Easter Week

We live in a highly secularised culture, yet Easter (and Christmas) still hold a special place in our society. For that reason, Easter is one of the best opportunities for us to be talking about the person and work of Jesus!

In demonstration of our fellowship in the gospel of Jesus, Student Life, Evangelical Students, Uni Impact and Unify2Glorify are coordinating our efforts during Easter Week in order to make the most of this opportunity.

In shaping the week’s efforts here are some of the things we value…

  • Personal concern for all students, including those not currently part of our groups
  • Focus on the person of Jesus, not simply the festival of Easter
  • Integration with existing regular ministries/events
  • Opportunities for all students in our groups to get involved
  • Tangible expression of Christian unity and partnership between Christian groups

Easter Week 2011 is comprised of three types of events:

  1. Regular Events
  2. Jesus Survey
  3. Stalls

Regular Events

Firstly, regular events by Student Life, Evangelical Students and Uni Impact. The purpose for making use of existing ministries is threefold.

  1. Each group already has these times/places booked so it guarantees availability.
  2. We know our students are already free at that time to help.
  3. It is likely that the classmates of our students will also have a break at this time, so it provides an obvious opportunity to invite their friends along.
  4. It streamlines follow-up because once visitors find us (or come along for the first time) then it is easier for them to return again another week, without having to rely upon them being free at another time, or finding us at a different location.

Uni Impact
Sunday night 17th April (details TBA)

Student Life – Momentum Meeting
Wednesday @ 1pm (Forgan Smith 1-E302)

Evangelical Students – Uni Bible Talk—“Life after Death”
Tuesday @ 1pm (UQ Chaplaincy “Prayer Space” Bldg 38)
Wednesday @ 1pm (UQ Chaplaincy “Prayer Space” Bldg 38)

Jesus Survey

Thirdly, a co-ordinated focus on walk-up with a survey as a tool for engaging students with the person of Jesus.

The survey has been designed with the following considerations in mind…

  1. To have an easy “excuse” to approach as many people as possible in the lead up to Easter.
  2. To engage students with the person of Jesus, not just the festival of Easter.
  3. To be short and quick to do, yet challenges students to admit their attitude toward Jesus.
  4. To be equally useful in approaching large groups of students, as well as individuals. (See below to see tips for how to do this)
  5. To give students the opportunity to give their contact details if they would like to find out more.
  6. To gather real data regarding the attitudes and prejudices of the students of UQ (our mission field) which can also be used in shaping future evangelistic ventures.
  7. The questions therefore need to be clear, and not leading or manipulative.

What is the purpose of the survey?

Regarding the purpose of the survey: the survey is not a means to manipulate people into giving us their contact details. Nor is it just a pretence for a one-way conversation of us telling them the gospel—while being indifferent to their views.

Instead the survey is a sincere attempt to do both—to ask people what they really think about the person of Jesus (and record that—as the term “survey” suggests!); as well give people the opportunity to talk more about Jesus or Christianity if they wish, providing a clear means for them to indicate so (by giving us their contact details.)

They survey is designed to do both—not one at the expense of the other.

How can I use the survey?

Given the purpose above, there are a number of ways the survey can be used.

Firstly, through traditional walk-up to students around campus. Students can make use of existing breaks in their timetable to do walk-up with other Christians. A good way to do this would be to meet at the Clocktower, on the hour, to pray first before going out.

Secondly, as a coordinated activity of existing Bible study groups. Groups are encouraged to take one week out of their usual program to do walk-up with the survey—since students have already set aside that hour for ministry! It also speaks volumes as a fellowship that we are not only about hearing God speak to us through the Scriptures, but as a tangible expression of God’s desire that this message be taken to the ends of the campus (world)! Groups would be encouraged to meet at their usual time, pray for opportunities, then after going out in pairs for half-an hour or so, return and share stories as well as give thanks to God. This can all be done in the usual 1hr time slot.

This is a great way to encourage younger Christians through a shared participation in a common cause—i.e., true (biblical) fellowship!

When doing walk-up, the survey is sufficiently flexible that the Christian may wish to ask students personally the questions while filling out the survey for them. Or, in the case of larger groups, it may be easier to simply pass them around and ask the group to fill them out and return them to you. (This latter approach, though less personal, may give some students the opportunity to confess their interest in finding out more about Jesus or a Christian group on campus with minimal influence from peer pressure in the group.)

Thirdly, it can also be used generally to students in your lectures or tutes. Simply suggest that you’re doing a survey and that you’re doing a survey and you’re wondering if they would mind taking a moment to fill out a few questions! Indirectly, through filling in the survey it also announces to your friends that you’re a Christian—opening the door for further conversations, or invitations to later events.

What should I say when I do walk-up?

This is merely a suggestion…but you might like to start a conversation like this…

“Hello. Would you be able to help us with a short survey about Easter?”

  • wait for response—remember people will say “no” if they think it will take too long; if it something that they’re not interested in; or if you’re trying to sell them something! You may like to use a chocolate Easter egg as an incentive to fill in the survey.
  • From there you can decide whether to ask the questions and fill in the details yourself, or whether to hand it out and get them to fill it out themselves.
  • Following the completion of the survey you can hand them a flyer advertising the rest of the Easter Week events, as well as give them a chocolate egg for their troubles. (This leaves a pleasant taste in their mouth after meeting Christians J) (Flyers are still coming!)
  • It would also be helpful to have some copies of a gospel account on hand in the event that someone indicates that they want to read more about Jesus. You could say something like…

“I have a copy of the gospel of Mark/Luke etc. here, would like a copy to read over the Easter break?”

What happens to the survey?

Completed surveys should be returned to your President or staffworker/missionary or BSG/Core Group leader for collation of data.

Follow-up is best done by the person/groups who made the contact. So be sure to keep a copy of these details before the completed surveys are returned for data collection.

Data from the survey will then be returned to each group for their own reflection/prayers or evangelistic use at some later date.

Who pays for this?

Each group is responsible for bearing the cost of running their individual events, as well as the cost of photocopying the flyers or surveys, or any chocolate distributed (or consumed!) during Easter Week.

Stalls

Lastly, we intend to make use of stalls throughout the week located around the Union Complex. As BBQs are unavailable, this will be a further opportunity to use the survey to engage students with Jesus.

Each club will be responsible for booking and running the stall on their designated day. This allows individual clubs the opportunity to invite participation from their respective members without the risk of overcrowding, or insufficient help. This does not preclude the option of students helping out on other days, but such availability might be better spent doing walk-up.

The stall is expected to run from 11am – 2pm each day.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Group Evangelical Students Student Life - -