While walking through Front Square, Arts Block or the Business Building during Freshers’ Week, you might have missed the stand for the newest student group in Trinity. In the Arts Block, there was a stand set up in the building with an eye-catching name. Surrounded by smiling people in red jackets was a sign saying the words “First Love”.
At first glance, whilst rushing to my bus, I thought it was a striking name, if not peculiar. The first thought that came to my mind was that it was a dating initiative, in association with Tringe. As unusual as I found the name, I thought there was quite a comforting feel to it. In a time where Freshers are grasping for some sort of stability in a time where everything is changing, the idea of returning to something as instinctual as love was reassuring.
Then, as if it was fate, in the next few hours, I received the pitch for this article. Despite having no clue what the student group was and what they did, I immediately picked it up due to the lasting impression of its name. Someone in the marketing department of the group was clearly doing their job. Imagine my surprise when I began my research for this article and discovered that First Love was, in fact, a religious student group.
First Love Church is a Pentecostal student group that was founded in Ghana by Dag Heward-Mills. Heward-Mills has written over 60 books on Christianity and oversees 3,000 churches all over the world. First Love specifically emphasises the importance of love, in particular to Jesus, whom they believed died for humanity. Due to this sacrifice, First Love encourages others to love both God and all others, especially among young people. This message, of love and sacrifice, is plastered across all of their advertisements and promotions, and remains at the root of the cause across both the UK and Ireland. Some of the activities they promote within their student group are Bible study sessions, meet-and-greets, and regular sermons.
Across these two islands, there are a variety of universities where First Love has a student group present, including the universities of Birmingham, Westminster, West London, and Queen’s University in Belfast. In 2022, the group launched in Dublin, beginning with Griffith College with weekly Bible study groups. First Love advertises welcoming everyone regardless of faith or belief, and their advertisements to university students emphasise “fun, fellowship and family”. This alliterative motto encapsulates the welcoming atmosphere this group approaches each student with.
Alongside loving God and others, another main aim of First Love is to develop students both academically and spiritually. So, regarding the goals of First Love, I can see the newest student group in Trinity as being a positive influence. Even though I myself am not religious, I can see how this group can encourage students to be more welcoming to people of all faiths. This, along with the commitment of helping students academically, also leads me to view this new student group as an uplifting influence for young people.
Having little to no religious experience myself, particularly in terms of student Christian groups, I turned to research and personal accounts to understand First Love better. As the Dublin branch — and especially the Trinity chapter — is still relatively new, most of the stories I found came from branches in the United Kingdom. Online, there are numerous references to First Love in blog posts, articles, Reddit and Quora threads, and TikTok story times. Across these many accounts, a few clear patterns stand out.
One recurring theme is the length of the sermons. Multiple accounts describe them as lasting anywhere from three and a half to four hours. During these extended services, a wide range of activities takes place, including Bible readings, performances by gospel choirs and solo singers, and requests for donations. Donations, in fact, are mentioned consistently across personal stories. What makes First Love distinctive is the way donations are highlighted: during services, those who contribute are asked to shine their phone flashlights. This creates a literal spotlight on givers, while drawing attention — some might say pressure — to those who have not donated.
Another striking theme raised in several articles and online posts concerns how the group maintains contact with students. If approached by members in red jackets at a First Love stand, students are often asked for their phone numbers. Once shared, multiple people across the UK reported receiving daily texts and phone calls. The questions vary — from what course you study, to your religious beliefs, to repeated reminders about attending the next meeting. Some students described receiving this question multiple times a day, which, combined with the flashlight donation practice, contributes to an atmosphere of pressure that not everyone finds comfortable.
All in all, my first impression of First Love has been a mixed one. The group’s goals and core message — centred on love, community, and support — are undoubtedly inspiring. Yet the way these mottos are delivered and reinforced can feel intense, leaving some students under pressure. Despite this, First Love continues to grow rapidly, steadily expanding its presence across universities. The society’s emphasis on fun, fellowship, and family clearly resonates with many students. Whether embraced or questioned, First Love is set to leave its mark on Trinity’s student life.
