Idea for starting spiritual conversations

I want to introduce you to an evangelistic tool, called “Soularium,” that is a fairly new tool which invites students into conversations about their lives and hopes and their view of God.  It uses a variety of photographs which students are asked to choose the 3 that describe their life, 3 that reveals what they wish was a part of their life and 3 that describe their view of God. 

Some of you have never heard of this tool.  If this is you, then the attached documents will give you more information on what Soularium is and how to use it.  (“Soularium” is basically a packet of photographs and a survey which has recently been re-translated into Russian and can be found in the attached document.  This packet, which is used worldwide, can be purchased for about $10.)

The following is a creative idea for how to create your own version of “Soularium”:   

This packet of photographs was originally made for use in the United States and in Western Europe.  The photos are fine to use in Russia, but you may find other photos which offer choices that students in your local culture will better connect with.  Why not create your own packet of photographs?  If you would like to see the types of photos used in the original Soularium packet for ideas, then go to http://mysoularium.com/?view=i.  (If you prefer to order the original packet used in the US, ask me and I will help you figure out how to order it from Russia.)

You can print out each photo individually, in the 10x15 cm size that the packet comes in, or you can print the photos a little smaller if you want.  Just be careful to make sure the images are large enough to capture the person’s attention.  You can cut out the photos individually if you want (which makes it easier for students to choose and set aside the 3 in each category that you have asked them to choose), or you can think of other creative ways to present the photos.  We spend a lot of time standing around outside in Moscow talking to students in the university courtyard since we don’t have student IDs.   We ourselves are trying to figure out how to present the 50 photos to students to view while we are standing or sitting on the small benches (tables are a little inconvenient to carry around Moscow!).  Please let me know if you have any good ideas that we can use here!

Yana and Christina frequently use Soularium to bring up conversations about God among their classmates at their university in Moscow.  This is how they use Soularium:

“Soularium is a very effective way to start a conversation about Jesus with someone you have just met.   The packet has a very trendy look to it and people are always interested in it, no matter their age or profession.  It’s especially popular with students!  The Soularium packet brings about pleasant conversations about God.  We often present Soularium as a game that up to 3 can play.  (Of course more can be involved in the conversation, but we have experienced that it is better when no more than 3 other people are participating.)”