CU will launch into Semester 2 with 4 weeks in the book of Jonah at our Wednesday night Gospel Gatherings. ‘Why Jonah?’ you might ask. What could the story of a man and a fish 800 years before Jesus have to do with us at Uni today? Well I’d say more than you might think.
Although we probably all know the story of Jonah (how Jonah refused God’s call and ended up inside a huge fish) I think most of us miss two big things. Firstly we get so puzzled by Jonah and what he does that we fail to see that we are so often just like him. Secondly, we get so focused on the great fish that we miss the fact that Jonah is a story not about a man and a very great fish but about all men and a very gracious God.

As we look at Jonah together we’ll get to know him to be a man just like us. We’ll see that Jonah, like us, lives among pagans who know next to nothing about God. We’ll see that, like us, Jonah is called to speak God’s message yet he’s a terribly reluctant evangelist – we’ll take time to consider why. We’ll be encouraged as we see pagan sailors and city-dwellers repent. Yet all along we’ll be challenged about how we view those who don’t know God, particularly as we reach the last climactic cliff-hanger of a question.

Most importantly we will see that Jonah is about God. It’s a story about our God who relentlessly works to extend his grace. In Jonah we meet the God
who extends great grace towards ‘outsiders’, and exercises great patience with ‘insiders’. We meet the God who is the most committed evangelist of all, the God who sent his own Son to become the man Jesus – Jesus who spoke of Jonah’s experiences to explain his own death and resurrection.

As we open up the book of Jonah we’ll discover more of the amazing character of our God, and I pray we’ll be encouraged to share the heart of the greatest evangelist—the Lord Jesus Himself. Why not take 20 minutes now and read through this great part of God’s word for yourself?

Summit is a unique learning experience with night talks, discussion groups, seminars, manuscript discovery groups focusing on one key passage, elective workshops and time for reflection. Uni and TAFE students from Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong will be there and you are bound to make new friends while learning together, over a meal and during free time. Continue to registration…

Join Christian Union on Wednesday night to celebrate Easter. We’ll enjoy a lamb roast, Bible talk and a chance for you to ask your questions about Easter and Christianity. We’d love to celebrate Easter with you!

• What: Easter Lamb Roast
• When: 6pm on Wednesday, 27th March
• Where: Student Union
• How much: $8

God has revealed himself as Father, Son and Spirit. As if the idea of three persons and one God was confusing enough, many people have questions about the Holy Spirit in particular. What is his role? How does he relate to the experience of the Christian? What does the Bible say? Come along to Kick Off Camp to find out about the surprising experience of the Spirit and enjoy fellowship with CUs from Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.

• Topic: The Holy Spirit.
• Date: Friday 12th to Sunday 14th April 2013.
• Venue: Camp Acacia, Halls Gap (map).
• Cost: $85. Deposit $20 to staff or campus treasurer. Register Online.
• Questions? camps@bendigo.cu.org.au

Join Bendigo Christian Union as we celebrate what God has done on campus this year and pray for the year ahead. We will recap the highlights of 2012, send out our graduates, thank the outgoing committee and welcome the new committee. Joining us is guest speaker Max McKay, a co-founder of La Trobe University, Bendigo.

The dinner will commence at 6pm on Friday, 26th October at Bendigo Pottery (146 Midland Hwy, Epsom: map). Cost is $35. All welcome.

RSVP by Friday, 19th October. For any enquiries contact Aimee Grinter.

Men, it is that time of the year again. Time to rally together, to be instructed in God’s Word.

When: Friday 31st August to Sunday 2nd September.
Where: Meet at the Bendigo Student Union cark park at 4.30pm on Friday, where you will await deployment to Stormy’s farm, Boort.
Cost: $85 (includes all meals but not money for fuel).
Bring: Bible, pen, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, clothes for all sorts of extreme activities and conditions.
Registrations: by 24th August to secure your place.
Questions? camps@bendigo.cu.org.au or see your campus leaders.

Register online.