Honouring the Gilmours

SU honours the contribution Gwen and Graeme Gilmour have made over many years. Gwen passed away on 29 June this year. Gwen worked for SU, both at HQ and at Park Road.

According to Graeme, “Gwen first worked for Eddie Prest at 83 Camp Ground Road during the 1970s.  Then she went across to Park Road as receptionist in 1981. It may have been longer than that, but I know it included that year because I went back to University full time that year and we needed her to work. Harold le Roux was Regional Director at that time. She and I ran numerous holiday clubs together, most notably at Oranjemund for three or four years in the 1970s, and at Somerset West, where we ran clubs for over 1000 kids a day, at four separate venues. We also ran what was, I believe, the very first caravan site based club ever, up at Melkbosstrand. She also ran the “littlies” sections of some church-based clubs on her own, notably at Christ Church, Kenilworth and Plumstead Methodist.”

Graeme continues to be involved as an SU Algoa prayer supporter, donor and Closer to God writer. He retired from his third career, that of small groups pastor at his local church, at the end of 2012. He continues voluntary involvement with the church, planning preaching series and participating in preaching them. He and Gwen moved into a retirement village two years ago. They joyously acquired a gorgeous granddaughter two years ago, to add to their wonderful grandson!

SU’s condolences are extended to Graeme and their extended family. We are very grateful for the contribution the Gilmours have made, and continue to make.

Scripture Union South Africa

Leading young people to know and walk with God

The Wordspace turns TWO!!!

The WordSpace turns 2 years old in August which means we have now sent over 700 posts (that’s more than 70 000 words of content) to young people around Southern Africa and indeed the world! These past few months we have been working on our systems and structures to prepare for more growth in the future. Included in this is work on our very own WordSpace app for smartphones! We are also seeing growing interest from youth leaders and Christian teachers in our WordSpace series which run for 6 weeks each term and include additional online content that can be used in a youth group program or classroom.

We are currently running a Series on the sermon on the Mount. See more at www.theyouthhub.net/wordspace-resources, or subscribe to the WordSpace at www.thewordspace.mobi. Our Small Spaces devotional includes 90 posts from our first year with stunning pictures.

Purchase for R100 at www.subooks.co.za.

Leading young people to know and walk with God

Stan and Barbara Fish

Stan and Barbara Fish remain actively involved in the affairs of SU. Stan recently popped in to SU’s National Office with a CSSM hymnal containing the activity leader names from missions in Durban in the early 1900s. The list of names includes many a well-known South African Christian leader. Stan is pictured with Tony Nzanzah, SU’s current General Director. Barbara Fish has been involved with editing and proofreading of the 2015 edition of Closer to God and her skills have been invaluable to the project.

SU South Africa

Leading young people to know and walk with God

SU Strategy

In recent weeks, SU South Africa has embarked on a process to hear from God as to how He wants SU to be positioned and making an impact as part of His mission in SA. 

In the months of May and June, some 48 interested folk made inputs via online surveys into SU’s role, particularly around the key issue of young people (and their parents) steering well clear of local churches… and so, the slim chance of most young people in our country hearing about Jesus and being led in following Him daily in their lives. A key aspect highlighted in the questions was that of parents’ role in spiritual formation and current breakdown in traditional family units. Also examined was how a Christian presence could / should be structured in school environments.

Input came in from school principals, teachers, youth pastors, senior pastors, heads of sister organisations, key activity volunteers, ex-staff members and current team members. This resulted in quite a wide range of thoughts, opinions and convictions.

A team of SU staff and volunteers met on 24 - 25 July at Cornerstone College (Salt River) to identify issues emerging. Dr Don Glass (SU’s Operations Chairman) facilitated the event. Some of the issues are around how SU is structured, but several key and exciting issues came through strongly: Bible Engagement; Training; Resources; Enabling and Discipling; and so on. SU’s Ops team will now add flesh to the bones and articulate specific goals and achievables for the next year or two…

Critical in the process was checking each issue against SU’s mission (Leading young people to know and walk with God), vision (Christ-centred leaders in relational youth evangelism) and values (faith-filled, integrity, contextual ministry, enabling and discipling).  Please pray for our team for great wisdom and courage as we tackle these very important issues under God’s leadership.

Alan Pitt

SU Operations Manager

Leading young people to know and walk with God

BREAKING NEW GROUND | SU Durban

SU Durban breaking new grounds with Professor Naresh Malhotra of USA, Pastor Cele from Umlazi and the AIM project team members. Temple Valley Secondary at Verulam opened its door for future ministry . Sharing his testimony at 3 school assemblies and a motivational talk to 2 schools with different grades It took Prof. Naresh two days to reach 1521 young people from these schools. Pastor Cele is keen on brokering a partnership with Scripture Union for ministry in the Umlazi’s schools.

SU Key volunteer Merlene Matthew running the SU programme at Umbogwintwini Primary for the Grade 4 - 7 learners. Merlene who helps with their family business makes time to connect with the young people for Christ. Merlene also co-ordinates the giving back to the community project with learners from this school.

Jayce Naidoo

SU Durban Regional Director

Leading young people to know and walk with God

Mission Unstoppable | SU Algoa

“Mission unstoppable” was the theme of our holiday club this June/July holidays, and yes, it was a very exciting season watching kids connect with their creator and engage in a journey which is unstoppable! God has always used kids to pass on his message to generations and this is not an exception. John W. Whitehead, said “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” As I criss-crossed the City to see what our various teams were doing in partnership with different churches in PE, this message of “change agents” for generations kept ringing in my mind. And in the words of Dwight L. Moody; “If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reach-ing children for God!” I still have a bit more to live though...and for me, noth-ing would bring much tears of joy than to see young innocent lives transformed by the love of Christ and declaring to live for him irrespective of the circumstances.

The challenge though is great and real: with rapidly decaying family values in our country today, is there anything left in family units for kids to learn from? Who are the role models? Absent fathers? The faces of most kids I met across the city were crying out for leadership! Very eager to follow...but who? God has placed SU at a vantage point connecting these precious lives to their ever-present father, and that we will do with all we have, but a lot more need to be done to direct and train them up, if they are to be the unstoppable influencers that God intended them! The challenge for us all is to play our part!

Sam Otigo

SU Algoa Regional Director

Leading young people to know and walk with God

COMMITTED TO OUR YOUTH!

Many in the SU family remain strongly committed to the youth of our country, having been involved as volunteers in SU activities, perhaps on staff, as financial supporters and so on… Val Ruger of Fish Hoek is one such person. Recently we received a letter from her, giving some real encouragement and productive suggestions around Closer to God. Here are a few snippets from that - thank you, Val:

I’d like to respond to the most recent national newsletter, in which I was especially delighted to read of Daryl’s appointment as the new WC Regional Director! What a wonderful provision by the Lord, but, oh my, what a huge responsibility too!

I find Closer to God a blessing and enjoy the wide range of writers you’re being able to draw onto the panel.  I’m especially glad you managed to get Gerry Adlard involved again this year and you have some really fine young folk writing too, such as the Rens and Anderson couples, and now I’ve just heard Mike Smallbones is writing for 2015 - I’m sure he’ll be a blessing.

Thanks for inviting readers to have their say. It’s also good to know that SU is planning to make use of The Perfect Wave movie – I’m sure it’s going to be a good tool for use with high schoolers.

Val Ruger



Leading young people to know and walk with God

Welcome (back), Don Glass!

Don Glass has come on board as SU’s National Operations Chairman. Welcome back into the SU family Don, and we really value your input into the life of SU. Born in Swaziland of Missionary parents, Don gave his heart to the Lord at a Scripture Union beach mission (CSSM) in Fish Hoek at the age of seven. He and Lyn met at the Claremont Baptist Church in their teens and were both actively involved in leading SU holiday clubs and Beach Missions for many years. Lyn qualified as a pharmacist and Don as an electrical engineer, after which they were married and located in various industrial towns throughout the UK and South Africa before returning to Cape Town, initially Table View and then Fish Hoek.

Don and Linda Glass

Throughout their various locations - they have moved 10 times - they have been involved in supporting or establishing churches and various ministries within those churches in the Baptist, CESA and Full Gospel denominations.  They have three adult children, all married, with 2 1/2 grandchildren!  Don enjoys reading and studying and has qualifications or degrees in engineering, commerce and theology. He has a PhD in Knowledge Management - a form of commercial engineering.  While in fellowship with the Fish Hoek Baptist church, Don established Radio Fish Hoek in 1993, which went on to become CCFm, now based in Muizenberg. He has held various management and executive positions in petrochemical, power-generation, telecommunications and manufacturing industries - succeeding in some and failing in others, but learning in all!  Don enjoys interacting with people in various situations and is an effective communicator, in both public speaking and written forms. Together with Lyn they enjoy leading fellowship and Bible study groups.

Leading young people to know and walk with God

SU Durban is proud to have new Trendsetters on board

Charlene Nadar is one of the Trendsetters to have joined the organisation in January 2014.  Having a deep passion to work with young people, Charlene has decided to give one year of her time to serve God in connecting with young people through SU Durban. She is presently based in Phoenix (north of Durban).  Easter is a great opportunity to go on a short holiday and spend time with the family, but Charlene instead seized the opportunity of getting into Natest Primary School in Phoenix and she was able to share the love of God and what He has done for the entire world.

Charlene Nadar

Jayce Naidoo

SU KZN Regional Director

Leading young people to know and walk with God

A tribute to Garnet de la Hunt. 25 August 1933 - 28 April 2014

Garnet served Scripture Union for many years as before leading the organisation as National Chairman from 2007 to 2012. I was privileged to serve under his leadership and observe his tireless energy, his generosity and selfless service. SU will miss Garnet’s leadership and wise counsel which he so freely offered. Garnet’s passion and drive was to see young people read the Bible, and come to know Jesus as their personal Saviour. He was an example to us all of punctuality, the highest standards of excellence, doing the basics right, and living a life worthy of God’s calling to service in SU. Garnet and Virginia’s Christian marriage was a living example of commitment and friendship to everyone that knew them as a couple. We will miss his whit, humour, and direct questions that would often challenge our direction and thinking on important matters. His battle with cancer and the period of his illness was a testimony to his faith and trust in his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the certainty of eternal life.

Garnet had a wealth of experience to offer, having worked and led the Scout movement at the highest level for many years. As a Scout, a leader, a trainer and chairman he inspired, taught and supported generations of South Africans that have made good citizenship, duty to God, duty to others and duty to country a way of life. As a member of the task force that drafted the WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement) publication “What is Scouting”, he redefined and updated Baden Powell’s fundamental values and principles that guide over 32 million children and youth in over 161 countries worldwide today. For his services to Scouting amongst others he was awarded the Order of the Silver Springbok in South Africa, The Silver Wolf from the Swedish Scout Association in recognition of his service to International Scouting, and the Bronze Wolf from WOSM in recognition of his service to World Scouting. These awards are only given to people that have provided a lifetime of selfless and voluntary service to the upliftment and service of youth and country. Last year Garnet was awarded the prestigious Presidential Silver Grand Counsellor of the Order of the Baobab for his work he did in Scouting. Garnet was an inspiration to those who knew him and to many young people throughout the Movement who in turn are doing their best to inspire and empower others and his legacy will live on.

Despite all his achievements and awards, Garnet was a humble servant of Jesus Christ, leading a life of selfless and tireless service. We at SU will continue to be inspired by the life and example of Garnet de la Hunt and his legacy. SU will always be grateful to Virginia for her support, and sharing her husband with us, and the family for their sacrifice in sharing their father. Our prayers of peace and comfort are with Virginia, Clinton, Lee-Ann, Julian, Lisa and his grandchildren at this sad time.

GAUTENG NORTH EXTENDING INTO NEW PROVINCES

Through funding from one of our Lifeskills funders, my team is now extending work into Limpopo (Greater Sekhukhune) and Mpumalanga (Ehlanzeni).

At a recent camp at Clairefort Lodge in White River, we had 40 young people attending, with three Associate Staff from that area joining me. The camp was fulfilling and exciting. Many children gained a lot and they shared about their wrong choices made previously, and felt the conviction to make better decisions in future.  23 of them made a commitment to Jesus. From January to date, these Associate Workers have worked with 506 young people – 104 of whom made commitments to Jesus.

In Limpopo, I am privileged to have Patrick Motshana on board; he is new in Scripture Union but has a heart for seeing young people transformed by God’s Word. He is doing a wonderful work, often hanging out at the playground were young people interact with him. Many have made commitment through his conversation sessions with them. From February to date, Patrick worked with 72 young people and 24 of them made commitments to Jesus.

In conclusion, I can say that SU has spread its wings in areas not previously covered, by reaching into those more rural areas. We look forward to extending our influence even further. We are grateful to God for the grace he has given us to work in those areas: there is much potential!

Maggie Mamorobela,
SU Gauteng North

Leading young people to know and walk with God

SCHOOL MISSIONS: Where the battle rages

The transition from local church youth ministry to school chaplaincy moved me into my first continuous work with young people who didn’t go to church, weren’t interested in anything religious, and who had some serious questions about God, the Church and Christianity in general. It felt a little like I had been shifted out from the training grounds right into the middle of a warzone. At the time I felt ill equipped to deal with the hostility, the questions and a culture which with some rationality, had dismissed the notion of a need for God. This was my first introduction to school mission work.

Working now with the Independent Schools around South Africa and conducting week long missions has opened my eyes to the necessity for us in youth work to engage with those young people who wouldn’t set foot in a church. The need is real and if we are to be about leading young people to know (and walk with) Jesus we need to put ourselves amidst the market square of their thoughts, ideas and questions. The questioning classroom environment has required my growth in the art of apologetics and distilling what I believe to its core; but primarily it has reaffirmed my belief in the power of the Gospel story.

A typical mission would include taking chapels / assemblies, classes, voluntary session, and specialised training with leaders.  Within these avenues it has always been evident how the simple telling of the story of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, can pierce through every question, selfish desire, dismissive thought, and prideful barrier to transform a heart to be given to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

It is a challenging ministry environment and often I feel inadequate. However, this is where the heat of the battle is and a battle which our King desires us to run to in the hope of turning a generation for the Kingdom.

Xavier Moran

SUIS Director

Leading young people to know and walk with God

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

We received this wonderful feedback from “S” in KZN and hope it brings you encouragement!

I'm a 21 year-old who is thankful to God and everyone who was involved in the writing and publishing of Khula. This SU daily devotional is meaningful to me and I'm sure to so many others as well.

You guys are great servants of God and true inspirations. You are role-models and in my own way I want to contribute to God's kingdom as people like you do.

I'm from Kwa-Zulu Natal. I'm not and never have been a wealthy person, when it comes to the things of this world. I am also an epileptic and feel I need to share this testimony with you so you could possibly share with others and help others who are possibly in this same situation. My condition developed since 2010 when I was in matric, and studying and preparing for my exams became so difficult because of the seizures and exhaustion. I still passed with four distinctions and I believe it is only through the grace of God that I have accomplished this. I'm now working in ABSA bank as a teller and even though after suffering a seizure I have to take a day off work, I believe God has allowed me to do this job and I try always to do it to the best of my ability. 

I'm definitely the type of person who likes to put on a brave front and when I got out of high school I was so determined to get my driver’s license. There were a few people, however, who tried to discourage me from driving, suggesting that it could be a disaster if I were to have a seizure while driving somewhere. However, I'm a stubborn young lady, to say the least – so in 2012 I got my driver’s license and though I don't drive much, I still see it as a blessing and a message from God that I can do anything through Him.

I'm now believing in God for my healing and the eradication of epilepsy from my life completely. I know He can and is willing to bless me with this because He is a God of healing.

Thanks so much for proving a platform to give feedback to SU: you guys are role-models!

‘S’

KwaZulu Natal

Leading young people to know and walk with God

REGULAR SPIRITUAL NURTURING… BY PHONE!

The WordSpace has been dominating the horizon and keeping Andrew Vaughan and the team busy. The number of subscribers continues to grow and we're reaching somewhere between 6000-8000 people across the various platforms. Here's an excerpt from a conversation Andrew had with a young man in grade 8 via BBM recently:

=D=D:

where do you come from

theWordSpace:

I'm in Cape Town - you?

=D=D:

I live in cookhouse in the eastern cape

theWordSpace:

Cool, which city is that close to?

=D=D:

None really I live on a dairy farm so we in the middle of nowhere

theWordSpace:

Ok, how did you hear about us?

=D=D:

I went to a christian camp called sum k [Sumcay campsite near PE] and they gave me a page with your pin on it .

theWordSpace:

That's great, are you part of a church or youth or something?

==D=D:

I would but my dad works on sundays and the closest church from our farm is half an hour away so its quite hard

theWordSpace:

Sho - so what do you do to keep your faith going?

=D=D:

I read your messages that you send out and when there is a christian camp I try to go to those

We've had more than a few people say that the WordSpace is the only place they get to read the Bible - not sure if that's a good thing... but it's encouraging to know that the WordSpace is at least making the Bible a bit more accessible. And for guys like this we can be the only source of regular spiritual nurture.

theWordSpace.mobi

Leading young people to know and walk with God

2 Oceans, 3 Pitts

Hou, bene, hou! If another person among the millions lining the Old Mutual 2 Oceans marathon route shouts this chirp, I may resort to violence… Can I squeeze out a smile, raise my sweaty arm in a wave? Grace. Only 2kms to go, the worst part of the race! Help me, Lord. OK, a last straight to the UCT fields – let me up the pace and end with what feels like a sprint… it’s over; where’s the coke?

What a great privilege to have good health, and be able to run and enjoy sport! Many of us really enjoy using our events and supporting a great cause (SU, of course) in the process. Somehow, doing this adds intensity to the build-up, the training programme, the targeted finish time… by putting our bodies through some temporary pain, we are raising funds that will help young people meet Jesus! Awesome stuff… we should be doing this every month.

Three of the Pitt family tackled the 2 Oceans half on 3 April. It was a GOOD race and Cath, Tegan and Alan finished strongly. The response of SU supporters was fantastic, and the race managed to raise the targeted R21,000 (R1,000 per kilometre). Thank you to all who gave, prayed and supported!

Cath, Alan and Tegan

It is a simple, but hugely significant thing, to turn your events into small fundraisers for the ministry of SU. People out there seem quite prepared to give donations if you are going to go through some pain – strange, but true. So if you are a runner, cyclist, tennis player, ballerina, or whatever, you could play a role and turn what you love doing and your competitions into something more significant. Young people out there need the Lord: will you take up the challenge?

Alan Pitt, SU Operations Director

If you have a great idea you’d like to share, such as a race you’re signed up for, please share it – contact Alan on alan@su.org.za

Leading young people to know and walk with God

Arts in KZN Midlands | SU Pietermaritzburg

Scripture Union Pietermaritzburg has further increased its programme to promote Arts amongst children across the KZN Midlands. The partnership with the KZN Department of Arts and Culture has produced craft projects with 100 children thus far and will reach many more as the year progresses. It is partnerships such as these that allow for SU to continue building SA one young life at a time. Pictured are some of the beneficiaries of the do-it-yourself crafts.

Garland Sam, SU Pietermaritzburg Regional Director

Leading young people to know and walk with God

Hitting the spot! | theWordSpace.mobi

A recent survey with users of theWordSpace indicated that the service is “hitting the spot” for teens and young adults using the daily service, on the platform of their choice.

Numerous potential developments with the project include exciting cross-border collaboration, where different countries could use the platform on their own channel and raise a writer group to write according to their context. In South Africa too, the project will increasingly be a resource to youth group leaders / teachers.

SU’s Bible Engagement Committee is partnering with The Youth Hub in this project. What drives us is seeing young people meeting God each day, in his word, and living in hope because of it!

Leading young people to know and walk with God

KHULA - ISLAND STYLE!

Over the past year, SU South Africa partnered with SU Vanuatu (South Pacific Islands) by providing our Khula Teens daily Bible-reading guide as a basis for their new resource, known as Grow.

In line with SU International’s new drive to encourage cross-border partnering, this project has come to successful fruition with the printing of Grow. This resource, about to be delivered and distributed in the South Pacific, is based on Khula. The SU Vanuatu team felt that our southern hemisphere, not-so-western material for teens was appropriate to their context and set about adapting it.

According to champion Jon Paschke (SU Vanuatu): “We are really pleased to say that it is now completed, and in fact has already been printed, and is being shipped to the Pacific as we speak! The finished product looks really good, and we are looking forward to making it available to the young people of the Pacific as much as we can - and helping them meet Jesus as they read their Bibles. I fondly remember meeting back in 2012 in Kuala Lumpur and, to me, it has been a wonderful God-inspired story. Thank you to you and your team at SU South Africa from all of us over here in the Pacific region. May our Lord bless SU South Africa abundantly, and especially for the way that you have generously shared God's wisdom, inspiration, and grace to other young people in God's wonderful world.”

SU is committed to partnering with, and learning much from, other SU movements from across the globe in the years to come.

Alan Pitt

SU Operation Director





Leading young people to know and walk with God

High Tea | SU Western Cape

On 8 March SU Western Cape held a tea to raise funds for the SU Western Cape Girls’ Camp taking place in April.  The tea was a great success. Everyone dressed up in their 1920s fashion. There was a short programme followed by a fashion show where we looked for the best dressed lady. The ladies enjoyed this immensely. Each table had to choose one model who they felt embraced the 1920s fashion best. The models then had to walk on the “runway” and strut their stuff for the judges.  Mrs Gloria Hamond won the 1st prize and she had apparently made the outfit herself!

The winner Mrs. Gloria Hamond

Much fun was had by all!  If you would still like to contribute to the camp or send a camper, please contact Lindsay Charles.

For some more pics click here.

Lindsay Charles
SU Western Cape Fieldworker



Leading young people to know and walk with God

Youth Leaders Training | SU Algoa

Each year we organise and run training programs at our office for youth workers across the city. This year, our first happened in the first week of Feb 2014. We had a total of 19  youth leaders/pastors from different churches and organisations who went through a rigorous five-day training on youth ministry. About five of the trainees have expressed interest in joining SU on a voluntary capacity which we are excited about, while others are keen to partner with us in future. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to equip youth leaders of our city for ministry.

SU Algoa



Leading young people to know and walk with God