Writing this, I'm just back from an incredible weekend at the National Students' Conference on 8-10 February. There were almost 400 there from virtually every medical school in the UK and Ireland. Many spoke of the great encouragement and challenge it was to them, and a large number were there for the first time.

Peter Saunders spoke from Acts, reminding us that we often forget the Holy Spirit's power within us for living the Christian life and sharing the gospel – like driving a Formula One racing car but only in first gear! People who don't know God are still often 'partly right', and we can identify the truth they know, then lead them to the truth they don't know. He gave excellent examples of engaging with those of other religions, and discussed contemporary figures such as Richard Dawkins and Philip Pullman.

Based on his experience in Malawi, Chris Lavy gave a rousing challenge on God's heart for the poor and lonely. He reminded us that the USA and Europe have 20% of the global disease burden, but 72% of all healthcare workers and 85% of all health expenditure. Africa has 24% of the disease, 3% of the workers and <1% of the expenditure. With staggering discrepancies like these he reminded us of Jesus' challenge in Matthew 25: what did you do for 'the least of these'?

We also hosted international students from twelve countries such as Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Syria and Lithuania. Many of them came a week early for an excellent pre-conference focused on helping them build up the Christian medical movements in their own countries. By the end of the week there was an incredible depth of relationship and Katka from Slovakia commented: 'This has been the best week of my life!'

Students are so crucial to CMF's long term future and I was greatly encouraged to learn that over 330 students joined CMF during 2007. This is wonderful, and bodes very well for years to come. One new student member, our first for several years from Galway, told me: 'It is my pleasure to be part of such an incredible organisation'. This rings true with many of our students who so appreciate the support they get from CMF.

Students get involved in CMF's mission and one great example was the London students who came along to engage with Feminist Fightback, a pro-abortion group who picketed our offices on 25 January. We learnt of their plans beforehand and prepared a welcome, with posters, flyers, refreshments and female medical students to engage them in conversation. Abigail Randall (Barts and the London):

I really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with some of the pro-choice movement: firstly in a very reasonable, measured conversation with an oncology nurse about the issues of when life begins; then with a girl furious at the attitude of CMF – she saw us as hypocritical in extending a welcome to them when their views are so contrary to ours.

It was stimulating to discuss these issues with people who disagreed so vehemently! It was a chance to show warmth, humility and love towards them, rather than merely battering them with counter-arguments.

The Confident Christianity dialogue evangelism course has visited Norwich, Nottingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Dundee and Birmingham between November and February, training and equipping over 70 students to share the gospel. We plan to visit Liverpool and Stockton in the next few months and I am excited we will be relaunching Answering Other Faiths in London on 15 March. This uses many of the same principles as CC but focuses specifically on understanding other religions and worldviews, then contextualising the gospel to communicate it in concepts they will understand.

The Student Leaders' Conference is coming up on 4-6 April. We will equip new CMF student leaders with everything they need to know about leading local CMF groups, and will launch new tracks for National Students' Committee members and medical school secretaries, to respond to their particular needs and help them support local student leaders better.

There have been a couple of changes in our student staff team. In an expanded role Charlotte Hattersley has become northern team leader, covering the north east, north west and Scotland. Retitled southern team leader, Alex Bunn covers the midlands, south east, south west and London. I will continue to oversee the Irish schools.

We are also very pleased to have Ruth Whiteman join the team as an intern from February to August, covering Newcastle and Durham. There are a number of potential applicants for staffworker and intern posts for the autumn – please pray the Lord will guide us and them to the right decisions.