Preparing your CU for Events Week

There’s no one thing which will prepare your CU for Events Week… but in the months and weeks ahead of Events Week you can work to shape a culture of love for Jesus, prayerful expectancy, and radical boldness. The stories you tell, the information you share, and the way you pray will all contribute to this.

Here are some ideas for preparing your CU for events week:

Ground yourselves in the gospel. Paul said that as we ‘contemplate the Lord's glory, [we] are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 3:18). It’s only as you look together to the love and power of God that you’ll be transformed to want to share the gospel with your campus.
Pray. Pray together and pray individually. See ‘Getting your CU praying’ for some ideas.
Share the vision. Share the ‘why’ of Events Week. Why do we want people to know Jesus? What unique opportunities does this week give your CU? Don’t assume that people know what an Events Week is — especially those who are in their first year.
Tell stories. Stories build belief. What have you seen God do in past Events Weeks? Get a range of CU members sharing a range of stories: the spectacular and the mundane. Are there stories from other CUs that you could share?
Drip-feed information. Keep talking about Events Week in your CU meetings and on social media. Write out a plan of what you’ll share when: Events Week theme, social media, speakers, titles, rota sign-ups, etc.
Run a Christmas event. In some countries it is still a cultural experience to go to Christmas carol services — so why not organise your own, and invite the whole university? (Or, if carol services are not popular, then make it a Christmas party or meal). A Christmas event could be a great opportunity for guests to experience the CU community, hear about Jesus, and hear more about events week. You could invite your Events Week speaker to speak at the event.
Training. As you think about your CU, are there any areas where people could do with some extra help in preparation for Events Week? Some CUs have valued help in, for example: first-contact evangelism, sharing your story, answering big questions, inviting friends to events.

Things to do:

Discuss. What are some of the things that you would love to see God do amongst you in the months and weeks ahead of Events Week? What could you do in order to cultivate this culture?
Decide. Commit to just a few ways you’d like to prepare your CU. Better to do a few things well, than trying to do loads!
Communicate. If you’re part of a bigger CU, ask the committee what their plans are for the term ahead. Propose some of your ideas and coordinate with them.

Here are some ideas for preparing your CU for events week:

Ground yourselves in the gospel. Paul said that as we ‘contemplate the Lord's glory, [we] are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit’ (2 Corinthians 3:18). It’s only as you look together to the love and power of God that you’ll be transformed to want to share the gospel with your campus.

Pray. Pray together and pray individually. See ‘Getting your CU praying’ for some ideas.

Share the vision. Share the ‘why’ of Events Week. Why do we want people to know Jesus? What unique opportunities does this week give your CU? Don’t assume that people know what an Events Week is — especially those who are in their first year.

Tell stories. Stories build belief. What have you seen God do in past Events Weeks? Get a range of CU members sharing a range of stories: the spectacular and the mundane. Are there stories from other CUs that you could share?

Drip-feed information. Keep talking about Events Week in your CU meetings and on social media. Write out a plan of what you’ll share when: Events Week theme, social media, speakers, titles, rota sign-ups, etc.

Run a Christmas event. In some countries it is still a cultural experience to go to Christmas carol services — so why not organise your own, and invite the whole university? (Or, if carol services are not popular, then make it a Christmas party or meal). A Christmas event could be a great opportunity for guests to experience the CU community, hear about Jesus, and hear more about events week. You could invite your Events Week speaker to speak at the event.

Training. As you think about your CU, are there any areas where people could do with some extra help in preparation for Events Week? Some CUs have valued help in, for example: first-contact evangelism, sharing your story, answering big questions, inviting friends to events.

Things to do:

Discuss. What are some of the things that you would love to see God do amongst you in the months and weeks ahead of Events Week? What could you do in order to cultivate this culture?

Decide. Commit to just a few ways you’d like to prepare your CU. Better to do a few things well, than trying to do loads!

Communicate. If you’re part of a bigger CU, ask the committee what their plans are for the term ahead. Propose some of your ideas and coordinate with them.

Preparation