I was not aware of the Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF) until the first day of orientation week at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) when I came across the OCF UNSW booth in my search for a Christian parachurch group to join. I am sure that my search for a parachurch group is a familiar one for Christian students starting their university education overseas eager to grow in a community of believers. Hence, it was with eagerness that I approached the booths of all the Christian groups I came across and left my contact number.
Over the course of the next two, three weeks, I visited each group in turn, first for their welcoming event, then for their weekly meetings. After that, it was time to decide on the group to join. It was after all impossible and unwise to join every group. Thus, I prayerfully considered the various groups, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses based on my short experience with them, the soundness of their theology (just in case a Christian cult group existed in the university), the depth of their bible studies, the vision of the group, the structure of the group, and the comfort I feel interacting with the people. Most importantly, I asked the Lord which group He was directing me to join, to grow in and with, and to serve in and with.
As I prayed, I sensed the Lord placing a burden for OCF UNSW upon my heart. I was aware that OCF UNSW was a small group of about 10, compared to the other larger Christian groups around. OCF UNSW, being student-led, required everything to be carried out by the students, e.g. the creating of bible study materials, the planning of events, etc. For a small group of about 10, this was definitely no mean feat. Perhaps it was this, which was the burden that God laid upon my heart – to serve His children and help them to grow in whatever capacity was required. Thus, I joined OCF UNSW and served actively and joyfully.
Despite being small, my time with OCF UNSW was truly fantastic and memorable. Creating bible study materials to be used in our weekly bible study was a stretching experience for me and I learned much and grew much through it. It was a joy to serve and grow together with God’s people in OCF UNSW, be it through bible study, prayer meetings, social and outreach events, or just being friends and hanging out together.
A rather distinctive feature of OCF that I was not aware of before joining was that it had centres in many universities across Australia. When I joined, I had not simply joined OCF UNSW. I had joined OCF – this huge family that covered the whole of Australia and the legacy which it had from its history of 50 years. It is amazing that when I speak with various ones and mention that I am from OCF, and learn that they too were from OCF, there is that instant connection that we have a shared bond, a shared legacy. It’s another big family in the body of Christ. It is this aspect of OCF which I find really fantastic and precious.
In Sydney itself, there are three OCF centres, namely in UNSW, the University of Sydney and Macquarie University. These three OCF centres are collectively known as OCF Sydney. The three OCF centres meet regularly at combined meetings, have annual retreats together, and casual outings together as well. As such, my Christian family in Sydney is not simply my brothers and sisters in OCF UNSW, but my brothers and sisters in OCF Sydney. It is really enriching having such friends in other universities, serving one another, and together, serving the body of Christ and reaching out together to the world with the gospel.
To me, OCF is not simply a Christian parachurch group which I joined in my university days. To me, OCF is a family I have joined all the days of my life, a legacy I am privileged to have joined, a legacy I am part of which I am also leaving behind as a legacy for those who will come after me – reaching out to those who do not yet know Christ, building up those who have come to be in Christ, and sending back those who have grown, that they too may make disciple-makers for Jesus in their home countries, to the eternal glory of God.
If forced to describe my experience with OCF in the fewest of words possible, it will be “family, special, unforgettable, lifelong, legacy”.
Desmond Lee
Jan 2010
