Maybe I have an over-active imagination but, when I think about the wave of freshers that arrive every October, I see images from the 1954 classic ‘Godzilla’.
Hands clapped over mouths, people running away, falling over, chaos and destruction everywhere. The freshers are coming! Thousands of new students arrive in a cacophony of noise, mess and confusion. Why does this invasion seem to sneak up and surprise so many of us? After all, this Godzilla ‘attacks’ university towns and cities every year!
Fusion helps local churches be prepared for this moment and connect them to students arriving in their town, but even if you’re not a church leader or student worker, there are a few things you can do to get ready for fresher’s week, even though it’s still a few months away.
1. Use your imagination
Put yourself in the shoes of the freshers. If you were in their position, what would help you find a church? Where would you look? Make sure your churches profile is up to date on the fusion.uk.com website. If it’s not, speak to your church leader or student worker to get them to update it. Create or update your church’s facebook page. Consider finding out if you can get a stall in the uni’s fresher’s fair. Think of as many ways as possible to share the vision of your church community and give students the opportunity to get involved.
2. Make sure your church website is updated
Maybe whoever is responsible for your church website is an internet genius, but it could well just be someone who looks at it now and again in their spare time. There are loads of students around with great web skills. Take some time to check out your church’s website and imagine you’re seeing it for the first time. Is there a clear link for students to find out how they can get involved? Many freshers will start their church hunt with a google search and make up their mind about whether to stay on your church’s website within a couple of seconds. Speak to the ‘webmaster’ to make sure your church’s electronic presence is ready for the new term.
3. Run a ‘Come Back Early’ campaign
Think about getting some of your friends to come back to your uni town or city a couple of weeks before the start of term. It’s a great opportunity to hang out, plan and prepare for the arrival of freshers and make sure you’re settled in so you can receive them well.
4. Pray!
Start praying now for the freshers who will be arriving. Think about you’re own experience of uni, or what you’ve heard, and pray specific prayers of encouragement and protection for the new students who’ll begin their adventure in October.
5. Help any freshers you already know
If you know anyone starting uni this year, maybe someone in your home church, encourage them to go to Studentlinkup.org and sign up to Student Linkup by clicking on 'Link Up Now'. It's the quickest and easiest way to be put in touch with local churches around their uni. Help them find a new church and hit the ground running. It could be the best recommendation you ever make!
6. Have fun!
Look forward to meeting some new people and remember the things that encouraged you to connect with your church in the first place!
