Youth Ministry Marks South Africa Centenary

SCRIPT:

INTRO:

Scripture Union is marking 100 years since being formally established in South Africa. Their work is focused on leading young people to a lifelong journey of faith, rooted in the habit of personal Bible reading. Through a range of ministries, and partnering with local churches, Scripture Union introduces 10- to 19-year-olds to Christ while they are still at school. Regional centenary gatherings have brought together volunteers and staff members spanning multiple decades of ministry to children and youth. Mark Roughton attended Scripture Union’s 100-year celebration in Cape Town.

TAKE PACKAGE

VIZ: VOLUNTEERS WELCOMING GUESTS; INTERACTIONS AROUND VARIOUS DISPLAYS

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Scripture Union is active in more than a hundred and twenty countries. Centenary celebrations in Cape Town saw current staff and volunteers reunited with some predecessors whose involvement has spanned more than half a century.

SOT: [SUPER] [GRANT PEERS, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SCRIPTURE UNION WESTERN CAPE]

“When SU people get together, there’s something special that happens. There’s this resonance, there’s this memory of shared experiences. Because camping and holiday clubs are the foundation of what’s important to Scripture Union. Providing that temporary community, building relationships with young people, where you can actually share the Gospel, tell them about Jesus.”

SOT: [SUPER] [KAREN MEYER, SENIOR FIELD STAFF, SCRIPTURE UNION WESTERN CAPE]

“For me as a staff member, it’s the enabling part that gets me excited. It’s enabling the current generation to go and do what God has ordained for them to do.”

NATSOUND: applause as staff come up onto the stage

VIZ: SPEAKERS ON STAGE; GUESTS AND STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE

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SU offers opportunities for young people to become involved as volunteers from an early age. Many supporters of the ministry first gave their lives to Christ as children, while attending SU camps or holiday clubs.

SOT: [SUPER] [ALAN PITT, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, SCRIPTURE UNION SOUTH AFRICA]

“We also like to grow our own timber. So we like to grow staff and volunteers through the movement, that they become the leaders and own the ministry themselves.”

SOT: [SUPER] [KAREN MEYER, SENIOR FIELD STAFF, SCRIPTURE UNION WESTERN CAPE]
“What we have is, when they get to 18, 19 and they have that decision of a kind of a gap year, they will then say ‘in order for me to find what I actually want to do, I actually want to go to Scripture Union for a year and give of myself. And then find out what is it that God wants me to do thereafter.’”

VIZ: PHOTOS & VIDEOS OF SU HISTORY; CURRENT WORK AT SCHOOLS & CAMPS

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Scripture Union was first established in 1867. In 1924, Hippo Millard formally launched SU in South Africa. What began as a Bible-reading society quickly grew to include beach missions and ministry in schools. Today, the organisation continues to foster strong relationships with both schools and local churches.

SOT: [SUPER] [GRANT PEERS, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SCRIPTURE UNION WESTERN CAPE]
“Some people say the schools are closed. But schools in South Africa, for every school that is uncomfortable with having us there, there are ten schools that are happy to welcome us and enjoy the privilege of just being able to engage them in ministry. And talk about the Gospel, talk about the Bible. Do life skills programs. Invite them on our camps. Invite them to our holiday clubs, which is where we get to engage them.”

VIZ: VARIOUS MINISTRIES & AREAS OF WORK

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SU’s areas of ministry have expanded over the years. Today, they include camping, holiday clubs, training, Bible engagement, life skills, and ongoing work in schools.

SOT: [SUPER] [MARISKA DE BEER, GENERAL DIRECTOR, SCRIPTURE UNION SOUTH AFRICA]

“We strongly believe that we’ll be here for the next hundred years and more to come. And SU’s heart and vision really is to see every young person transformed by Christ and filled with hope. And that will not change. We will continue maybe with a different way of doing ministry, because times change. And focusing on how do we engage with the youth in a different way, that speaks to them. But we will continue on this road.”

VIZ: PAST & CURRENT STAFF & VOLUNTEERS SIGNING A TIMELINE BOARD

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With a model that acknowledges the value of the youngest volunteer to the oldest donor, Scripture Union looks set to continue passing on the torch, and impacting young lives with the Gospel of Hope.
Mark Roughton in Cape Town, South Africa, reporting for the Global News Alliance.

Total Duration (including 3 seconds of safety) = 02:52