Student Mission Award Nominations Open
Here at Fusion we’re taking nominations for our first ever Student Mission Awards until 30th November 2017. The awards will celebrate church-based student mission all over the UK and with 10 categories you’re bound to find one that you can enter your mission activity into.
We’ll be announcing the winners at big awards ceremony in London on 15th February 2018 and there will be cash prizes for every category. Head to our website to get nominating.
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Inventor of Tuition Fees Would Like to See Them Scrapped
The man who claims he was ‘largely responsible’ for the introduction of university tuition fees in the late 1990’s believes they should be scrapped. Writing in The Guardian, Andrew Adonis, a former adviser to Tony Blair who also served as an education minister, says he never anticipated that what started as asking students for a contribution to their education would lead to students racking up debts of £50,000 by the time they graduate. He has pointed out that debt levels are now so high that the Institute for Fiscal Studies believes that 75% of graduates will never pay back all they owe.
Discipleship Deck is a Huge Success
Fusion’s latest resource has been a massive hit, selling more than 500 copies in the first week it went on sale. Discipleship Deck is a set of playing cards with a difference:
‘We’re so happy to announce that this pack of cards is out. It plays like a normal deck of cards but each one has a discipleship question on it. Tough, awkward, sharpening questions to keep your walk with God honest and deep.’ Luke Smith
Questions range from 'What are you praying for that is impossible without God?’ to ‘Where do you go for comfort?’ This is courageous card playing which asks you to put away your poker face! We’re already hearing great stories about how people are using the deck!
‘I had a mate come over last night for dinner and we got out the discipleship deck and it sparked some awesome discussions on really challenging stuff about living out our faith. It was so good to have a resource that is so chilled and easy to use but helps you grow in your relationship with God by asking the tough questions that can be so easy to shy away from. Just wanted to feed that back to you and say thanks and well done on an awesome resource!’ Jamie Pritchard
Churches Work Together to Welcome Copenhagen Students
20 churches in Copenhagen are working together to welcome all new students, Christian or not, to their city. ‘Surveys have shown that one of the biggest fears amongst new students is being lonely. For the last two years during the first week of the university year we’ve run a project called Welcome to Copenhagen,’ explains Thomas Willer a church leader in the city.
Last year the initiative provided free bicycle maintenance (cycling is big in the first official Bike City in the world); a BBQ and DJs in a park; the ‘longest community kitchen table in Copenhagen’ where several churches served food in one of the city’s squares; and a huge outdoor party near the city’s main nightclubs. The city’s Mayor even attended to welcome students to the city.
‘Christian students found it easy to invite their new university friends, who they’d they often just met the day before. We have also been keen to let non-Christian students know that the church is involved in social mission. New students are looking to engage in their city and they can do this through our community; we’re working with the homeless and with trafficked women for example. One student I spoke to was amazed that we don’t just pray, we also try to make the city a better place.’ Thomas Willer
Aside from engaging thousands of students, Welcome to Copenhagen has created a new sense of unity amongst churches in the city: ‘As a network of different churches we’re now meeting monthly to pray.’
