Meeting fellow Christians on campus was one of the greatest blessings of my university journey. Through their love, friendship, and encouragement, I grew deeper in my faith and learned not only what it means to be loved, but also how to love others well.
Focus
For international students.
Welcome!
Hey there! We’re so excited you’ve come to study in Australia. You don’t have to do uni alone.
University is a great time to meet new people and ask deep questions. ‘Why am I here?’ ‘Why is there suffering in the world?’ You don’t have to ask these questions alone.
We also know that living in a foreign country is hard. So we want to help you enjoy your time here: make some friends, explore Brisbane and beyond, be supported, and have fun together.
FOCUS is a community specifically for international students, and a place where you can connect with others and explore the meaning of life together. We know there is more to life than study, so we want uni to be a time when you can meet Jesus: to learn about what he teaches us for a life well lived.
We meet every week to eat dinner together, make new friends, play some fun games, and learn about Jesus. All this in easy english.
Whatever your country, culture, religion or language, all are welcome, and we’d love to meet you.
What We Do
FOCUS – We run two events each week: Connect and Grow. Everyone is welcome to come along whatever your country, culture, religion or language.
CONNECT
This is our main weekly activity and the best place to start. We connect as a community to make friends, enjoy dinner (vegetarian available), have fun and get to know more about Jesus. All welcome from every culture and belief. Friday nights 6pm at Kelvin Grove Village. Check out social media for up-to-date details.
Here are
some Qs we get
asked a lot.
Yes! FOCUS is part of QUT Christians, and is affiliated with the Student Guild as an official group.
Of course you can come! The values by which we organise the group and activities are Christian values. But we welcome everyone from every culture, background, or belief. There are plenty of others like you, enjoying the friendship and community. We learn about Jesus at our main gatherings, but don’t expect any prior knowledge or experience, and enjoy discussions where you can ask any questions.
You’re very welcome to come – regardless of your experience of church (or if you have no experience of church!). FOCUS (QUT Christians) is a place to make friends and discover more about Jesus.
We want our members to be part of a local church. It’s a critical part of spiritual growth for all Christians, whatever their life stage. So what’s the point of a Christian uni group?
We want to take advantage of the opportunities that university offers: a time and a place to equip students to know Jesus and make him known on campus. For those who don’t know Jesus, we’re a space to explore the meaning of life and ask hard questions. And for Christians, it’s an amazing training ground for learning and discipleship. You’ll dive deep into the Bible, pray for each other, and gain confidence to tell people about Jesus. Wherever you’re at, FOCUS (QUT Christians) is a community to walk alongside you at university.
AFES stands for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students. We’re a movement of student groups from across the country, associated with IFES (the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students).
That’s okay! We understand the pressures on uni students – exams, assignments, work, and more – but making time to invest in friendships and faith is also important. We have a few activities throughout the week, try to come to at least one. You’ll find more benefit in gathering with others in community than being on your own. And it makes time at uni more fun!
There are also opportunities to connect outside of semesters, including a Weekend Away, a Mid-Year Conference, National Training Event, and more.
Totally valid question. There’s an increased awareness of questionable high pressure groups operating on university campuses. At FOCUS (QUT Christians), we’re never okay with manipulating or coercing people. We strive for transparency: we openly name our beliefs, affiliations and leaders, and are affiliated with the Student Guild and have the support of Chaplaincy on campus.
A helpful resource is available from QUT Chaplaincy: a guide to identifying High Pressure Religious Groups. This can be found on the QUT internal website or contact the QUT Chaplain.