires in the various faculties, whilst giving out flyers and inviting students to the different evening events. As for the evenings, we’ll have four different events with food, live music, a quiz and, most importantly, a time for sharing the gospel. We’ll actually be dealing with four of the most common obstacles which, according to university students, stop them from believing.
The missions week will be followed up with bible studies for the students interested in learning more about Jesus.
On 29th and 30th May we will be doing The Mark Drama, organised by the GBU in Siena in collaboration with brothers and sisters from two local churches who will be performing with us. We’re working hard towards this event and are looking for the perfect venue for the performance of The Mark Drama.

We really do have a lot get done, but we’re happy and eager to do it because it’s all for the Lord’s glory.
Praise:

  • a group that is constantly becoming more united, with GBUers always getting more involved in the university mission field
  • the possibility to periodically organise lots of events
  • God’s support in guiding us in the organisation of the upcoming events

Prayer:

  • The students in the GBU, their studies and their walk with the Lord
  • The missions week, The Mark Drama and everything that these two big events involve (especially a venue suitable for The Mark Drama)
  • The students that have already heard the gospel and will hear it again in the upcoming events. That the next few weeks would be decisive in their believing that Jesus is Lord and Saviour.

GBU Roma Tor Vergata

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

Praise:

  • We want to thank God for how our meetings have started again! We’re continuing to read from John’s gospel.
  • We thank God for Samanta, a student who is really open to the gospel!! Please pray for her too!!

Prayer:

  • MEETINGS COMING UP IN MAY: We have decided to do four studies as part of a theme: the four types of love, as described by C.S. Lewis. During these four meetings in May, we will read some passages from the Bible, chosen by us, along with parts of Lewis’ book.
  • On 3rd May, we will be spending the day doing various surveys around the university and publicising our May meetings!! Please pray that we’d have good conversations and that the Lord would use these meetings for his glory.
  • The upcoming summer exam period. Please also pray for those working on their dissertations. Many students are close to graduating, pray that the Lord would sustain them.

GBU Urbino

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

Praise:

  • excitement of the new group God gave us this year, a real desire to be involved and to speak to their friends about GBU. All this is very encouraging for the “old” GBU members.
  • the several studies and events that took place in the first months, including a conference on “Evolution: science or myth?” which gave us more visibility amongst the Urbino student population.
  • the students seeking Jesus who continue to attend the bible studies and activities, and also a couple of new entries.
Prayer:
  • we will have a mini-training with staff Giovanni Donato, also new students from nearby Fano and Cattolica will attend. Possibly a few more will come from Ancora, where it looks like there could be a new GBU group soon! Pray for Ancora!
  • wisdom for the choice of new student leaders for the following year(s).
  • for future meetings and for the students we are following, some already attend GBU, others don’t.

GBU Siena

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

In February we went back to full-pace, weekly activities, bible studies and Language Exchange. Our group showed a desire to restart and to work for the proclamation of the Gospel in the university. In the first part of the year we collected a good number of contacts; we are now working on personal relationships with collegues and friends to keep sharing Jesus.

Praise:

  • A group that is large, united and willing to serve God.
  • Our staff that support us with commitment and passion.
  • The support of two local churches that embrace the GBU vision and ministry.
  • Zach, a kiwi who is here with the IFES Interaction program and who will start working fulltime with GBU in this next term.

Prayer:

  • That the activities we started will be effective for the spreading of the gospel.
  • For future events. There are many projects we would like to bring about and we need the Lord’s guidance and support.
  • For the prayer of the GBU members, so that everything we do has a sound foundation on the prayer in Christ.

GBU Bologna

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

Praise:

  • for the italian and international students that attend the group activities this year. Many are new and some will only be in Italy for a short time, but we are thankful to the Lord for allowing us to meet them and share the gospel with them.

Prayer:

  • for their lives and spiritual growth.
  • for the next event we have planned with GBU Florence: the Wintercamp, on Feb 25-27. It will be a time to hang out together, make friends and read the Bible together.

GBU Potenza

Tempo di lettura: < 1 minuto

GBU Potenza had a tremendous experience in December due to the production of a musical, “Fame”. Many young people, united by the passion for the musical, rewrote the script of this famous stage production to bring a message of faith, forgiveness and love in God.

Praise:

  • every person who participated in this project;
  • the strong message presented with the musical;
  • the many opportunities that the Lord has in store for us every day.

Prayer:

  • for every GBU member and his/her life in Christ in the university;
  • for the new semester  we have ahead of us;
  • for the students in our university, that they can understand the importance of the Christian life.

GBU Torino – international group

Tempo di lettura: 2 minuti

Since September 2015 there has been an Interaction Team focusing on International Students in Torino and we are very encouraged with how things have been going.

The year started with an International Welcome Outreach Week and during that week many students were contacted as they arrived to register in the Politecnico di Torino. We spend a lot of time talking to students as they went to the campus and giving invitations to different events.

The programme included, a welcome dinner, walking tour of Torino, sports in Parco Valentino and an Apericena. There were more than 30 students from over 8 different countries at the dinner and many of them have continued to come to our meetings.

Since October we have been meeting with a regular group of International Students every other Tuesday evening. The meetings are social with food and some cultural or fun elements. However each evening we have some time dedicated to thinking about the Christian faith either through apologetic talks, discussions, testimonies or short evangelistic talks. The highlight of the term was the Thanksgiving Meal. Thirty International Students attended the traditional American Thanksgiving Meal and a local American Pastor gave a clear Gospel message.

Most of the Internationals who attend the events are not yet Christians and come from countries closed to the Gospel. It is exciting to see them engaging with Jesus and finding out more about who He is and how He transforms lives today.

Please pray for:

  • Stephi the Interaction volunteer who works tirelessly to build relationships and reach International students in the city.
  • The students who have heard about Jesus (some for the first time) since arriving in Torino. Pray they would see who He is and grow to love Him.