27 July - 3 August

near Cologne, Germany

Contact your campus leader or info@sfceurope.org for more info.

Ruth Hasselgren, with her husband, Carl-Vilhelm, have pastored for 25 years in two multicultural and outreach-oriented churches in the cities of Vienna, Austria and Eskilstuna, Sweden. She has earned degrees in teaching (Austria), Bible and Theology (Belgium) and Family and Marriage Therapy (USA). Ruth, a native of Austria, was instrumental in heading up the national youth ministry, founding the first Bible-college on a BA-level, and initiating several lay counseling centers in local churches within the Austrian Pentecostal movement, FCGÖ. After moving to Sweden in 2012, on the local level she has been involved in pastoring a church with multiple ministries. on the national level she has worked as a member of the task force for European missions of the Swedish Pentecostal movement, Pingst, since 2020 and was also appointed as regional director for European Missions of Pingst International.

Ruth travels throughout Europe as a speaker, Bible-teacher and inspirator. She is a true encourager and a creative and skilled leader. Her heart burns for edifying local churches and equipping individual believers in developing their gifts and callings as part of God’s mission.

Seminars

When you register, be prepared to choose only one of the following 12-hour seminars that you will attend each morning of Connect:

City on a Hill (formerly known as RTS) - A Community Committed to the Mission of God on Today’s Campus **Strongly recommended for first-time attendees or as a refresher for long-term workers.**

Unlocking Corinthians - Equipping for Transformation

Holy Spirit - Encounter. Context. Knowledge.

Relationships - Marriage, Sex Theology, Relationships and the Chemical war and Pornography

Workshops

A few, but not all, of the many workshop topics that will be covered in the afternoons:

Pathways to serve in SFC, Prayer journaling, Family on Mission, Worship Workshop, Pioneering Ministry, How to Study the Bible, and many more!

City on a Hill:

A Community Committed to the Mission of God on Today’s Campus

Instructors:  John A. Koeshall, Miriam Schütz and Hannah Thompson

**Strongly recommended for first-time attendees or as a refresher for long-term workers.**

What describes today’s university experience best? Fun? Gaining knowledge? Learning how to wash your own clothes? Today there are over 18.5 million students studying in universities across Europe. And despite the fact that those 18.5 million students come from diverse cultural backgrounds, they are all shaped in similar ways by the uniqueness of university life.

At the core of our identity as SFC is the conviction that God is deeply committed to reaching students and that he is sending us as a Europe-wide community to bear witness to his light on the various campuses where we have been called. That’s why, in this seminar, we will dig into how God sees the campus, the mission he is inviting us to among students, and the practical tools and experiences we will need to reach students on today’s university campus. We will look at the foundational aspects of being part of a student ministry, the core values that drive us as we are committed to reaching students today, and the habits and practices that shape us as gospel-bearers and disciple-makers on the secular campus. Whether you’re a new student and are just starting off in SFC, or whether you’ve been working with students for a long time and just need a refresher and new ideas for your group - this seminar is for you!

John and Kristen have been reaching University students in Germany since 2007 and have been involved at every level of the organization, from leading a group to the national leadership in Germany. They have a passion for seeing communities of faith established at Unis, equipping them to become a Jesus-loving, missional body of Christ. John has an MA in Intercultural Studies and in New Testament Theology and loves helping students discover the exciting yet costly call of Jesus on their lives and for his kingdom.

Miri is from SfC Germany and is currently living in Mannheim. she studied International relations and is now working on a Master degree in Intercultural Leadership. She started working full time with SfC in 2019 and loves to be with students. She strives to help them become followers of Jesus and to grow in their potential and calling. Three things she enjoys in life - Great coffee, deep conversations and good old music.

Hannah has served for two and a half years in Granada, Spain on a team that meets and disciples Spanish university students through a cultural center and church plant. When she’s not grabbing a chai latte or going on a walk with students, she can often be found trying to earn the love of the Granada street cats.

Unlocking Corinthians:

Equipping for Transformation

Instructor: Quentin Heinen

In this seminar, which aims to combine academic rigor with the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, we will dive in and dig through the Epistles to the Corinthians. Designed to equip students and leaders with essential context, background and exegetical tools, this seminar will unlock passages from the letters to the Corinthians, providing invaluable hermeneutical insights and practical strategies for embodying the vision of SFC-Europe: reconciling students to Christ. Join this seminar on a quest to unlock Scripture, ignite your heart and equip your leaders and ministry companions to impact university campuses with the message of Jesus.  (Note: 12 hours will give us plenty of time to focus on selected passages of the epistles.)

Quentin Heinen, a professor at Continental Theological Seminary specializing in mission, pastoral theology, leadership, and ecclesiology, is committed to academia as well as the local and national church. Together with his wife Cynthia and their daughter Nahele, they are developing and fostering vocations balanced between family, work, and a passion for promoting dynamic faith communities centered on discipleship. Former leaders in SFC Belgium, they now oversee the SFC Belgium prayer and alumni network while planting Crossover Church in Mons, Belgium. Crossover is a community of disciples making disciples, characterized by deep relationships in Christ and a home network committed to being authentic, open, and vulnerable.

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

The address:

Bibel- und Erholungsheim

Hohegrete MAT GmbH

57589 Pracht Germany

The signs for Hohegrete are visible from the main road, Prachter Straße. Alternatively, Grubenstrasse may be used as the destination for navigation devices.

Please see https://haus-hohegrete.de/Ihr-Weg-zu-uns/ for more information.

For those traveling by Train 

Please check www.bahn.de for connection instructions. The train station from Cologne and Siegen is Au/Sieg*. If necessary, change trains to Hohegrete stop. The Hohegrete stop is about 450 meters away from the Hohegrete site. (*In Au/Sieg there are also taxis at the train station - 5 to 10 minutes by car to Hohegrete: Taxi Thomas)

Once you have arrived at the Hohegrete station, take the footpath in either direction to get to the conference center. See map above.

a) follow the path to the left. The first turn to the right. Follow the path uphill. Keep left at the end of the street and cross the street to get to the Hohegrete site. Walk through the Hohegrete site to the round reception building.

b) follow the path to the right. At the end, cross the main road to the left to get to the Hohegrete site. Walk up the path to the building complex. Walk along the building complex to the left until you reach the round reception building on the right.

Please see https://haus-hohegrete.de/Ihr-Weg-zu-uns/ for more information.

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 +32 497 46 16 65 if you experience travel delays. Thank you!

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 university 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 27 July until the morning of 3 August. Priority for early arrivals is reserved and limited to Connect planning staff and other workers who will be needed for 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, 27 July, and ending with breakfast on Saturday, 3 August. 

Full-time Students - €270

Non-students/children & youth workers - €350

Youth (11-17) - €250;    Children (3-10) - €250;    Children under 3 - €50. (Youth & children tickets are available for the families of ministry leaders in attendance.)

Registration Prices for Connect increase on 16 June 2024 by 25 EUR per person.

Registration closes on 30 June 2024.

Cancellation Policy

**IMPORTANT**
PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATIONS ARE NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED IN FULL. DEADLINE FOR FULL PAYMENT IS 30 June 2024. 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 more information or to transfer your registration to another participant. 

How can I pay?

The preferred method of payment is a bank transfer using the information below:

Name:
SFC-Europe
Rue Hugo d’Oignies, 34
5100 NAMUR, Belgium

Bank:
Frei Kirchen Bank SPAR - und Kreditbank (SKB)
Evangelisch - Freikirchlicher Gemeinden eG Friedberger Strasse 101 61350 Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe

Account number (in Germany): 17915 08
IBAN (International Banking Number): DE26 5009 2100 0001 7915 08
Code BIC (Swift): GENODE51BH2

If bank transfer is not possible, contact us 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 - Seminar  

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 Wi-Fi?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi 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 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. We are working on an online banking app payment option, but as of right now, you will need CASH for towels/bedding rental, snacks, ice cream, swimming and laundry. 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 should I bring?

Please bring something to share from your country for our TASTE OF THE NATIONS snack breaks. (2 packs of something salty or sweet would be very helpful so we don’t run out.) Also, please bring a Bible, notebook, and pen (or their electronic equivalent), and a personal mug for our coffee/tea breaks. (Connect mugs will be available for purchase until supplies run out.)

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, towels/bedding (or cash to rent them), personal toiletries (including soap/shampoo, etc), washcloths, electric fans, and also cash for snacks, swimming, or laundry service. Other items you may wish to bring may include favorite group board games, musical instruments, toys and other items for children, etc. 

Parents of babies and toddlers: Please make sure to send everything they will need in a diaper bag (diapers, wipes, cups, bottle, special toys, blankies, extra clothing), and please label everything with child’s name (including strollers, baby carriers, etc). (Baby bed rental does not include sheets.)

Parents of grade children: Please send them each day with a water bottle & change of clothes (clearly labeled with their name). Please apply sunscreen to your child before dropping them off. We will be going outside. If they have a special toy, feel free to bring it, but please label it.

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 +/- 7.50 € for bed linens (fitted sheet, duvet cover, and pillowcase) and +/-5€ for a set of towels. Baby bed rental does not include sheets.

How do I get to the conference center by train?

For those traveling by train either from the airport or another city, please check www.bahn.de for connection instructions. The train station from Cologne and Siegen is Au/Sieg*. If necessary, change trains to Hohegrete stop. The Hohegrete stop is about 450 meters away from the Hohegrete site.

(*In Au/Sieg there are also taxis at the train station - 5 to 10 minutes by car to Hohegrete: Taxi Thomas)

From Hohegrete station, take the footpath in either direction to get to the conference center:

a) follow the path to the left. The first turn to the right. Follow the path uphill. Keep left at the end of the street and cross the street to get to the Hohegrete site. Walk through the Hohegrete site to the round reception building or following the signs for SFC’s registration.

b) follow the path to the right. At the end, cross the main road to the left to get to the Hohegrete site. Walk up the path to the building complex. Walk along the building complex to the right until you reach the round reception building or following the signs for SFC’s registration.

Please see https://haus-hohegrete.de/Ihr-Weg-zu-uns/ for more information.

How do I get to the conference center by car?

Bibel- und Erholungsheim

Hohegrete MAT GmbH

57589 Pracht

We recommend using your favorite GPS or online map service for directions. The signs for Hohegrete are visible from the main road, Prachter Straße. Alternatively, Grubenstrasse may be used as the destination for navigation devices.

Please see https://haus-hohegrete.de/Ihr-Weg-zu-uns/ for more information.

Will there be translation into other languages?

We will try to the best of our ability to accommodate anyone needing interpretation in conjunction with national leaders. 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 when possible.

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, such as swimming, walks, brief trips to the village, resting, etc. Parents, please note there is no childcare provided during free time.

Contact info during Connect:

Phone: +32 497 46 16 65

Email: info@sfceurope.org