Upcoming Events
Encounter 2010
Short Film Strategy for NYC Metro
What is Encounter 2010?
In September, new people often come to us seeking information about our group. In the winter semester, few are new. Fellow students are more set in their routine. Instead of new people coming to us, we need to extend ourselves to others. This can be awkward--students may put their guard up if they sense we want to share Christ with them. Still, sharing Christ is the most important thing we can do for another.
ENCOUNTER2010 is an easy to do strategy to keep the river flowing fresh with faith touching the lives of people in a deep way. It is a means of reaching out. Many who participate in ENCOUNTER2010 will want to pursue meaningful discussions about God. In its purest form, ENCOUNTER2010 simply involves showing a film and discussing its theme afterward. The films suggested will stir the soul so that students open up about their lives rather than keeping their guard up.
ENCOUNTER2010 will be used of God to lead students to trust Christ on your campus.
Take a look at how easy it is to be a part of ENCOUNTER 2010. Sign up your campus movement to be involved (The suggested dates to use these films are February 15-28). Pursue the various venues that this outreach can be used. It will add life to your semester; it will rock the kingdom with new members.
Do you want to Participate? Register yourself at the email address below!
If you and your campus are interested in particpating/want evangelism training please email NYCmetro@uscm.org with your name, cell, mailing address, and campus. You'll receive furthur instructions on how you can download the videos at no cost to you.
What to do?
You can have as many film showings as you like; you can use as many venues as you like. The best way to “pull off” any of the film showing is to follow the 4 P’s of ENCOUNTER2010:
1. PRAY – Why is it that we overlook the most important element of any outreach. It would be wise to have a prayer strategy connected to your ENCOUNTER2010. In fact, to keep pray in the forefront of all you do, you may want to assign a prayer coordinator for your groups ENCOUNTER2010 experience. For prayer strategy ideas contact Laura LaRock (laura.larock@uscm.org), the Metro NYC prayer coordinator for ENCOUNTER2010.
2. PREPARATION—The venue by which you would use ENCOUNTER2010 determines how to best prepare for any film showing you do. You may use an iPod or similar tool to show the film to one other person. This could be a planned appointment or something you do randomly during the time you desire to show a film. You may want to show it to a few people. In such cases, you would need to use your laptop. These may also be planned events (like inviting a few friends to your dorm room to watch the film) or spontaneous (like approaching a few people in the cafeteria). You may even want to show it to a number of people at once. For instance, you might reserve your dorm lounge to do a film/discussion at the end of a dorm floor meeting. What if 8-12 decide to stay? Plug your computer into the flat screen in the lounge and you’re in business. Inviting friends to your normal weekly meeting or Bible study will be another way to use it in a large venue.
a. Here are some things you should have on hand:
i. Blog invitation cards—we will supply these. They will tell them where to go to enter their comments on a blog.
ii. Response cards
iii. Pensb. Obviously, you need a downloaded film and a way to show it. Be mindful that outside noises can take away from the impact of the film and discussion. If you have an office on campus or someone would lend you the use of one, this may provide a quiet comfortable place for the film showing and discussion. You may want to reserve a classroom for your film showings. If you are showing it at a larger venue, be sure the film can easily be seen by all. Planning to use a large TV screen or a VPU may make your event go much more smoothly. Make sure your audio is such that all can easily hear. Bring speakers if need be.
3. Program—Typically there are four simple parts to the program:
a. Food—Food is good and good food is better.
b. The film—You might provide a brief introduction to the film in that this showing is a part of an effort being dome throughout the metro area where film is used to surface issues that to some effect touch all of us. Mention the effort is ENCOUNTER 2010 and mentioned its sponsor. Tell them that the film will serve as a basis for discussion. Show the film. It is recommended that you let it run through the credits. This will allow the message to sink in.
c. Discussion questions—there will be a variety of responses to the film and it will be essential to affirm them all. The general flow of the discussion goes form general (What do you think?) to specific (Can you identify with the emotions of the main character?). Do not hesitate to move into the spiritual implications of the film. The overall discussion time could be anywhere from ten minutes to forty five minutes or more depending on the venue and the response from those attending. Remember, their souls have been stirred, their guard is lowered. It may be the perfect time to get their feedback on the Knowing God Personally booklet.
Short film guide:
For information on how to use the short films in a discussion, download the discussion guide. Feel free to also view these short clips on how to use the short films.
d. Response Card—Hand out response cards and ask each to fill them out. Also hand out Blog invitation cards encouraging them to continue to enter into the discussion by adding their thoughts on the blog. Thank them for coming.
4. Phollow Up—Okay, we cheated on the last “P” but don’t you short-change this experience by missing what will be for many the most important part of ENCOUNTER2010. Call those who attended asking if they wanted to get together to further discuss their response to the film and discussion. During this follow up meeting, focus on the spiritual implications of the film and discussion. Ask them if they would mind giving you their opinion on the Knowing God Personally booklet. Continue to meet weekly with those who trust Christ going through the New Life Series. For more ideas on how to coordinate the Follow Up, contact Mei Ling Shiu (meiling.shiu@uscm.org), the Metro NYC Phollow Up Coordinator for ENCOUNTER2010.
How do I download the films?
If you are in a hot-spot for your I-phone or have internet access for your computer, you can watch these films directly from http://www.globalshortfilmnetwork.com. Of course, you are vulnerable for the normal streaming problems that might occur.
Each campus movement is authorized to download a copy of each of the 4 films that you can use for ENCOUNTER2010. The downloads are already paid for; you need only set up your own account with the Global Short Film Network and use the code provided. In order to get the code and the directions to download the films for free, email NYCmetro@uscm.org with your name, cell, mailing address, and campus. You'll receive furthur instructions on how you can download the videos at no cost to you.
Preview the films in Encounter 2010:
Discusion Guide
1) Venia - Click here
2) Ctrl Z - Click here
3
) Bricks - Click here
4
) Doll Face- Click here
