Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Spike [: or, Victoria University College Review 1957]

Student Christian Movement

page 84

Student Christian Movement

During the last three years a number of major events have taken place. At the beginning of 1955 a new chaplain, the Rev. Alan Gray, was appointed, taking the place of the Rev. W. Gardner-Scott. In May of the same year the Cabin was dedicated. The Cabin, given by the Wellington Rotary Club, is now the centre of many of our activities, including prayers and study groups. Another important event was the Mission to the College held in June, 1956. The Mission was the result of much prayer and planning, and consisted, in the main, of a series of lunchtime addresses and discussions. Though the response at this college, in comparison with that at others, may not have been particularly great, the S.C.M. at least gave a very great witness for God and brought the content of the Christian faith before a considerable number of people.

The bases of our activities during this period have been firstly daily meetings for prayer in the cabin, usually led by a student, and secondly, study groups"—varying in size from about five to twenty and studying various topics, e.g., a book or the Bible, Evangelism, the Christian in society. Most members of the movement have attended these groups and found them extremely interesting and rewarding. Weekend camps held three times a year have consisted of talks and study, worship and relaxation together. Also, services have been held on Sunday afternoons at differing intervals, usually of about a month or six weeks. Evening meetings and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics have increased in popularity. Some of these meetings have been combined with other clubs. Annual combined meetings with the Catholic Students' Guild have become established and have been well attended by both groups. The speakers have alternated.

Another aspect of our work is the running of the second-hand bookstall. This is run partly as a service to students and partly for profit. It has become an increasingly large undertaking. After the 1956 bookstall, we seriously considered giving it up. However this year it has been more satisfactory in that the members of the movement co-operated well. Workdays in which we do odd jobs to raise money for the World Student Christian Federation, and, last year, attendance at prison services where we liven up the singing, are other aspects of our work.

During the May holidays some members are privileged to attend the study conference run by the N.Z.S.C.M. In slightly lighter mood the N.Z.S.C.M. Summer Conference is greatly enjoyed by many members.

The movement, though not growing to any marked extent in this period, nevertheless has seen its position as an evangelising power within the University and has endeavoured to be extroverted, offering friendship and an opportunity for all who desire to know more of the content of the Christian faith.