The University Christian Ministry (UCM) is a club focused on bringing students together through fellowship in Christ. The UCM gets together every Thursday night at 6 p.m. in room A266 of the Abbotsford campus.
Aidan Wouda took over as the UCM president at the start of the fall 2022 semester. “I’m new to this position, but it’s been great so far,” Wouda commented. As new president of the club, Wouda makes sure that newcomers are always welcome and feel included in the group.
Wouda mentioned, “I’ve always been amazed over the welcoming nature of [the club] and the fact that there’s a very strong sense of unity and completeness.” Many members of the group come from different areas of study and would likely have never met if not for the club. According to Wouda the club is “the least cliquey environment that they’ve ever found in a community.”
“The unique thing about UCM is because we’re a club of students who mainly all met at UCM, there aren’t really existing groups who have gravitated in and go off by themselves,” Wouda said.
Thursday night is the club’s main weekly event where everyone comes together for a bible study. At the end of the night, it is not uncommon for the group to go down to the local Wendy’s to hangout and share some fries and Frostys.
UCM is a university ministry started by the Pentacostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). The UCM is part of several other university ministries all going under the same name. The first ever UCM was formed in 1980 at the University of British Columbia. UFV’s UCM originated in 2008.
Outside of the weekly gathering on Thursday nights, the club hosts other events. On the first weekend of October, the group had their first retreat since the pandemic. The retreat mainly consisted of general hanging out mixed in with a few scheduled sessions for worship and fellowship.
In addition to the weekly Thursday night gatherings, there are events being hosted on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. On Tuesday nights, the club is currently running an Alpha series which is being presented by representatives from PAOC. Every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. the UCM hosts two small groups, one for men and one for women. More details can be found on the UCM Instagram.
Wouda explained that the best way to stay in touch and up to date with what is going on in the club is to join their email list. To join the list go to the UCM website and sign up. Emails will include updates on the weekly activities and any special events or spontaneous get togethers.
Emmaline is working on her BA and ambitions to become an English teacher. They always say, those who cannot do, teach. She spends her free time buying, reading, and hoarding books with the hope that one day she will have no furniture and instead only have piles of books.
