Highlights from Headington Hill: Community

Sitting in the foyer yesterday, I spent a good part of the rainy day on the couch, reading books for my long essay. Around 6pm, I was still sitting there, not getting much work done, when one of my friends (and housemates) walked past. He stopped, turned to me, and asked me to tell him one thing I could use prayer for right then. We talked about it for a bit, and he said, I’ll pray for us, right now. We prayed, and then went back to work, very encouraged. I couldn’t help but smile and think that this community is what God intended Christian community to be (see the early church in Acts for more on that...). A people who care, and not just about the things of this world, but who deeply care about others and about the Lord, sharing in their highs and lows, joys and sorrows.

As we near the end of our time in Oxford, I can’t help but realise that the people in my house and church here have quickly become some of the best, most sincere friends I have had in my whole life. I’ve never had friends who knock on my door to come pray with me or seek accountability as brothers and sisters in Christ (and hold me accountable as well), who hold Bible study once our small groups at church end for Easter break, who organise Monday morning worship at 8:30am, or who share their joy of baking with the house just because they love us.

I have seriously witnessed Christ in the lives of my friends here in a way I have never seen before. It’s rocked my world. And although no part of me is ready to leave (That’s not a hyperbolic statement. I really, really can’t imagine saying goodbye to this place and this community yet.), I hope and pray that I can take what I’ve learned in this community and transfer it to my life back in Lusaka and in the States. There is so much strength in being in community with other Christians, but it’s more than just living together. It’s being intentional about your faith and your friendships. I’ve learned that you can’t be real friends with someone without investing (and sometimes sacrificing!) your time, prayers, and selfish interests for others. But when you do, it’s a beautiful thing.

Some snapshots from the last few weeks: