The Church is made up of Christians from a myriad of different professions, and yet their ordinary tales of God at work rarely get told. In this series, we bring you stories of faith from the frontline
My name is Jonah Smith. I’m 17, and I’m a student at Cirencester College, a post-16 provider offering A-levels, vocational courses and apprenticeships. I’m taking A-levels in maths, further maths, chemistry and computer science. My particular interest is machine learning and AI, which fascinates me not just intellectually but also in connection to my faith. Even with basic models, I have to test them, check how well they work and make adjustments. There’s something deeply Christian about seeking understanding, learning and truth.
Balancing my four subjects requires a lot of energy and focus, which can make it challenging to fit in other activities. Last year, I was also in the debating society. I’ve noticed that it’s easier to engage in apologetics discussions on a Tuesday morning than at the end of a long week! Outside of lessons, I enjoy activities such as ice-skating, which I do every Tuesday as part of my Duke of Edinburgh award. I also explore machine learning in my own time through lectures and projects in computer science.
College is a diverse place with many perspectives. I pray for my fellow students quite a lot. Many of them are openly exploring who they are and what they believe. I try to live out my faith respectfully in this environment. I aim to be reasonable, open and helpful, whether that’s discussing apologetics, putting textbooks away or continuing conversations beyond lessons. I’m not perfect, but I strive to respect my teachers, meet deadlines and value their guidance.
Last year, there wasn’t a Christian Union at college, but now there is, which is encouraging. My hope is to see more openness, honest discussion and opportunities to share the gospel through everyday interactions. I’ve noticed that questions about identity and future plans – such as: “What do you want to do when you’re older?” or “What do you want from your future?” – can be pressure points but also natural opportunities for meaningful conversations.
The main challenge for me is managing energy. The cumulative effect of long days, heavy workloads and tiredness can make it harder to live out my faith consistently. Looking ahead, I hope to study machine learning at university. I want to explore AI safety, which I think will be intellectually challenging and spiritually meaningful.
Please pray for rest and endurance. Rest doesn’t just help my studies or friendships; it strengthens every aspect of my Christian life.
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