Forum [ˈfoːrʊm], noun: place of meeting, assembly, ideas

The Forum: A week in which over one hundred students from all over Germany come together in the special atmosphere of Volkenroda Abbey. Students who love Jesus, want to live with him and talk about him - in everyday life, in their studies, in their friendships.
 

Who can come?

It doesn't matter whether you're in the first or last year of your studies, whether you're just discovering what it means to live your faith at university or whether you've been involved for years. It doesn't matter whether you're an old SMD hand or "I-don't-even-know-if-I-want-to-be-part-of-this", whether you help in the International group or go to an SMD home group. No matter if you are an international student, whether German is your mother tongue or not.
Become a part of it! Sign up, bring your friends or even your whole SMD group.
Because the Forum is your forum.

Morning sessions: Bible, Worship and Prayer

In the morning plenary sessions, you will have time to encounter God and have your faith strengthened. We want to let God speak to us through his word. A main speaker will take us through five Bible studies.  We want to celebrate and honour God with worship and prayer. In small groups, we will allow the Bible text to become personal and relevant to our everyday lives.
Details on the topic of the Bible studies and the speaker will be presented here shortly.

What else is happening

Afternoons and Nights

The afternoons are characterised by the tracks. Tracks consist of four consecutive sessions to dig deeper into a topic with a fixed group of people. You will examine biblical foundations, discover everyday relevance, put it into practice and have plenty of time for exchange, questions and reflection.

The topics of the tracks will be, for example, leadership or international work in SMD groups. You will find out more details here shortly.

In addition to the tracks, there will be workshop sessions with a wide range of seminars on theology, being a Christian at university or personal faith.

A variety of serious and light-hearted topics await you in the evening plenaries.

Furthermore at Forum

The premises and the buildings, but especially the many great people, invite you to do sports, have fun, relax your body and soul; to build relationships, exchange ideas, make plans and breathe in inspiration.

This is your Forum to think and learn together: How can I live my faith at my university? How can I spread the good news?

The Venue

Idyllically located between fields, forests and meadows in Thuringia lies the Volkenroda Abbey. Founded 900 years ago as a Cistercian monastery, the community of the Jesus-Bruderschaft lives, prays and works here today. In this fascinating spiritual tradition and contemporary life, past and present also meet in the architecture.  Opposite the 12th century monastery church stands the impressive 21st century Christuspavillon. This is where we will hold our plenary events and take part in prayer times of the monastic community.

Translation

Events such as Bible studies, tracks or workshops are usually held in German, sometimes in English. There will always be translation available. If you speak one of the two languages, you can comfortably take part in the Forum programme.