These elective workshops will help you practically to live for Jesus, as well as equipping you with skills for mission and ministry on campus and beyond.
Topics & Speakers
1) Dealing with doubt
Pete Sorrenson
"One of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn't belong ..." or does it? Jesus, doubt and YOU. As those who claim to trust Jesus, how should we think and feel about our questions, queries, uncertainties and doubts? Are they wrong? Are they right? Should we fight them? Should we welcome them? Or should we just pretend we don't have any doubts at all? How do we deal with doubt?
2) Enriching your personal relationship with God
Graeme Chiswell
If you’ve been a Christian even for just a little while you’ll know that the Christian life isn’t easy. You’ve found that your enthusiasm has started to fade and that the priorities of daily life seem to crowd out time with God. How do I keep growing? How do I read my Bible and pray regularly? How can I recognize sin in my own life and overcome it? How can my personal relationship with God be enriched.
3) Science: the new god
Geoff Tacon
Who ought we to follow? Christian faith, or Scientific reason? At the popular level, we are told that there is no place for Christian faith within a university environment. Apparently, an intellectual cannot be a believer! In this elective, we will see why the Christian faith is reasonable, and why Scientists must repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ.
4) Navigating life after uni
Andrew Sennett
So, you're finishing uni and starting work. Are you excited? Or a little scared? Life after uni can be scary. You'll go through many changes in a short space of time - what you do each day changes, some relationships will change, and where you're living and going to church may also change. In this elective we'll help you to navigate some of the changes that you'll face as you begin work.
5) Navigating boy-girl relationships
Tim & Rosemary Thorburn
The path from 'free and single' to 'married and happy' often feels like the proverbial lion taming – dangerous, exciting, uncertain, and unchartered. In this elective, we will explore some of God’s wisdom and discuss how it applies in the 21st century. It will be exciting and a bit untamed.
6) Spending time & money
Helen Bell
As a uni student you have very little money but a lot of time. When you leave uni, you’ll have little time but a lot of money (comparatively). So, how do you budget both your time and money while at uni and beyond? How does God want you to think about your time and money? And how can you use both for his glory?
7) Personal evangelism
Martin & Jen Shadwick
Whether it’s through our course, sporting team, part-time job, or just our network of friends, most of us have regular contact with people who are unbelievers. We seem to be able to talk to them about just about anything, but how do we introduce them to Jesus?
8) Working together to reach your campus
Julie-anne Laird
Is it possible to work with other Christian groups on campus? Well we’ve been doing it for quite a few years at Melbourne Uni. Come along and find out how!
9) Mission to Muslims
Sam Green
There are many Muslims on our campuses. Come to this elective and learn about talking to Muslims, some basics of Islam and how to plan a campus event to reach Muslims.
10) Being involved in global mission
Celia Toose
Caring for people is difficult when we don’t see them regularly. Supporting people we don’t know very well is even harder! These two scenarios often represent the way we feel when we think about missionaries and global mission. In this workshop we will seek to give you practical ways to partner missionaries from around the globe while still here in your own lounge chair. Come get ideas on how to pray, care and give – and be prepared to act now!
11) One-to-one Bible reading
Liz Mansour
One-to-one ministry is the most intimate, transferable and fundamental skill for ministry. Do it well and everything else will fall into place. Why is one-to-one ministry so important? How do I get involved in one-to-one ministry on campus? How can I do it well?
12) Sharing your story
Stu White
Whether it’s at the movies or on TV, in a book or the newspaper, or even around the dinner table, everyone loves a good story. But what makes a good story? The plot? The characters? The twist? The person telling it? As Christians, we each have a story about how we met Jesus. Part of evangelism is sharing this story with others.
Sharing Your Story will give you tips about what to include in your story, how to make it interesting, and how to use it in different contexts.
FOCUS electives
13) Returning home with the gospel
Ken Lim
As international students your visas have expiry dates and thinking about going home is essential. Explore issues facing returning students like reverse culture shock, family and work. Come and hear about how you can thrive as Christian when you return home.
14) Honouring your parents
Michael Kwan
The commandment is clear: "Honour your father and mother..." What does it mean to honour them? And if they oppose my Christian commitment, how can we do that whilst staying faithful to our Lord? Dreaming about saving the world?