Sheffield, England
United Kingdom Sheffield is 3 hours north of London and positioned centrally for travel for the rest of England and the UK. It also happens to be the city which has the highest Univ. graduate rate in England making it a prime location for influencing the next generation.
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England is now one of the most secularized countries in the world
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England now only averages a 4% churchgoing population
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Pastors estimate that the evangelical Christian population has fallen below 1%
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Islam could become the dominant religion in the next 25 years
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England is the leader country in the European Union and is landing pad for international students and foreign migrants.
Indicators •
Church - Is it aligned theologically, missiologically, and ecclesioloically?
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City - Does it promote livability and longevity for CO staff lifestyle?
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Campus - Is the Univ. campus accessible and the students available?
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Community - Does the locale offer like-minded missionaries and ministries that can resource staff relationships and methodology?
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CCP - Is the locale conducive to receiving and leveraging short-term teams?
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CO staff - Do CO staff evaluate this locale to be strategic and fitting?
Expansion Evaluation Indicators Church City Campus Community CCP CO staff
Church •
1 church, 3 campuses (village, town, city) that was founded in 1997
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Theologically reformed with word, community, and mission emphases
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Methodologically aligned with CO in evangelism, discipleship, & missions
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250 members worship in 2 Sunday services
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Strong life group culture emphasizing “missionary team” approach
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Acts 29, The Crowded House, and Porterbrook Network affiliations
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Books Total Church and Everyday Church are based off The Crowded House
City •
4th largest city in England with 2 million people
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Sheffield is the home of over 60,000 Univ. students and has 6 other cities within 2 hours travel, averaging 59,000 students each
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Sheffield currently has only 1 full-time vocational dedicated student worker that is spread across 3 universities of around 80,000 students
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The 2011 census rated Sheffield to be one of the most godless cities in UK
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40% of most of the city would claim atheism as their religious identification
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Of the religious, most people identify with Islam after Christianity in England
Campus •
Sheffield is home to two major Universities with upwards of 60,000 students each. (Univ. of Sheffield, Sheffield - Halam Univ.)
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Sheffield currently has only 1 full time vocational student worker that is spread across 3 universities of around 80,000 students
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The Univ. of Sheffield has an international student population of almost 33%.
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The Univ. of Sheffield’s freshman dorms were just voted best overall accommodations in England.
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A higher percentage of students stay in Sheffield upon graduation than at any other University in England.
Community •
The Acts29, TCH, and Porterbrook networks provide excellent expansion potential and like-minded partners in gospel ministry.
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The Crowded House life groups are a tight-knit community which provide encouragement, relationship, and shepherding opportunity for CO staff
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UCCF is a Christian ministry vehicle that has been operating in England for 10 years that provides experience and networking potential.
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Agape and Navigators are small but are like-minded in approach and philosophy.
CCP •
The Crowded House provides summer opportunities for short term mission trips during their weeklong “Summer in the Cities” outreach program.
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Campus Outreach CCP’s are able to reach out two student demographic groups over the summer: English and Internationals
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CCP short term students can participate in an English Conversation club (run by the University) and also a weeklong English Cafe as conversation and friendship starters.
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We have a long-standing deal with centrally located accommodation to the city, church, and Universities.
CO Staff •
The current team being considered is left to right: Steve and Lindsay Discher, Andrew and Sara Knight, Tim Devane (engaged to Cassie), and Ann Nelson.
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All the current team potentials will have had at least 2 years of experience on staff in the US before joining expansion team.
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Staff are now using evaluations, counsel from mentors, and Nurture Program application as final confirmations for joining the team.