What is Groupe Biblique Universitaire?

Of the three primary areas of ministry with which I am engaged in Compiegne, I am most passionate about Groupe Biblique Universitaire. I often liken it to Intervarsity Christian Fellowship back in the states, which isn't helpful if you are not familiar with IVCF. So, let us begin afresh. I will start at the macro level of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and work down to the micro level of GBU in Compiegne (Universite de Technologie de Compiegne).

GBU is a student ministry movement in France occurring in the context of IFES, an international networking community of national-led student ministries. IFES began in 1947 with ten international groups convening at Harvard to commit to growing as Christians and bearing witness to Christ in their university contexts. Today IFES is comprised of approximately 136 countries on every continent, except Antarctica, representing their various student movements. IFES holds as goals 1) evangelism, 2) formation/discipleship, 3) and world mission. (I commend you to their website for more specifics, especially their distinctives.) Student movements represented within the network as well ascribe to these goals in particular ways, as we will see shortly with GBU. IFES is global and inter-denominational, particularly evangelical in their outworking of doctrine and disciplines. In a nutshell, IFES exists to link similarly-minded Christian student groups around the world with one another. As one finds in any local, national, or international mission or ministry, being a part of something bigger than yourself (ya know, that thing called The Kingdom) is key for growth and vision.

GBU exists in similar forms on many French campuses. Believing that Scriptures are foundational for moving Christians forward in faithfulness to Christ and outward in witness to those not in the Church, GBU focuses primarily on engaging students in Bible study, equipping students to encounter Scripture through personal and corporate study. GBU also serves to encourage Christian students in developing and speaking openly of their relationship with Christ. While Christians make up a majority of the GBU participants, from what I can pick up on, it is also presented as a group open to anyone wanting to study the Bible. France is after all a skeptical yet intellectual land. At camp this summer and in various training sessions, GBU equips students with the OIA (pronounced in French "O-ee--ah", slurred together) method of study, also known as inductive Bible study--Observation, Interpretation, Application. (have no worries, another blog will focus on OIA). This method particularly challenges students to dig into Biblical texts for themselves and alongside others, asking particular questions along the way and concluding in the end various ways in which the Scripture may practically be used. OIA is a particularly helpful method in a land where solid and accessible Bible teaching can rarely be found. I honestly do not think many Americans can identify with the true absence of Biblical exegesis as is the norm here. Feel free to correct me. Depending on the size, staffing, and location of a GBU organization, outreach events may also be organized. For larger GBU's such as in Paris, several casual events are organized throughout the semester. For smaller GBU's such as in Compiegne, one to two a year may be organized. By size I do not mean to compare the number in attendance at Bible studies, although this is a factor. I speak of the aggregate affects of student participation and leadership, staffing, particular inception/history of GBU, university size, and "sites" so to speak. GBU operates at national, regional, and local levels, with various gatherings such as camps, trainings, Bible studies, discussions and debates, outreach events, etc. occurring at each level in various ways.

GBU-UTC in the past has gathered weekly in a nearby Catholic church for Bible study, prayer, and worship. However, last year Armel, the student leader, and Dave Hemmerle applied for GBU to become a recognized student organization at UTC. Because it is a group which focuses on Bible study and is open to anyone, they did not foresee a problem. However, administration at the college did not quite understand the group's intent and were afraid of proselytizing. They refused to grant GBU-UTC official status which severely limits how we can make announcements and be a public group presence. Along with this action, however, they also de-officialized a Catholic student group which had been in existence at UTC for 34 years. Their church happened to be GBU's meeting place. Needless to say, the Catholic group's association with GBU and its fall-out sadly and actually unexpectedly left us without a meeting place for this year. At this time we have met in a faculty member's apartment (which he made very clear he is not to be considered "leading" or being "officially associated" with GBU) and a UTC classroom. In the classroom we will remain, gathering for Bible study but unable to worship and pray.

Two students, Nari (bottom left in picture above) and Armel, attended GBU camp at the end of August to prepare for the coming year. Armel however is in the south of France for an internship this semester. His leadership has been key in the past, and we are praying for mature student leadership to be developed in his absence. Already Nari has been an energetic, encouraging, and engaged presence for the others; and I see how the encouragement of camp is at work in her spirit. We are comprised at this time of six female students, 4 male students, and Dave and me who lend support and encouragement to the students while carefully trying not to lead. Since we are just getting going, I'll give you a personal spin on the group and will throughout the year keep you updated.

We need prayer. One, leadership. Two, Bible study--it does not appear at this time that a book will be chosen to study together but rather sections of texts will be selected. Dave and I are unsure of how this will play out in the long-term as we were expecting to study a book, as in the past. Consistency is key for engagement and study so lift this up. Three, coming together for more than Bible study. Suddenly all that Bonhoeffer wrote in Life Together has hit home on new levels, and I am grieved that for our regular meetings we cannot pray and worship together. Pray for us that we will seek out creative ways to come together over the course of this year. Four, the GBU women. I spent the last two weeks connecting with four and need to connect with two more and however many more God brings along. They are receptive to my being here and seem eager and willing to spend time together. (An aside: GBU does not focus on discipleship as it believes this should occur in the context of churches and thus does not want to usurp that role. However, discipleship doesn't seem to be happening much here. Thus, my time with women, I believe to appropriately and rightly serve in this context, needs to be aligned with GBU's vision as well as alongside broader Biblical invitations to discipleship. Pray for my wisdom in this.) We have been engaging in spiritual temperature readings and determining where we are collectively desirous of growth as well as what are specific areas in which to encourage the women. Some ideas discussed have been--prayer group, a women's issues discussion night, sleep-over, worship, Bible reading and study, learning basics of Christianity. At the outset of ministry, there can always be a plethora of ideas, suggestions, and energy, and I am all too familiar with the realities impressed on students with studies and other commitments. However, pray for hunger on the part of both the women and men to prioritize not GBU but their relationship with Christ and others, and that GBU is a means to this end.

We meet Tuesday nights at 8pm, that's 1pm CST. Women will gather sporadically throughout the months. I envision at this time one-on-one's bi-weekly and two casual gatherings, one for the purpose of encouraging one another as sisters and another as an open invite to their friends and other female students I may meet on campus. As well, one student in our midst does not seem to be a Christian but she plans to attend and is asking questions. Pray that we all may bear a witness of love and grace as we speak with boldness of our dear Jesus for such as herself throughout this year.