My colleague Andy recently send this message to an SMBC mission team in preparation for their involvement in our Uni Fellowship Engage conference with the CU.

Drawing on his own experience as a theological student, he was careful to brief the team well about the nature of our ministry and the details of the event. But he also gave some pointers to how they could make the most of this participation as a learning experience, and how to avoid making a mess of their attendance through clumsy conversations:

Making the most of your time

  • Observe what goes on, what we do and why. All Uni Groups are different for numerous reasons even if you have been involved in one.
  • Chat to students, get a feel for who they are, how they might be similar or the same to uni ministries you've experience before.
  • Be aware some of the students might not be Christians or totally on board with us even though it is a training event!
  • Be mindful that the students might not be as switched on or in the same theological zone as you. A fair number come from churches that can be fairly 'light' and disconnected in how they approach the scriptures.
  • Encourage them on the important of uni ministry and doing an MTS apprenticeship.