20-27 July 2019
Hohegrete, Germany (near Cologne)
CONNECT is a life-changing week of intense interaction with God and each other. As leaders from across Europe gather to learn and grow, the goal of Connect is to encourage, empower and equip those involved in student ministry. From the committed student volunteer to long-term workers, we want to share the message of the gospel more effectively within the European university environment and our own unique local contexts. The week will include worship & prayer, seminars, workshops, evening meetings, sports & games, and time to build relationships in small groups. Childcare is also provided.
A few of the many topics that will be covered:
How to strategically plan ministry for the school year
Spiritual disciplines - learn about tools to help you grow spiritually
How to lead a small group
How to lead others into worship - even if you're not a musician
How do we approach the different cultures on our campuses?
Developing your organization for the next level
Balancing ministry and family
Highlights from Connect ‘19…
Seminars
Choose one 12-hour seminar from the list below when you register.
Reaching Today's Student
Instructors: John Koeshall Jr. and Jan & Therese Kotzerke
**Strongly recommended for first-time attendees or as a refresher for long-term workers.**
The purpose of this class is to present the primary method of Christ in order to change our university campuses. The goal of this course is how to apply the biblical principles of discipleship, which Jesus modeled with His disciples, to your own individual contexts and campuses.
Christian Coaching
Instructor: Julie Markese
“You will never maximize your potential in any area without coaching. It is impossible. You may be good. You may even be better than everyone else. But without outside input you will never be as good as you could be.” (Andy Stanley) Coaching is all about potential. It’s about building capacity instead of dependency in people. It offers a place to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It works.
This course will cover:
Core coaching skills of active listening, coaching presence, and asking powerful questions
What sets coaching apart from other disciplines (key distinctions)
Coaching teams
At least one coaching demo per session
Coaching through change
Instructors: Chuck & Sally Haavik
Have you wanted to have a deeper relationship with Jesus? To really know His love and the power of His resurrection? Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him and We will come and make our home with him.” (John 14:23) We will spend a week together taking a journey with Jesus, learning how to deepen our lives in Him through prayer, journaling and meditation on Scripture, becoming companions with Him as we pray with the Gospel stories from Bethlehem to the Cross and beyond. Come & Join us!
Inner Life in Christ
Instructor: Justin J. Evans
In this course we will study the book of Isaiah in its literary and historical contexts. We will trace major themes throughout the book, such as faith and the hope for a Messiah. Along the way, we will pause to do close readings of selected passages. Our approach will help readers orient themselves to the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, while developing an appreciation of how these texts continue to speak today.
Reading Isaiah: Visions of a King
Taking It to the Next Level
Instructors: Steve & Deanne Turley
Building Up Yourself and Those Around You to Better Serve
Each day we will delve into one (or two) proven ideas, concepts or tools that can help us become better servant leaders, both personally and within a team. Some of the topics we will be considering: Building Trust, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Culture vs. Strategy, DISC assessment, Redemptive Conflict, Building a Team.
In addition to theory, we want to brainstorm ideas on the topic immediately so as to give the content impact and application beyond head-knowledge. Our objective is that every participant leaves Connect with deliberate, actionable steps and/or goals for each idea, concept and tool that we discuss.
Location
Hohegrete, Germany
Venue
Hohegrete is a Christian guest house located about an hour outside of Cologne, Germany. For more information, see our FAQs and the Hohegrete website: http://www.haus-hohegrete.de/.
Travel information
By Car
We recommend using your favorite GPS or online map service for directions.
The address:
Bibel- und Erholungsheim Hohegrete MAT GmbH, Hohegrete, Pracht, Germany
Or if you prefer, you may use the following directions:
From Köln – via A3 – Direction Bonn/ Frankfurt
A560 Direction Hennef, this becomes Highway 8. Turn Left onto the L267(Wölmersen Weg) towards Wölmersen / Au. After leaving Weißenbrüchen the road will be called Altenkirchener Str. Turn Left at the signs for Hohegrete on to Grubenstraße. Follow the local signs.
From the A4 – Highway 256 towards Waldbröl / Au. Turn Left on the L267 (Prachter Straße) and follow the signs up to Hohegrete.
From the A45 – At Siegen follow Highway 62 through the valley to Hamm. Turn Left on the L267 (Prachter Straße) and follow the signs up to Hohegrete.
For those traveling by Train either from an airport or another city, please check www.bahn.de for connection information.
Use "Hohegrete” as your destination.
Airport information - The nearest airports are listed below.
Cologne/Bonn airport (60km) - https://www.koeln-bonn-airport.de/
Düsseldorf airport (118km) - https://www.dus.com/
Frankfurt airport (132km) - https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en.html
Please contact us at +32-498-414-383 if you experience travel delays. Thank you!
FAQs
Check back regularly for updates!
What is CONNECT?
CONNECT is a life-changing week of intense interaction with God and each other, as leaders and students from across Europe gather together to learn and grow. The goal of Connect is to encourage and equip those involved in student ministry at any level, so that we can share the message of the gospel more effectively within the university environment and our own local contexts. The week will include worship and prayer, seminars, workshops, evening meetings, sports and games, and time to build relationships in small groups.
Who can come to the conference?
CONNECT is for all those involved in reaching students in the university context in Europe, including short- or long-term workers, student leaders, church volunteers, and others who have a passion to reach students with the good news of Jesus Christ. We believe that as we share our knowledge and resources and encourage one another, we will be more effective in reaching students with the message of Jesus in our diverse local environments.
Can I come for part of the time?
CONNECT is designed to give in-depth training, with opportunities for building relationship with God and others through the various activities, services, small groups, and workshops. Participants are STRONGLY encouraged to make plans to attend ALL of CONNECT because team building and small group dynamics depend on full participation.
Can I come early or stay late?
The conference center is reserved for our group from the evening of 20 July until the morning of the 27 July. Priority for extra days will be given to some Connect staff who will be asked to arrive a day early to set up. If you need to arrive early, please contact us at info@sfceurope.org so that we can ensure there is room for you before reserving an extra night on the registration form.
How much does Connect cost?
Prices for Connect cover rooms and meals beginning with the evening meal on Saturday, July 20, and ending with breakfast on Saturday, July 27.
Full-time Students - €230
Non-students/children & youth workers - €275
Children (11-17) - €210; Children (3-10) - €185; Children under 3 are free.
Registration Prices for Connect increase on 15 June 2019 by 20 EUR.
Registration closes on 30 June 2019.
Cancellation Policy
**IMPORTANT**
PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATIONS ARE NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED IN FULL. DEADLINE FOR FULL PAYMENT IS 30 June 2019. Any registrations cancelled before this date may be refunded minus a €50 cancellation fee. After 30 June, refunds may only be granted on a case by case basis. Please contact us directly if you would like to transfer your registration to another participant.
How can I pay?
The preferred method of payment is by bank transfer:
Name: SFC-Europe, Chaussée de Waterloo, 45, 1640 Rhode-St.-Genèse, Belgium
Bank: ING Louvain-la-Neuve, Rue des Wallons, 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Account number: 363-0350235-08
IBAN (International Banking Number): BE63 3630 3502 3508
Code BIC (Swift): BBRUBEBB
If bank transfer is not possible, we accept payments through Paypal at info@sfceurope.org.
What is the daily schedule?
Here is a tentative daily schedule:
8:00 - 8:50 - Breakfast
9:00 - 9:20 - Morning Gathering
9:30 - 12:00 - Class
12:00 - 13:00 - Lunch
13:00 - 14:45 - Free time
14:45 - 15:00 - Coffee & Cookies
15:00 - 16:30 -Workshops
16:30 - 18:00 - Small Groups/Staff Meeting
18:00 - 19:00 - Dinner
19:30 - Evening Encounter (Children's program ends 21:30)
Can I sign up for more than one seminar?
Sorry, no. Participants follow their selected seminar every morning for 6 days, resulting in 10+ hours of in-depth instruction and guided interaction.
How do I sign up for workshops?
There will be descriptions and sign-up sheets for the workshops during on-site registration.
What is the lodging situation like?
This year’s CONNECT will be held at a Christian conference center. Most of the rooms have private bathrooms, although there are a few dorm-style rooms with hall bathrooms. Room sizes vary between 2 and 6 people.
Is there wifi?
Yes. Free wifi is available in the lobby of the main building.
Can I room with my friend(s)?
Yes, you may mention the name of your preferred roommate in the comments section of the registration form. We will try our best to accommodate you, but please understand that there may be other circumstances that limit our ability to honor every request.
How will the meals work?
Meals are self-serve buffet style in the cafeteria. The meals reflect the German culture of our host country, with the main meal of the day being lunchtime, and dinner being a light meal. Breakfast is often cold cuts, cheeses, bread, yogurt and muesli. Lunchtimes are hot meals with a variety of German and some international offerings. Dinner is often cold cuts, cheeses, bread and soup or salad. If the timing of the meals or type of food does not suit your needs or culture, you may want to plan on bringing snacks with you.
Is there a snack bar, café, store or chance to go buy food and other supplies while at the conference?
The conference center does sell some snacks (ice cream, beverages, crackers, candy), but there is not a snack bar or café. There will be a few opportunities during the afternoon free time to catch a ride to the town nearby and go to a store or bank.
Is there an ATM at the conference center?
No, so please come with some cash in hand. There are ATM machines in the village close to the conference center, and there will be free time during the week to catch a ride to use those, if needed.
What types of things should I bring?
Please bring a Bible, notebook, and pen (or their electronic equivalent). Dress is casual. You may want to prepare for rainy weather and cool temperatures at night. Don’t forget appropriate clothing for sports and swimming, and cash for snacks, swimming, and laundry service. Other items may include favorite group board games, children's DVDs, etc.
Parents: Please make sure all diaper bags, cups, bottles, baby carriers, strollers, etc. are labeled with child's name.
Do I need to bring sheets or towels?
You may bring your own towels and single-sized bedding or rent these from the facility. The prices are €6 for bed linens and 4€ a set of towels.
How do I get from the Köln train station to the conference center?
For those traveling by train either from the airport or another city, please check www.bahn.de for connection instructions. Use “Hohegrete” as your destination.
How do I get to the conference center by car?
We recommend using your favorite GPS or online map service for directions. The signs for Hohegrete are visible from the main road, Prachter Straße. Or if you prefer, you may use the following directions:
From Köln – via A3 – Direction Bonn/ Frankfurt
A560 Direction Hennef, this becomes Highway 8. Turn Left onto the L267(Wölmersen Weg) towards Wölmersen / Au. After leaving Weißenbrüchen the road will be called Altenkirchener Str. Turn Left at the signs for Hohegrete on to Grubenstraße. Follow the local signs.
From the A4 – Highway 256 towards Waldbröl / Au. Turn Left on the L267 (Prachter Straße) and follow the signs up to Hohegrete.
From the A45 – At Siegen follow Highway 62 through the valley to Hamm. Turn Left on the L267 (Prachter Straße) and follow the signs up to Hohegrete.
Will there be translation into other languages?
Yes! Please note in your registration that you would like translation and the language you prefer. Headsets provide translation for the main meetings, with personal translators filling in in other situations. Worship will branch into different languages as well. While English is a common European trade medium, it’s unifying to gather together and hear God worshipped in every language!
Will there be any free time?
Yes! Afternoon free time is an opportunity to join in organized sports (i.e. ultimate frisbee, football, etc) or individual/family activities (swimming, walks, brief trips to the village, resting, etc). (Parents, please note there is no childcare provided during free time.)
Contact info during Connect:
Email: info@sfceurope.org
Phone: +32-498-414-383 (Whatsapp also available)