A campus reaching church plant in Tampere

Abstract

Campuses are small-scale societies where we live, where different ideas, cultures, and values live together in harmony. By adopting progressive policies and creating inclusive spaces that promote independent thought, campuses may provide students with the tools and the attitude to question societal trends and effect change within their local communities.

With the growing number of international and local students in Tampere, there is an opportunity for a church that actively engages the university community. However, to address this problem, this thesis aims to explore and initiate a strategic action-based development of a campus-reaching church plant in Tampere, Finland, under Every Nation Ministries, which aims to address the spiritual needs of students and young professionals in a secular environment. Although this thesis will focus on establishing the campus-reaching church plant, it will address the students and young professionals by employing a qualitative research methodology. Specifically, it will investigate the prospects of a campus-reaching church plant in Tampere by examining its developmental stages and implementation. Using the Double Diamond Theory as a framework for the action-based research in the study of theological foundations, strategic planning, and practical considerations for establishing a church plant, the study will identify key themes and recommend best practices for effectively integrating a faith-based community within a university setting.