Washing the University’s Feet

“You can’t believe how nervous I was! Pacing up and down the room, I was thinking, ‘Oh wow! Oh no, oh no!’ But I was also in prayer. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to calmly speak.”

Called to Account

Wirlley, a student at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal, recalls his racing heart. He’d been summoned before high-ranking officials at his university, including the Rector (equivalent to Vice-chancellor or President in other countries).

He’d done nothing wrong. In fact, quite the opposite: with his local GBU group in Vila Real (the IFES national movement in Portugal), he’d gathered hundreds of signatures for a petition. They were calling for a defunct campus bus stop to be reactivated – and they succeeded.

Now, the administration wanted to find out more about GBU.

Seeking to Serve

Wirlley was a regular at his GBU group, joining them for weekly Bible studies, creative evangelism on campus, and regular group lunches in the canteen. When he became group leader in his final year, he had a heart to serve:

“I’d been praying since the academic year began (mid-September) for an opportunity to serve the university and help make GBU known.”

About a month later, the GBU group was discussing “the bus stop”. They noted how the decision taken several years ago to cut it from the bus route was still widely lamented, even by lecturers.

As they talked, it became clear how serious the issue was, especially on dark, wet days. Unable to use this covered bus stop, students had to climb a poorly lit hill, pass through a parking area, and walk on to the nearest (uncovered) bus stop.

Called to Wash Feet

“We realized that reactivating the bus stop would practically serve students – or, as I like to say, ‘to wash the feet of the university’” Wirlley explains.

With help from Wirlley’s course director, GBU Vila Real organised a petition for their peers to sign. They built broad support by talking with representatives in other university sectors and the Academic Association. By the end of November, after just one month, they’d collected close to 1,700 signatures.

At the beginning of April, it finally happened: the bus stop was reinstated.

We realized that reactivating the bus stop would practically serve students – or, as I like to say, ‘to wash the feet of the university’.

However, “washing feet” had been “making waves”. A few weeks later, Wirlley was asked to explain the initiative to those senior university officials, the group responsible for maintaining a “secular” campus. Although the rectorate clarified that GBU would not receive any special treatment, Wirlley was told that GBU would be very welcome to use campus spaces for events of general student interest.

Wirlley’s start-of-year prayer was answered beyond his expectations. He concludes, “We just need to be there – in the university context – with a heart that’s open to what Christ wants to do in us and through us!”

Pray

Let’s pray for GBU Vila Real and students in Portugal:

Give thanks for the way this simple act of service connected with students, staff, and administration at UTAD and brought blessing to the whole campus. Pray that these good relations will deepen.

Pray for all GBU groups in Portugal that are seeking to “wash feet” as an integral part of their witness – that they will discern Christ’s leading, find courage to follow, and positively impact the “secular” ethos on campus.

Pray for GBU groups emerging for the first time on smaller campuses – for heartening fellowship and bold witness.

Find out more about Wirlley and his story by reading this interview by GBU Portugal.