by Melissa Raj

It is no secret that there is much value to be gained from reading the Bible, and so much more from reading the Bible with others, for this is how God made us to be: living in community with one another as a church. Of the many groups in the Cathedral who meet weekly to read the Bible together are our groups meant specifically for young adults; the University College Fellowship (UCF) for college and university students, and the Young Adults’ Group for ages 18 to 35.

There are currently two meetings for UCF – Saturday at 10am and Sunday at 2pm – to cater for students coming from various campuses 40 minutes to 1-hour drive away. Although there are two different groups, the heart of these meetings is the same: study God’s Word and pray together. They have already completed studies on the book of Romans, Mark, and Habakkuk, and are currently studying Ephesians. These studies are written by the student leaders themselves under the oversight of a mentor.

The UCF slogan of “Faith. Fellowship. Fun, and Food” captures the spirit of these meetings too. The students often bring food, and go for lunch together before or after the meeting, play ice-breaker games, and sometimes sing, and do other things as well.

The highlight for most students is a camp, organised three times a year. These camps are topical and attract many students who do not attend UCF regularly. They also host Welcome Dinners to reach out to new students; socials; evangelistic events; and attend events hosted by other groups including KVBC NextGen, a training conference for next generation leaders.

The Young Adults’ Group, on the other hand, meets on Sunday at 3pm as this timing is most convenient for those who work late on weekdays, and those who work on Saturdays too. They study the entirety of Bible books through many weeks, and will soon complete Romans after completing Leviticus last year. Other than Bible studies, they also include practical programmes for dealing with issues in life, such as conflict resolution.

Although it is a group like any other, the targeted age range focuses on preparing young adults for journeying through phases in life, such as assuming leadership roles not just in church but in society too, and newlyweds learning how to be more Christ-like in marriage. The discussions and fellowship over meals outside their weekly meetings provide support for each other as they navigate through adulthood.

Those who make up both these groups are a small fraction of those who attend services in the Cathedral, but there is so much we can do for them. At the very least, as we do with everyone who walks through our doors, we can make them feel welcomed and foster a sense of belonging across our wide range of age groups; we can befriend them, get to know them, invite them into our homes, read the Bible with them, pray for them, disciple them, and model the Christian life. We can also encourage them to serve in church by giving them opportunities, and by being patient as they refine their skills in so doing.

Brandon Chai, of the Young Adults’ Group, recalls the impression left on him at his first Sunday Evensong here: “People are very genuinely friendly here” and he has been coming back week after week.

So let us continue being welcoming to all, including the young adults among us, knowing that our efforts can contribute to equipping them for a lifetime of ministry.

This article was written with contributions from Brandon Chai and Tim Nicholls.