In universities across the UK, students are engaging with the gospel in ways that haven’t been seen for years, says UCCF’s Matt Lillicrap. He reflects on a moment ripe for mission and how Christians can throw the nets wide and join Jesus in bringing people to faith
In Luke 5, we’re told a story: after labouring all night with nothing to show, Peter’s boat becomes the floating pulpit for the Lord of life, and then the site of a remarkable miracle. “Throw out your nets,” says Jesus. Weary muscles pick up the familiar routine. Then the ropes bite, the mesh bulges, the boat groans.
What made the difference? The presence of the Lord in the boat.
At UCCF, we can’t shake the sense that we’re in a similar moment. On university campuses across the UK, questions are asked without irony. Friends invite friends. Young people are searching for something more. Christian Unions (CUs) have a tremendous opportunity to show that the search for ‘something’ is, in fact, a search for someone.
Yes, there’s debate. Are we in a revival, a renewal, or nothing at all? Is it quiet or is it loud? Some have queried the Bible Society’s Quiet Revival report. I believe the discussion reveals two things:
First, we should handle any single survey with care. But second, we mustn’t ignore the change that many are observing — particularly among Gen Z. We may not (yet) be seeing a full-blown revival of Christian faith (yet) - but we are seeing a huge gospel opportunity. Let’s not miss it by spending our time debating exactly what it is.
What we’re seeing
Among students, the “weight in the nets” is not just anecdotal. In autumn 2025, UCCF conducted a snapshot survey of 125 CUs. The results paint a picture both of opportunity and need:
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The Big Picture: Average attendance is up from 22-39 students each week to 32-52 students. On average, 21 students joined this academic year.
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The Opportunities: On average, six students at each CU meeting identified as non-Christians. One in 13 students in CU-related small groups are not yet believers.
It turns out that the catch wasn’t the prize; the caller was
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The Fruit: Last academic year, 191 students linked to CUs in Britain made a credible profession of faith. This is more than one each day of the average university year!
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The Work: Last year, 94 per cent of CUs ran Freshers’ welcome events and 77 per cent ran an events week. Our evangelistic resource, Uncover Luke is used by 97.5 per cent of CUs to invite friends to investigate Jesus together in Luke’s gospel.
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The Workers: The average CU has 10-14 leaders, who are supported by CU staff workers in one-to-one Bible study, prayer and formation.
CU ministry echoes Luke 5: Hard work and tired bodies, full boats and frayed nets, all in the Lord’s presence. There is openness, engagement, and real fruit.
In it together
When the catch is complete, Peter collapses before Jesus in awe. Not at his feet like many will, but “at Jesus’ knees”(5:8). Jesus, the Lord of glory, is on his knees in the boat, pulling on the ropes, too.
As Jesus applies the miracle to his mission, that detail matters: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10). Sometimes we might catch little, sometimes we will see many come to Christ. But either way, Jesus is not standing above mission; he is in it. It is all dependent on the presence and power of the Lord in the boat, hauling on the nets with us.
Jesus is not standing above mission; he is hauling on the nets with us
Our focus, therefore, should not be on mere attendance (whatever statistics tell us, encouraging or otherwise) but on the nature of mission and discipleship today. Let’s keep throwing out the nets. Let’s delight in Jesus, that we might display and declare him more effectively as Lord and God.
We are convinced that spiritual curiosity among Gen Z requires careful stewardship. With 18–24-year-olds more spiritually engaged, we must invest in simple, effective evangelism that enables seekers to meet Jesus in God’s Word. The engagement with Uncover Luke is encouraging precisely because it transforms curiosity into conversations with an open Bible.
Whether your church is near a university or college or not, may I invite you to come fish alongside students?
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Pray that the Lord might coordinate the catch. It is only by his power!
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Call people to repent and believe. Assume that guests are in the room, invited by friends who delight in, display and declare Jesus in their everyday lives, whether on campus, in the workplace, at school or in the pub.
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Adopt your local CU (or your former CU, or the CU where you know a current student). Pray for its young leaders (do you know their names?). Invite them, or the UCCF staff worker, to share what the Lord is doing. Underwrite their events week with finance, volunteers, venues and prayer.
Luke 5:1-11 ends with a paradox. Abundance brings abandonment. At the highest point of Peter’s fishing career, he and his partners “left everything and followed him” (5:11).
It turns out that the catch wasn’t the prize; the caller was. So, with Jesus kneeling alongside, let’s put out into the deep once more. Let down the nets again. And when they strain, let’s call each other to bring the boats alongside.
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