Campus Frontline: Inter-School Orientation (ISO) for Fellowship Committee Members 2023 #MappingtheJourneyTogether
In the constant state of extreme climate, Inter-School Orientation (ISO) for fellowship committee members in October took place under Typhoon Signal No. 3. We are thankful for not only the unusual weather this year, but also the unusual students—the number of students who insisted on attending the event despite the typhoon was close to 80% of the total number of enrolments, which was about 150 students from 23 secondary schools. Most of the participants are young and emerging after the pandemic, but they are also a new generation that is open to faith and service; though their faith is shallow, they have a freshness that “wipes out the gloominess of fellowship”. Although greater effort is needed now than before the pandemic to engage with the community, most of the students have shown their commitment throughout the whole process, and there has been no lack of a joint school atmosphere with each other.
Theme: Mapping the Journey Together
In the rhythm of full restoration, students are instantly thrown back into the hectic pace of campus life. As part of the campus community, Christians certainly face the same challenges and tensions. How to keep on witnessing Christ and living out their faith in the midst of their busy schedules, “discernment” is a daily exercise that goes on unconsciously. In this new era where everyone is trying to wade the river by groping for stones again, being able to see communal discernment of “each other” is a signpost and support for the community of believers as we move forward in the midst of uncertainty and change.
Diversity and Unity in Mission Imagination
Through the theme activity “Travelling through the Twelve Tribes”, the orientation reproduced the perspective of community action in the Old Testament. Through the map game, students experienced the mode of action that relies on the interaction of “each other” to locate the position, and in the process, the different situations in which people follow the Lord were presented, so as to reflect on the reality and preciousness of the community life. Afterwards, students were divided into campus mission workshops of their own interest, exploring campus mission in the new era from various angles and expanding their horizons of faith practice through the eight themes of Bible study, worship, games, social relations, arts, emotions, multi-media and fellowship.
Peer teachers, instructors, and our staff from different workshops had different views during conversations:
“There is a kind of magical chemical effect in the ISO, the fellowship leaders “kept chatting and pecking” when they were all together, and they expressed and introduced themselves with enthusiasm, and there were a lot of dialogues in a small classroom …… even though there was already a lot of time for small group discussion in the activity ratio”. –Fellowship Leaders Group Workshop
” Restrained but committed, unique and communal—this is the deep impression I got from this year’s fellowship committee members~ Students were committed, there was an expectation in their eyes that they were eager to be seen, but their bodies were so honest that they didn’t know how to take a step forward to join the community”. –Emotional Reception Workshop
“We need more people to explore the possibilities of imagination and practice together” – Art Ministry Workshop”As long as the Bible speaks to life, Bible study does not have to be a poison for weekly gathering. Students will be attracted to God’s word, that’s what the students told me that day with eagerness of heart and mind + active commitment.” –Bible Study Workshop
“It’s exciting to have a large number of students, but also to have a whole group of students from different schools participating. It’s also thrilling to be able to try something new every year (to be able to try, to have the ability to try).” –Organizing Committee
“‘The concluding message is fabulous, not only using the scriptures to summarize our relationship in the Lord, but also bringing out the diversity of ministry (not necessarily limited to games, bible study, worship and banding)” -Mr. So, a peer teacher
Finally, we are thankful for having Joint Schools Worship Team, which is a long-term peer group of the Inter-school Department, to lead all the participants to worship, and to encourage us as servants in the campus for the new year, which is a perfect ending for the orientation. May the Lord bless the teachers and students to continue to build up a new evangelical movement in different campuses through “each another”.
And as the Bible says:
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” I Corinthians 12:4-6
Glory to the Lord, Emmanuel.
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Full text is available in Chinese version.