'We did some stuff for students and to be honest...it failed.' 

I hear this from loads of different churches all across the UK.  As I contact each of our Connection churches - sometimes starting a new conversation, sometimes catching up after a few months - each has a very different story to tell.

Some are reeling from incredible answers to prayer and students thriving in their church. But some are weary and frustrated by their seemingly fruitless attempts to connect with students in their city. Some blame the congregation. Some blame the students. But everyone has had a taste of failure. It's so easy to get discouraged!

I was chatting to a church leader the other week and he admitted that he felt like they'd failed to reach students in their city. After a few attempts, they'd been tempted to give up.

'However, we won't stop having a go', he said, 'like you guys - we're in it for the long haul.'

In it for the long haul.

'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.' Galatians 6:9

We are in this for the long haul. We believe that local churches are key to student mission and students are key to the mission of local church.

Through your successes, failures, starting-from-scratch moments and building-a-legacy moments, we are here to back you, support you and cheer you on as local churches, students and student workers. Whether it's training, resources, one-to-one chats or a visit to your city, we want to serve and bless you as you keep going to connect with students and see incredible turnaround in student culture and community.

We're in this for the long haul. Are you?