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The Scripture Union is one institution that has stood the test of time. For 150 years, the Union has taken the Gospel of Jesus Christ to various parts of the world, bringing men from all walks of life to God.
Scripture Union, an international, inter-denominational and non-denominational Christian organisation, was started on June 2, 1867 by Josiah Spiers , an English man who spoke to 15 children in the drawing room at 309 Essex Road, Islington, London. From there, he pioneered a new approach to spreading the word of God with children neglected by churches at that time.
Spiers taught those children hymns and choruses and told them stories of Jesus in a way that they could easily understand.
From such beginning, SU, as it is fondly called, has spread to 130 countries and is currently in all the continents and 42 countries in Africa, including Nigeria.
The SU entered into Nigeria on January 1, 1885, from the efforts of Rev Gollmer, a CMS missionary at Wesley Chapel, Tinubu Square in Lagos with 204 children. It was officially registered on October 9, 1967 as a not-for-profit organisation.
The SU has remained relevant in Nigeria in the midst of moral decadence, working with the churches and other Christian groups to bring children and youths to Christ.
It works behind the scenes in promoting global evengelisation and nurturing of children, young people and families through bible reading, promotion of HIV/AIDS free campaigns, holiday camps, leadership training for churches and schools, partnership with schools, family outreach and its campus fellowship known as the Scripture Union Campus Fellowship (SUCF).
One major area the group has succeeded is school visit. Many adult members of the SU visit secondary and primary schools’ assembly grounds with a view to sharing the word of God with students and pupils. This has proven to be helpful as it has channelled many young people to the right and Godly path.
The SU’s mission statement is, ‘To reach children, young people and families, nurturing them through bible engagement to become committed Christians of influence’.
True to its mission statement, many general overseers in Nigeria today were once members of the SU. From Pastor W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Christian Life Bible Church to David Oyedepo of Winners’ Chapel, many other general overseers were moulded spiritually by the SU.
This was achieved through some of SU’s reading materials such as Daily Guide (for adults), Daily Power (for youths), Daily Milk (for children), Inye Aka (daily reading note in Igbo language), Odudu Uwem (Efik), and Bibeli Ajumoka (Yoruba), among others.
Speaking at a press conference marking the 150th anniversary of the union in Lagos last Monday, Asuquo Antaih, Lagos regional chairman of the SU, said the group had in its 150 years of existence and 132 years in Nigeria helped the nurture the spiritual growth of youths and children.
According to Antaih, it was now important for the government to play its own part by empowering these young people through gainful employment to reduce prostitution, advance fee fraud, armed robbery and drug abuse, among other crimes ravaging the country.
“It is important to begin to empower the youths physically so as to impact on the total man and enable them to make the desired change,” Antaih said.
According to him, the Scripture Union hoped to be relevant in the next 150 years if Jesus Christ tarried, adding that there would be another phase of astronomical growth in the Union that could usher in a great revival all over the world.
“It was not fashionable to identify with Scripture Union in the early years, especially before the seventies. But those who did are the pillars of Christianity today in Nigeria. Up till today, when anyone is seen as a serious Christian anywhere in Nigeria, people refer to him as ‘SU’ irrespective of the denomination,” he said.
Samuel Adeogun, national treasurer of the Union, said the group was already exploiting technology and the new media to reach out to Nigerians of all age groups.
Adeogun said the Union had also taken the teaching of the God’s word to the neighbourhood through the formation of bible clubs and other forms of teenage clubs.
“There is high rate of disconnect between the values we teach and the society because of the fact that the Bible is being taken away from some schools. We have seen some cases where there is no assembly in schools. We also know there is high access to technology. That’s why we are using all available means to reach out despite our manpower challenge,” he said.
Toyin Lawal, pastor and former Lagos regional chairman, said many popular ministers in Nigeria today were babies of the SU.
“The youths have been a big challenge. We see the level of crimes committed by young people. As the SU, we have done a lot in the last 150 years to change their lives and our influence is way beyond Nigeria,” Lawal said.
ODINAKA ANUDU
