Events Weeks are always part of a bigger picture: year-round investment in friendships and proclamation of the gospel on campus. So, in the run up to events week, it’s worth thinking about any one-off events you might like to run. Not only will these raise the profile of your Events Week, they’ll hopefully give the CU confidence in inviting friends to events.
One-off events can work well just before your Events Week as a way of generating interest in the week itself. The Events Week becomes a form of ‘follow up’ - making the event more effective than if it stood alone.
Here are some ideas from other CUs to get you going:
A lecture that connects to the gospel by a well-known academic
This can help build credibility and is especially helpful if you face problems holding events on campus. Often a recognised academic may get permission to speak in places where an evangelist cannot. You may be able to get the university to issue the invitation and do the publicity.
This is what they did in the Czech Republic when they invited the Oxford Professor, John Lennox. 700 students packed out the biggest lecture hall on campus with over 300 being turned away! A far bigger crowd than the small CU of 15 students had ever thought possible!
Think about how the academic’s work could connect in some way to the bigger questions of life and the gospel. e.g.
Can science explain everything?
Should we be afraid of AI?
For more information about suitable academics who you could invite — do get in touch with the FEUER Academics network admin@feueracademics.org
A lecture by a well-known academic in the relevant faculty
Even if the academic is not allowed to speak about the Christian faith, it can, in some contexts, still be beneficial to get them to give lectures.
In Moldova the CU invited Piyush Jani, a surgeon who teaches at Cambridge University. His profession — along with the fact that he is from an Indian Hindu background — made his lectures especially attractive to the Indian medical students — of which there were many. Piyush’s lectures went down so well that the following year the university itself issued the invitation. Although the lectures themselves were not allowed to contain anything specifically Christian, these did provide the opportunity to invite students back to the evening evangelistic events.
A talk by a well-known Christian
In Serbia they have often invited the Christian motivational speaker, Nik Vujicic to speak at large events, and have packed out lecture rooms and even sports halls.
Quiz Night
Get people to bring their friends and form a team. Include a short talk between the questions and the answers.
Open Mic Night
Invite people to participate with music, spoken word, poetry, tricks etc. A fun event and it can include a short talk.
Mark Drama
A dramatic presentation of Mark’s gospel put on by the CU. People will often be more inclined to come if they know the people who are acting. It’s a great way to introduce people to the story of Jesus and intrigue them to come back to find out more. For more information see here.
An interfaith debate / dialogue
The CU in Manchester, England, co-hosted a debate with the Islamic Society (which was itself much larger than the CU) on the question ‘Who is Jesus?’. The event was very well attended and led to many good conversations and deeper relationships between Christian and Muslim students.
Christmas Carol Service
In the UK, the Christmas carol service is often the largest event that the CU will organise — often attracting several hundred students. Students love the idea of a traditional carol service in an old church building. Getting the same speaker who will come for the Events Week is a great way to build interest.
Things to do:
- Discuss. Chat with the CU committee about what kind of pre-mission events you could run.