For the last decade The City Church Canterbury has run a successful student work, built on the foundations of discipleship and mission. However, whilst the core elements have remained constant, the way in which they have been applied has constantly changed. Andy Chevalier (The City Church Canterbury) shares how the student team has approached their efforts in 2008/2009, and the strategy they have employed to see more students reached than ever before.

Read on...

Fancy winning some free stuff simply by tweeting?!

As Mobilise approaches, we want to stir up your competitiveness, and give you a chance to win some free stuff. Here’s a three step plan for what you need to do:

1. Follow Mobilise on Twitter
2. Whilst at the conference, take the most creative, odd or amusing photos you possibly can on your mobile phones
3. Upload them and send a tweet to @mobilise, sharing your snaps with the world, preferably along with an amusing caption

We will then choose the funniest entry, and the winning twit (is that the correct term?!) will receive a copy of the Passion album God of this City as well as four DVDs containing talks by Louie Giglio, the founder of Passion.

HOWEVER: here’s the catch! The photographic policy clearly states that you are not to use photographic equipment in the centre – so if you want to win you’ve got to be ultra creative out and about in Brighton!

Any entrants submitting photos from inside the centre will be reported to the police, carted away and severely punished. (Ok, maybe not... but seriously, don't do it!)

The rules are as follows:

• No photography within the centre
• No stalking of speakers
• No inappropriate pictures
• You can enter as many times as you wish

The competition closes at 2pm on Friday 10 July, and the winner will be announced shortly after.

Look forward to seeing what you come up with!

James Patrick is a member of Emmanuel Church Oxford, is in his first year of doctoral studies in theology, and is on the Newfrontiers theology forum. Here he shares his vision for a brand new initiative designed to support theology students in Newfrontiers, and how you can get involved at Mobilise:

One of the things I still find hardest to explain about studying theology at university is why several of my lecturers are self-confessed atheists or agnostics. Why give up years or decades of your life to study a book you don't believe in? Sadly, many of those now teaching theology and biblical studies at that level started out as committed Christians, keen to take their RE A-level further or spend more time studying about God and His Word. It is as if they so liked the blossom on a small apple tree sapling that they cut off the whole shoot and put it in a vase inside to be able to study it more carefully.  No wonder it ended up shrivelled or dead!

Daniel is one example from the Old Testament of a believer who found himself far from his safe religious home, studying ‘every branch of wisdom’ and ‘the literature and language of the Chaldeans’. His first two weeks there were a crucial testing time for him, but because he succeeded in holding firm and honouring God he surpassed all his contemporaries in knowledge and intelligence. Not only that, but God gave him divine revelation as well, and he served in senior positions under perhaps six or seven emperors of Babylon and Persia, as well as prophesying the exact time of the coming of Jesus.

The final recommended talk of Mobilise 2008 is by Stef Liston and looks at the subject of weakness and humility. If you were there you will remember that this was a hugely significant talk to round off the Mobilise conference and well worth a second listen. Click here to listen.

Stef will be speaking on the first day of Together on a Mission this year, and if you aren't yet booked in, there is still time...

Oxford; city of proud spires, where some of the world’s greatest academics study, where people worship in many different faiths, where one of the largest council estates in the UK is located, and where Richard Dawkins and many other atheists have their home. Yet God is doing an exciting thing through Christians who are stepping out in faith for healing. Matt Watt from Emmanuel Church Oxford shares about the Healing on the Streets initiative.

Read on…

Don't forget, if you can't make it to the whole of Mobilise this year we are making day tickets and evening tickets available. So you don't have to miss out!

Tickets for day visitors to Leadership International and Mobilise will be available for purchase at the price of £30 from the Information Point during the Conference or before the conference by calling Booking Enquiries on 07545 209883. Seminars and Training Tracks for day visitors can be chosen at the Information Point, subject to availability, once your ticket has been purchased.

And new for this year, we are also offering evening tickets for the price of £10.

Don't miss out... this year's conference will be one to remember!

We realise that Mobilise can be an expensive time. With so much to see, do and eat in Brighton, the cost can quickly mount up… so we want to help you beat the credit crunch with some special offers!

Various restaurants and local attractions in Brighton are offering discounts to conference delegates. From 10-20% off your food bill to cycle and scooter hire, there are plenty of great offers to save you money when you show your Together on a Mission conference pass.

Click here to download the list and find out what’s available.

In the USA, students and twenties have been gathering for the past few years for an annual event called Clear Vision. This year, Clear Vision became Mobilise USA, and what appeared to be simply a change in nomenclature actually represented a significant transition for the conference. Lynn Fleshman from Christ's Church of Joplin, Missouri reports from the event. 

Read on...

Andrew Wilson is a busy, busy man. He is the author of three books, a hugely popular preacher and whilst we have no medical verification for this, we suspect he has the largest brain in the Northern Hemisphere. We are delighted to have him as a main stage speaker for Mobilise 2009. So ahead of the conference, Liam Thatcher caught up with him to talk about life, work and his latest book, GodStories.

Read the interview...