Student Testimonies

Students who are part of Grace Church give their testimonies of being part of this local church…

You can also read a testimony below:

John O’Driscoll
I’m John, now married to Sarah, and originally from Tunbridge Wells, Kent - where as a child in a Christian family I have been involved in the church for as long as I can remember. I moved to a different church, called St. John’s, from my parents as a teenager, mainly due to the youth group they had there. The church and youth group both had strong gospel teaching and encouraged us to get involved with a church and C.U. whilst we were away at uni but I guess in the midst of all the excitement I just let the advice wash over me.

I went to uni in Bath. I lived off campus in my 1st year, and since CU was at some silly time on a Friday night I confess I never really made the effort to get involved. A couple of friends of mine from Tunbridge Wells had come down to Bath for uni too, and I tried the church they’d found and didn’t really get on with it so I figured I’d be fine without a church at uni – it wasn’t the most important thing – surely that was my relationship with God…?

Well, whilst I still prayed regularly and occasionally read my bible, I quickly found myself compromising in areas of my life that I don’t think would have been the issue if I’d regularly been in fellowship with other Christians. I don’t think my relationship with God grew at all in that time and I definitely wasn’t a good witness to my friends – who knew I had a bible in my room but probably didn’t see many evidences of God’s grace in my life.

I had a sandwich year on my course and moved back Kent to work in London. As I got back into the local church I found myself drawn back towards God – thinking of Him more often and being more committed to reading my bible. That was when I met Sarah, who’s heart for pleasing God really challenged me and made me want to know more. I grew a lot in that year and when it was time for me to come back to Bath, Sarah was starting at UWE.

Sarah got involved in CU straight away and found out about lots of churches. Eventually she settled here, at Grace Church. When I’d come over for the weekend she’d bring me along too. As well as having Sarah’s support, meeting with other Christians really helped me to be more God focused in my final year at uni, so much so that it provoked a few questions from people who’d known me for 3 years before! I think I felt much more contented in myself too, knowing in my heart what I’d probably only known in my head before – that God had a plan for me when I graduated and I really didn’t need to worry about how things would pan out.

In Grace Church itself I was overawed by the love on display here. I think the first time I came I was welcomed by nearly everyone (which was only about 30 at the time I think)! We were invited for lunch by people I’d never met before, people whose name I didn’t even know would pray for me in the meeting! I moved back to Kent for a year after uni for work, dividing my time between St John’s and Grace Church depending on where Sarah and I were on a given weekend. I was really happy to know that Sarah had a church that was supporting her away from home.

I can’t emphasise enough the importance of getting involved in a local church as a student. I don’t regret my time at uni at all – it was all in God’s plan – but I think I would have had a much richer experience for being involved in fellowship and service with other Christians and for having my attitudes challenged by teaching and home groups.

I wish someone had made me realise how much I needed a local church and all it provides in order to grow in my relationship with God. You just can’t do it on your own, and being quite proud I didn’t listen to what I had been told, I had to learn the hard way!