Since 1867 Scripture Union (SU) continues to make God’s Good News known to children, young people and families and helping people of all ages to meet God daily through the Bible and prayer. Our vision is that, as people of all ages come to faith in Christ, they will be the means of transforming the communities in which they live. Therefore we place an emphasis on helping them grow in Christian maturity and encourage them to become committed church members and servants of a world in need.
SU has been running programs in South Australia for over 70 years, and we have a different way of doing mission. We believe that mission is most effective in the context of community, as people ‘journey together’ through life. We believe in long-term, relational mission, where individuals and groups become involved in communities, sharing in the lives of those with whom they seek to share the Good News. As trust and relationship develops, they go the next step of introducing people to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
This is a significant move away from the ‘arrive and leave’ scenario adopted by most other organisations. At SUSA, you won’t see any international ‘big-name’ celebrity coming in to put on a show. There’s nothing worse than that empty feeling of loss and abandonment, which often accompanies such ministry. That is ‘no-way’ to build community.
We have a wide variety of programs and ministry. The work is carried out through local people in ways that are appropriate to the community, culture and situation. Our programs are designed for local communities and may include feeding hungry people, running children and youth activities, presenting wider community events, or helping elderly people in practical ways – even backyard blitzes and the like.
Our ministry to children and youth seeks to enhance their individual wellbeing and education, as well as their school and family communities. We achieve this through seminars, gender-specific programs, drop-in centres, lunch-time groups, leadership programs, camps, holiday activities and much, much more. Conducted with, and on behalf of local church councils, thousands of students are introduced to Jesus through these activities each year, in a safe and non-threatening environment.
We think that holidays are a great excuse to have fun! Which is why we have holiday camps for students and are involved in community based programs. Every summer we run our very popular Family Beach Missions, at various sea-side locations.
But with fun comes responsibility, which is why we take our training very seriously. In striving to run high quality programs, a considerable amount of time is spent in training and preparation. Every volunteer is trained accordingly, undergoes a thorough screening process and must provide a National Police Clearance certificate. The resulting reputation is a high one.
SUSA is right now seeking to build teams that will bridge the gap between the church and the local community. Any project focussed on meeting local needs, with the desire to lovingly share the gospel, is a project of interest to us. We can help you put legs on your desire to reach your community with the life and message of Jesus Christ.
If you’re interested in doing something then contact SUSA to register your interest. You could even drop in and say G’day – we would love to hear from you.