Church Council – 10th May 2006. Student Work

Breakdown of responsibilities that could be taken on by various church members:

1. Organising hospitality for students who come to church. I primarily ask those who are signed up as Hosts for International Students. This can be done fairly informally and does not require too much time or effort.

• 2. Organising hospitality for International Students. This can be broken down into 3 jobs:

- Printing forms (English and French version, translated by Suzanne) - Inviting I.S.s on campus (between 12.00 and 13.45 – CUEF courses change over at 12.30), encouraging Christian students to invite I.S.s. Liaising with the GBU (paul.kauffmann@laposte.net - his English is very good) who have the forms on their outreach stand on Thursday lunchtimes. - Linking I.S.s with Host people/families, making sure they have been able to get in touch, asking for feedback. This requires easy access to email and ability to send medium-sized attachments (I have various documents on different cultures/religions), and Excel. -(Possible 4th job … someone who is able and willing to read the Bible one-to-one with any I.S.s who want to. I have and can recommend some materials that can be used)

Current Hosts:

• Larry Baltz
• Helene Courbaud
• Elizabeth Cherhal
• Norma & Bruce Fogelsong
• Sally Mc Namee
• Jim & Reagan Brown
• Suzanne & Fred Breant
• Penny & Jean-Philipe Vincent-Sweet
• Mark & Carine Lewis
• Alan & Val Golton
• Dan & Chris Wilhelm
• Anne-Marie Desimone
• Keith Baldock
• (Montserrat)
• (Vincent & Laure Migeotte)

Since a couple of the above hosts will be leaving this summer it would be good to have a few more people ready to receive students.

3. Welcomers being proactive in welcoming new students who won’t always take the initiative of talking to people.

Some further ideas/ things to think about: 1. Housegroups – students have been involved in Friday night fortnightly housegroup (chez Lewis, and now possibly also chez Breant). If students are invited to these groups again next year there may be the need for a further split, and therefore the need for someone to take this on.

2. Something on a weekly basis may be better for students

3. How can St Marc’s continue to support the work of the GBU next year? (Encouraging students at St Marc’s to be involved, offering use of the building…)

4. Is there any scope for involvement with the FEU (Foyer Evangélique Universitaire)? (I have been involved with an English-speaking conversation group 6.30-7.30 on a Wednesday at their house on campus). I would like to talk to them about advertising, specifically for this group which could attract some I.S.s who want to improve their English. It could be included with the I.S. Hospitality Form?

5. Does anyone shop in Géant??! Practical help for I.S.s… Getting church members to carry around a couple of forms in their bags.

6. Depending on numbers of Anglophone Christian students who turn up next year, here are some ideas for starting up an International Café. Resources needed: A building/house A core group of people (at least 15) willing to the regular commitment in order to build meaningful friendships A group of people willing to commit themselves (on a less regular basis perhaps) to set up, serve drinks, cook food, clear up etc. (The two groups can overlap somewhat) People with teaching gifts, able to give a short talk from a bible passage. A core group of I.S.s who are interested in turning up!

I have a long document on practical details of setting up a café but here are a couple of models of cafes I’ve been involved in/set up/seen: 1. Run by Imperial Christian Union - Lunchtime café on campus, serving free drinks and toasties (like croque-monsieur!), no bible talk but a table of free Christian literature and gospels, and a basis of advertising evangelistic events run by the CU and also my church, and an International Christianity Explored course. Held an ‘away weekend’ twice a year (Autumn and Spring term). Café advertised by a billboard near the room where it was taking place, and flyers. 2. Run by Christ Church Mayfair London – Friday night café –7pm-10.30pm (6.30pm team members meet to pray and set up). Target audience – I.S.s at Imperial, Language Schools, Professionals. Advertised in Chinese/Japanese newspapers, by word of mouth, and through church members bringing IS friends/colleagues. 7pm Drinks, chatting around tables, board games/table football, welcome and notices and simple meal at 8pm followed by 5 minute talk from the Bible (handout including the passage plus a few questions to discuss), dessert and coffee with opportunity to discuss the questions. Once or twice a month we had a ‘theme’ (eg. Chinese night, where Chinese guests would do the cooking for us and teach us something about Chinese culture etc), quiz night, film night (I have a list of films that are good for bridging to the gospel message), cheese & wine evening etc! We ran International Christianity Explored after church on Sunday. Suggested a £2 donation to cover cost of food. We bought a large map, put it on a board and invited guests to stick pins in where they were from. We also had a guest book which people could leave their name, email address and ‘comment’ in. 3. A more established Café – eg. Jesmond Paris Church in Newcastle, who would have over 100 guests each week. Similar to above, but after the short talk there would be the opportunity to go into a separate room to do a Bible Study. (Even if a lot of guests did this, the room was not left devoid of people!)