CrusaderAssociateNews Issue 12: Winter 2011

Included within:

Interview with holiday leader age 17

Update on Westbrook

‘Celebrating the 100’ is here!

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Contents

Communications can be sent to:Jo Slater, Editor, Associate News

Urban Saints Support Centre

Kestin House,

45 Crescent Road,

Luton,

Beds

LU2 0AH

Jo Slater: 01582 589833 jslater@urbansaints.org

Tel: 01582 589850 Fax: 01582 721702 email@urbansaints.orgwww.urbansaints.org www.crusadersreunited.org.uk

Urban Saints is the operating name of The Crusaders’ Union, a registered charity in England and Wales (223798) and Scotland (SCO39313)

From 1906 to 2006 Urban Saints was known as Crusaders

Associate News is protected by copyright and nothing within it may be reproduced wholly or in part without permission.

The Editor reserves the right to edit all items submitted for inclusion. No contact details will be published without prior permission.

Urban Saints values: Riotous FUN Being a Christian is not dull and boring! We believe that followers of Jesus should show the world how to really party.

Adventurous FAITHJesus doesn’t invite His followers to ‘play it safe’. He calls us into a radical, risk-embracing, world-changing, danger-accepting, servant-hearted adventure. So we wholeheartedly throw ourselves into the Father’s embrace, the Son’s mission, and the Spirit’s power.

Genuine FRIENDSHIPWho wants to do stuff alone? Not us! We’re following Jesus with friends because we recognise we need each other.

Life in all its FULLNESSGod wants us to be fully alive. So we embrace a life of learning and growing in order to realise our God-given potential through a healthy rhythm of rest, play and work. Front cover photo from Fully Loaded Holiday 2011.

3 Welcome from Jo

4 Welcome from Matt

6 Interviews

8 Update from Westbrook, and Studland invite

10 Incorporation

11 Swiss Holiday

12 Global News

14 Group News

16 Supporter Evenings

17 Supporting the Ministry

18 Prayer and With Christ

20 Celebrating the 100

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I’ve become a youth leader again! Having done youth work for about 15 years in the past, for the last few years I have been helping out with the under 4’s, as often happens when you have small children. However, I felt God challenge me to return to the 11-14s…

Last Sunday morning was my first time on the rota to lead and my eight year old daughter was quite interested. She wanted to know if I was confident enough, which Bible story I was going to do, and how I would know what to do? (Great lead into explaining about Energize!). Her advice? ‘If they keep talking, you keep on talking too’. Strangely enough the main leader gave me completely the opposite advice an hour later.

The session began with the main leader reading them the riot act for their recent behaviour – a promising start. I had prepared three activities but we barely had time to finish one. However, the main point seemed to go in, and they seemed to be having fun.

After the session the main leader seemed surprised when I said I had enjoyed it. But I had. There were about twenty five youngsters in the room, noisy and high-spirited certainly, but they are great young people, full of massive potential. I am always reminded of so many others who have gone before me, those whose stories I read in ‘With Christ’ for example, who faithfully shared the gospel and discipled the next generation. People invested in me. How can I not pass it on to a new generation who so desperately need to hear it?

Thank you for the part you play in investing in the next generation. You may feel your role has changed over the years and maybe you are less active now, but your actions, prayers and finances are still changing lives and helping young people get to know the amazing God we serve. Let’s keep going – I want to see what God does in these young people!

Jo Slater

Jo Slater

Welcome‘How can I not pass it on?’

Girls enjoying riotous fun at Westbrook Wackiness 2011.

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Welcome

It’s Friday night and I find myself with a group of around twelve teenage boys trying to have a conversation about faith.

What would it take for you to believe, I ask them? They need a miracle – something out of the ordinary – something that would be hard to explain. I seem to remember Jesus making a comment about a generation that needs “a sign” and yet I felt this was a moment to be seized.

One of the lads had recently been suffering badly with back problems so I dared to ask him if he would be up for me praying for him – there and then. Amazingly he agreed and stood to be prayed for. As he did another lad asked if I would pray for him too… he wanted a girlfriend. I agreed and the rest of the group stood up, surrounding the three of us in a circle and then, to my amazement, decided that they should hold hands (these are all non-Christians – it was weird but hilarious).

I looked at the young guy with the back problem and told him that if we pray

something might happen, but if we didn’t pray then nothing would happen so it was always worth praying. Whatever happened I told him that Jesus loved him and God was for him. Then, with slightly more than mustard seed faith – slightly – I prayed. A short prayer which finished with a resounding “AMEN” from the hand-holding gang of male teens.

The young guy looked surprised. “It feels different…better…”. You could tell from the look on his face he wasn’t expecting this. Inside I was cheering God on. As I went to pray for the guy who wanted a girlfriend, one of the other lads piped up – “I want to pray for him” (this guy is not a Christian – what was going on?).

So my non-Christian lad stepped up and prayed that Rhys would have a girlfriend, but more importantly that he would be a great boyfriend, honouring and being kind. Amazing! Later, I got a message from Jamie. This is what he wrote (I haven’t corrected it)…

Matt Summerfield

What happens when non-Christians pray….

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“Thank you for earlya. It meant a lot. My back is still fine. Its fully sorted but its better than it has been in a while. I think I’m starting to believe now. I’m never going to believe the whole bible. But I’m starting to believe that there is a God out there somewhere and that he does care and does love us! And also Rhys was close to getting a girlfriend she said that maybe if she wasn’t just outa a relationship she would of said yes. And me and Rhys said that if my backs still good by next week and he’s got a girlfriend. We will believe. Thank you again”

Come on God! I think I’m going to pray more with these guys. Hope you’ll pray for them too.

Matt Summerfield Executive Director

Matt enjoying a slightly ‘less serious’ moment with his weekly group

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It’s always very special to have children come to Crusaders / Urban Saints when they are young, and see them grow in their faith during their teenage years through their experiences with the organisation. Peter Ladd, 17, shares his story:

How did you come to be involved with Crusaders / Urban Saints? My father used to be a leader on Crusader holidays when he was younger. I first went on a Crusader holiday when I was 9, and have gone on one pretty much every year since!

What are you currently involved in with Urban Saints? This year, for the first time, I was a member of the Service Crew at Westbrook Wackiness, which was really exciting. It was much like being a full leader, but with a greater emphasis on training (and washing up!) It was really enjoyable, and hopefully I’ll be able to do the same thing again next year.

Why are you helping out in this way? I really enjoyed coming to Westbrook as a camper, and hoped that I would be able help other teenagers on the road to becoming a Christian. I’m also quite musical, so I was able to contribute to the worship each day.

As a young person, what do you think of the organisation? I think that it’s doing a great job! I’ve seen people become Christians for the first time, or strengthen their faith. On a personal note, I pushed a couple of my friends into going on a camp for the first time one year (although it wasn’t the same one I was going on - that was already too full!), and they had a wonderful time!

What is your favourite Bible passage and why? My favourite verse is definitely Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” I’ve got it stuck above my bed! It’s a verse which has really helped me in the last year in my AS exams and my university application, so it’s very important to me.

Do you see yourself remaining in Christian youthwork in the future? It depends what plans God has got for my life! Certainly, I very much enjoyed my experience this year at Westbrook, and would love to do it again. I hope that I can use my gifts for God as best I can, and if this involves youthwork, so much the better!

Interview

Peter Ladd

Peter Ladd

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Some of these young people grow up and take on the responsibility of a Trustee! Claire Murphy, age 29, joined the Board of Trustees in January 2011 and has the honour of being its third youngest member.

How did you come to be involved in Urban Saints?As a young person I was in Matt Summerfield’s youth group. One of my first experiences of Crusaders was attending the ‘Life 2 the Max’ event in Manchester in 2001. I went along as a steward and loved every minute! Since then I have helped on SPREE weekends, and been involved in Radish, ReAct, holidays and have run youth and children’s groups using Energize material.

What are you currently involved in with Urban Saints?Three times a year I help with the running of ReDefine weekends and I am part of the team who co-ordinate the holiday Fully Loaded.

What do you think of the organisation? Urban Saints works hard, along with an amazing amount of volunteers, to stay relevant. I believe the organisation has continued so long because of its ability to adapt and transition as young people and youth culture have changed over the years. They have always put themselves at the front line of faith based work with children and young people, and will continue to do so.

What do you feel you bring to Urban Saints as a Trustee?I am a big thinker - I love working out what the big picture looks like. As a Trustee I particularly enjoy the conversations and debates about where all the individual areas that Urban Saints are involved in fit with the overall vision for the organisation. There are so many things that we could be involved in, but it is important that we are about God’s work, not just our good ideas.

What is your heart for the youth of our nation?I desire for the young people of the UK and Ireland to grasp the call God has for them. So many young people believe they have to be a grown-up before God will use them for His kingdom work but I know that God can use them now. I long for our children and young people to understand that and to live that out in their everyday lives.

Claire Murphy

Claire Murphy

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Westbrook and Studland

We are pleased to announce that Westbrook are purchasing a swimming pool enclosure so the pool can be used 52 weeks of the year. It will have a telescopic design so that it can be an outdoor pool in the summer and covered in the winter. It will also have changing rooms incorporated. Southampton Crusaders are selling some property and it has been agreed the money from the sale of this will help finance the project.

Plans for the Westbrook Global Village are progressing and we are now aiming to build three villages with the support of our partners, Tear Fund - an African Village, a Bangladeshi Village and a Peruvian Village.

The Friends of Westbrook weekend was held on 15th and 16th October, with 25 people attending, and a good time was had by all. Do join us next year on 13th and 14th October 2012.

Tony Roberts (01983 811118) aroberts@westbrookcentre.org.uk

Have you ever been to Studland? If the answer is no, then now’s your time to go and if the answer is yes then you’ll definitely want to return! The campsite at Studland is available between Monday 6th and Sunday 12th August 2012. It is in a stunning setting, just a few minutes walk from a beautiful, sandy beach. This holiday is for Associates, leaders and their families, who would like a relaxing camping holiday, with the opportunity for fellowship as well. This includes optional morning Bible studies and evening gatherings. Whether you want to stay for a week or just two nights, this flexible break gives you that opportunity. Tents are provided, leaving you more room in the car to bring your bucket and spade.

For further information please contact Ian and Alison Mitchell on 01254 234772 or email idmitchell@sky.com

St James Urban Saints group Tunbridge Wells used Westbrook on Remembrance weekend. They laid this wreath under the plaque in the Entrance Hall as part of their Remembrance Day service.

How the Westbrook swimming pool will look

Update from Westbrook

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Friends of Westbrook Weekend

Making the most of the end of our Indian summer, 25 of us visited Westbrook on 15th and 16th October. Everyone was warmly welcomed by Tony Roberts, Matt Burden and Bernie Wheeler on arrival at the house. After lunch, the afternoon was free for folks to stay on site or venture further afield. For those staying on site it was an opportunity to explore the house and grounds and see the changes that are taking place, whilst at the same time to be nostalgic and reminisce over personal experiences of Westbrook. Others, like myself, who live “inland” enjoyed going off site and walking along the sea front, with the inevitable coffee shop visit with seaview!

At 7pm we all finally met up as a group and sat down for our celebration meal together. Simon, the chef, presented us with a superb 5* banquet! If anyone had come expecting a Youth Centre to serve youth style food they would have been disappointed!! Between courses we saw photos and videos as Tony and his team spoke to us about the recent events at Westbrook and the initiatives for the future.

On Sunday morning we gathered together for our morning service. It was good to have Graham Sturton, who was the Warden at Westbrook on my first visit in 1983, and his family join us. The service was led by Graham’s son-in-law, Dave Jenner. Dave shared the stories of two young men who had camped at Westbrook years ago and have gone on to be influential Christian leaders in

our nation. Having read from Philippians 1, Dave highlighted verse 6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” We were challenged that the work of Westbrook is by no means complete and that there is still an important and vital role for Westbrook to play in residential work for schools and young people in the future.

After sharing a Sunday roast dinner together it was a case of Au Revoir rather than Goodbye as we parted, already anticipating

the next Friends Weekend. We would love to have new Friends join us next time and please note you do not have to have been to Westbrook in the past to become a Friend!

Ann BrownTrustee

Two lads enjoying the excitement of Westbrook on the Friends Weekend.

‘Still vital role for Westbrook’

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As an organisation, we are not just a service provider or a top-down led organisation. We are a family committed to a common cause; to help young people live lives of Faith, Hope and Love through Jesus Christ.

The way the family operates is through a set of agreed rules known formally as a Constitution. When this was last updated in 2007 at the Special General Meeting (SGM), this was announced as an interim update leading to Incorporation.

Over the last few years it has been seen by the Board of Trustees as an increasing risk for us to operate in the area we do without the additional strength that Incorporation brings; a view which is clearly supported by the guidance published by the Charity Commission. Since the introduction of the 2007 Constitution there has been a Governance Committee working on this with our solicitors.

Our review showed us that the current Constitution is working well and hence it is the core document, through which we are governed and operate, being used for Incorporation. In the new terminology the Constitution becomes our Memorandum & Articles of Association (M&A). A copy of this is available to download from: www.urbansaints.org/M&A or you can request a copy from the Support Centre.

We are in the process of establishing a new charitable company, the name of which will be “The Crusaders’ Union”. Another Special General Meeting was held in September and it was overwhelmingly agreed that at midnight on the 31st December 2011 we will transfer the current assets of The Crusaders’ Union (charity) into this new charitable company. There is still work to do with both charity and company regulators, but we are getting nearer to completing this process as we move ever closer to the end of the year.

The new arrangements have been reviewed by our solicitors and will be approved by the Charity Commission in England & Wales as well as the Office for Scottish Charity Administration in Scotland.

In all respects, the work of the organisation, our mission and values, and our basis of faith all remain unchanged. We are still a family committed to a common cause; to help young people live lives of Faith, Hope and Love through Jesus Christ.

David RalphChair of the Governance Committee

IncorporationThe small print…

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Switzerland Holiday 2011

Part of what leaders have always aimed at in Crusaders / Urban Saints is to give young people experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, and remind them of gospel truths they learnt when they were young, and the friends they were with at these times. It is always wonderful to hear how many people have made lifelong solid friendships with other Crusaders in years gone by, and how they are still friends many decades later. Our value of ‘Genuine Friendship’ has been part of us since our origins, and one which we pray will continue through all the ministry today.

Crusader Associates embody this value. Nine met up together to revisit places they had first visited on a ‘Crusader Swiss Holiday’ when they were, shall we say, a little younger! John and Lesley Talbot (who had not been on any of the Swiss holidays) joined the others and relate their adventures:

Crusader Associate News Winter 2010 was the trigger. Nine signed up for a week in August at the Hotel Seeberg: a family run hotel nestling on the banks of Lake Brienz, Ringgenberg just outside the Jungfrau regional town of Interlaken. We were Brian and Pat Legg, Paul and Margaret Rose, Beth Tidmarsh, Jenny and Donald Musgrove and John and Lesley Talbot.

We spent the week in a mixture of various groupings visiting the English language church in Interlaken, the cable railway to the top of Harder Kuln overlooking the town of Interlaken, and Lake Thun. We took the cog railway from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte to explore the Alpine Gardens, and the Trümmelbach Falls. We sailed the length of Lake Brienz, stopping off at the Geisbach Falls - views en route and from the top are absolutely spectacular.

The last day we spent a very thoughtful and provoking time together for about half an hour when Jenny Musgrove challenged us to consider the mountains around us as barriers in the same way the spies viewed the giants of the Promised Land – except Caleb and Joshua of course. We were challenged to throw the ‘giants’ in our lives into the lake! A lovely holiday, which we all enjoyed separately and together. Thank you, Paul and Margaret, for setting it all up.

The nine intrepid explorers

Genuine friendship

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In April 2012 we will be sending around 230

people to Mexico. We will be building 10 or more houses for families trapped by poverty in the Tijuana region of Mexico. Led by Phil Hulks, the project is broken into two building weeks with one amazing day planned in the middle when all 230 people will gather for a celebration.

Whilst all this is going on, John Fudge and a small team will be delivering children’s work training to the Mexican pastors’ network in Juarez and Tijauna.

For over 20 years Urban Saints has been trying to make sense of how to respond to the needs in a strategic and effective way. First overseas development worker Peter Empson developed training materials and volunteer

Paul Stockley helped him hone them into publishable format, Since then we have had the opportunity of equipping people all over the world, granting licences for translation and publishing, and inspiring local and

In July 2012 we will send a further 50 people to Botleng in South Africa where they will construct houses. Mark Arnold will lead this team. In addition to house building the participants will attend

township churches, visit AIDS projects and conduct outreach work with local children.

Pray for these two amazing projects. In each, the Gospel will be presented to the young people who participate (typically 50% have not yet responded to it). Pray for God’s touch on the families who receive these gifts of love and on every child to whom the teams reach out whilst they work.

Pray for safety, smooth travel, and for the faith and fruitfulness of every participant to grow right through the process right from fund raising through the mission trips and to the debriefing. We desire that serving the poor will deeply impact all concerned.

In each Region there is a regional ReBuild champion who is committed to helping others connect with the project. If you would like to contact your local champion then please contact ReBuild via Dawn at dkellers@urbansaints.org and she will put them in touch with you.

Global News

Urban Saints Global Development

Foundation Training in Children’s Work

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national teams to use them in equipping children’s workers.

In 2009 we took the decision to equip experienced and effective UK children’s workers and send them overseas to work with strategic hosts. In some cases the hosts are found by members of the Global team whilst others develop naturally out of contact through the networks with which Urban Saints engages.

Praise God that this strategy has begun to take off and in 2012 we have seen David, Ray (twice), Rachel, Berni, Paul, Wilson, Jeremy, Chris, Claire, John, and Francoise all travel to overseas hosts and deliver training courses which prepare church leaders and those interested in children’s work for launching or revitalising effective outreach children’s clubs. In most countries where we go, the concept of running quality children’s programmes is alien.

The outcomes in 2012 have been:Thailand – The Karen hill tribes have taken the materials, and are translating them from Thai into Karen. They have effective indigenous trainers and are already training others.Sri Lanka – Our host and partner has begun a strategy for training all free churches on the island. The materials have been translated into Tamil and Sinhalese.Philippines – Able and competent hosts are now able to train throughout the Pangasinan regionCambodia – The materials are now in Khmer and our partner has begun training with them.DRC and Rwanda – 30 people trained in each country, with the opportunity to develop local trainers in subsequent years.Mexico – We worked with around 30 Mexican pastors and youth workers. God worked powerfully among us to inspire and equip and to heal.

Established partners have also continued their work effectively.Bangladesh – The indigenous team has run 7 training courses for 240 people this yearPakistan – Adnan has begun using Part 2 training across his network which runs more than 1000 clubs.

We will be running another training course to prepare volunteer global trainers in May 2012. We have been given the amazing opportunity of a main stage presentation at Children’s Ministry Conference in Eastbourne from 3-5 May to advertise for participants.If you would like to help with overseas training, then

please get in touch and we will send you details of the May equipping conference. Contact: jfudge@urbansaints.org

John FudgeGlobal Development Director

Training Plans for 2012

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Group NewsWe praise God for 121 groups who have connected to us from June to October 2011. Pray we would be able to support and resource them as they need. We are now supporting 979 groups (as at end of October).

Arthurlie ParishBallyalbanyBangor LisnabreenBangor TowerviewBelfast MountpottingerBerkhamsted NorthchurchBideford WingsBirmingham GraceBishops Cleeve St MichaelsBishops Waltham St PetersBlackburn Leamington RoadBlackpool RehobothBletchley SpurgeonBradford HolmeBradford WibseyBrierley Hill LakesideBristol Cairns RoadBrixhamBurnham On Sea BaptistBury St Edmunds VineyardCardiff Albany RoadCarrigrohaneCharlton KingsCheniesCheshunt RosedaleChiddingfold St MarysCleethorpes KingsCockfosters ChristchurchCongleton New LifeCreditonDagenham Wood Lane

Derby MelbourneDerby St AlkmundsDorchester FamilyDublin TallaghtDublin WestDudley GatewayDundonald St ElizabethExeter SilvertonExeter St DavidsFairbourne St CynonsGateshead HeworthGlasgow Eaglesham ParishGosport Christ ChurchGuildford GYMHaslemere ShottermillHeathfield WelcomeHedge End St LukesHertford CommunityHeswall ParishHigh Peak RevivalHigh Wycombe St AndrewsHoylake St LukesInverclyde Youth For ChristIpswich St JohnsKendal Holy TrinityKilburn Salvation ArmyKirkdale St AthanasiusKnaresboroughLeeds South ParadeLeeds St BarnabasLeicester St Wilfrids

Leighton Buzzard TrinityLewsey Christian CentreLichfield Wade StreetLincoln The VineLivingston OasisLoose All SaintsLytchett MinsterMalton ElimManchester Burnage St MargaretsMerthyr ElimMiddlesbrough Eston with NormanbyNantwich ElimNew MiltonNewbury St NicolasNorthampton Grange ParkNorwich Oak GroveNottingham St MarysNottingham WilfordOxford EastPetersfield St MarysPortadown LightPreston Great EcclestoneReading MountainReading ThamesideRedditch EmmanuelReigate St LukesRochdale Kirkholt CommunitySevenoaks St BotolphsSheffield Owlerton

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Shoeburyness FriarsSouth Croydon HarvestSouth Normanton St MichaelsSouth Woodford St MarysSouthampton James StreetSouthampton Shirley ParishSouthport CommunityStockton All SaintsStockton CentralStockton On Tees HebronStoke On Trent St AndrewsStone BaptistSuffolk CYMSutton UnitedLifeSwanley Christ ChurchSwansea DunvantSwindon St PaulsTamworth ElimTaunton DeanTaunton Fivehead

Taunton St PetersThornton Heath Glo 7 Urban SaintsTunbridge Wells St MatthewsTunbridge Wells TLCWarrington KingsWickford New LifeWimbledon ParkYelverton St AndrewsYork GatewayYWAM in Zambia

The following groups (which have been connected to us for over 10 years) have closed between June to October 2011:

Carrigaline (opened 2000)Eastbourne Shinewater (opened 1994)Innerleithen (opened 1991)Letterston (opened 1995)Stoke Holy Cross (opened 1998)

A tower with a difference – Skye Spree 2011

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It has been a great year of Supporter Evenings! Over 400 people have been to one of our eight evenings and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. These comments are from the evening in Warrington:

“I knew very little about Urban Saints so the whole evening was very informative and challenging – I wish I’d told more people about it.”

“The evening was very inspiring especially the large range of resources, and the creative way in which you are reaching young people.”

“I thought it was excellent – I haven’t been so encouraged and challenged for quite a while.”

“Thank you for the fun and for pampering me”

Many of you requested a DVD of one evening which we filmed and I would like to apologise for the time it has taken to do this. Hopefully everyone who requested a copy will have one before Christmas.

Next year we are planning to run a slightly different style evening which will incorporate news of what is happening in Urban Saints, both locally and nationally, as well as continuing to share the vision on 1-2-3, showing how we can live in discipleship-making, baton-carrying relationships. These evenings will be held on Sunday evenings in churches and we will send out information as soon as dates and venues are booked. As in 2011, they will be aimed at current supporters and leaders, as well as churches who (as yet) know only a little about Urban Saints. They promise to be truly inspiring so do come along if you are able.

Supporters enjoy hearing about Urban Saints!

Did you make it to a Supporter Evening?

‘Wish we’d had Energize when I was a leader’

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Legacies We were overwhelmed earlier this year to receive an unexpected legacy of £60k. You can imagine what a massive difference this has made to our budget, and how much extra can be achieved in the ministry with it. Not only have we not had to cut back in any vital areas such as staff and existing ministry, but we have also been able to continue to develop newer areas such as the discipleship resource and website MIMIC.

I often wonder what Albert Kestin would have thought if he’d have known where we would be 100 years later. And who knows - maybe God has plans for the organisation for another 100 years. Maybe ‘The Lord hath need of me’ even as I leave this earth and this life. Please do remember Crusaders / Urban Saints in your will. A legacy is not only a final gift to a friend – it’s an investment into the future.

New Appointment We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Bernie Wheeler as the new Income Administrator following the retirement of Debbie Gaskin in July. Bernie has had a variety of paid roles within Urban Saints, beginning in 2004 when he became Area Development Worker for Beds, Herts and Bucks. He then served as ReAct 2008 Co-ordinator and more recently as Assistant Manager at Westbrook. Bernie will now be based at Kestin House for five days a week (made up of one day working for the East region and four days as Income Administrator) rather

than appearing at (seemingly!) random moments every fortnight or so. His faithful servant-hearted nature will be much valued.

Position Vacant…Urban Saints are looking to employ a Major Donor and Trust Development Co-ordinator. This role will build relationships with major donors, potential major donors and grant making trusts, and secure income from them. For more information on this role, please contact Virginia Boakes at the Support Centre. Deadline for applications is Friday 6th January 2012.

For other Urban Saints vacancies, please check our website at www.urbansaints.org and click on Get Involved, and then Staff.

Supporting the Ministry

Bernie Wheeler

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Answers to Prayer – ‘Sailing not Rowing’Thank you for your ongoing prayers. It really does feel as though we are experiencing a time of favour with the Lord. To use a boating analogy, last year we felt we were working hard rowing – putting in a lot of effort but not getting as far as we would have liked. We sensed God was saying to us: ‘Sailing – not rowing’ and so this year we have tried to stop doing things which were difficult or not coming together without huge amounts of manpower and effort. We have instead put our time and energy where we felt God was already working, which has seen remarkable results. This is not to say things have to be easy – we recognise that sailing is

hard work too, but to be feeling the wind in our sails as sometimes we move along much faster than should be possible is a wonderful blessing from God.

Your prayers make a huge difference in the day to day running of Urban Saints, and I know many of you pray for what goes on within individual groups too. Won’t it be great to get to heaven and really see what an impact our prayers have had!

Jo Slater

Prayer and With Christ

With Christ - Charles Akeroyd (1909 to 2011)

Charles Akeroyd died in May of this year, aged 101. Towards the end of the 1920’s he and his father founded the West Bridgford Boys Crusader Class. Before long it became a thriving Crusader Class with numbers in the 60s. Charles helped to run a number of Crusader camps in different parts of the country.

He became a local Methodist preacher, and also a speaker on frequent other occasions. He would often take with him one or two of the older boys from the class to assist him in some minor way. This became a springboard for the other Crusaders in later years to actively help in Christian teaching. One such activity was to visit a local Borstal Institution on a weekly basis, showing slides of John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’.

Charles formed his own accountancy business in Nottingham, later to be joined by his two sons.

During the war he served in the Royal Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. On returning home after war service, he set about the re-opening of the West Bridgford Crusader Class by inserting an advert in the local paper. From small beginnings it once again became a thriving class.

Many boys in that class will have looked back upon the life of Charles as an example of how one should live a Christian life, and benefited through his faithful teaching of the scriptures. My brother, Alan, and I both became Christians through the Crusader class, and later on both became leaders. Charles’ wife, Gladys, pre-deceased him, but he is survived by two sons, three daughters and their families.

Gordon Walker

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John Bright (1926 to 2011)

Julian Pickett (1922 to 2011)

John Bright was a leader for Stanmore Boys’ Class for some 30 years and it was my privilege to have worked with him for much of that time. Born in South London, he first encountered Crusaders at a local public school. When war was declared he joined the RAF, and later rejoined the Civil Service where for his last 10 years he was responsible for the accounts in the RAF chaplaincy section, a position that he loved. After the war he took up leadership of the Stanmore Class. As a teenager he was very much my Father in Christ and he encouraged me in all my steps in my Christian journey, so that in due time I became first assistant then co-leader of the class. As a Methodist circuit preacher his church

duties eventually meant that he had to relinquish active participation, but for many further years was always on call in the background.Besides serving in class he regularly held important positions in Crusader camps during summer holidays and in retirement assisted part time at Crusader headquarters. He was a great and faithful servant of the Lord.

Michael CarmodyFormer leader at Stanmore and Hatch End Classes

It was through Julian that I became involved in leading the Wroughton Crusader class in 1973. I was in my first term of teaching, so when Julian asked me to consider becoming a leader I wasn’t really looking to take on anything extra. I remember sitting in my car outside the Youth Centre as children arrived, still unsure about whether to commit myself to this work, but when I saw Julian welcoming the children, taking their subs, setting up the table tennis net, issuing various instructions and generally trying to do a dozen things at once, I told him I was there to give him a hand.

Thus began our long friendship and my involvement with Wroughton Crusaders for the next 30 years, and although even then Julian thought he was getting too old to be doing this kind of thing he remained a leader until 1979. And how right it was for him to continue as a leader, because not only was he greatly loved

and hugely respected by the children, his wise words and attention to detail in Leaders’ Meetings were qualities which other leaders learnt to rely on.

Julian was a humble, unassuming and wonderfully kind man; a real gentleman. He loved the children at Crusaders and had a wonderful smile and hearty laugh. I will especially remember the way he participated in wide games we played on the grassy banks of Clouts Wood, something I often reminded him about. He was very strong and it was always a struggle to capture his ‘life’, which was to remove a woollen tag tied to his arm. I can still see him on those sunny slopes with lots of children around his heels, laughing as they tried to pull him down - usually without success. There will be many ex-Crusaders who will have similar fond memories of Julian.

John Cairns - HLM

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“Celebrating the 100” It’s here!

Urban Saints is the operating name of The Crusaders’ Union,a registered charity in England and Wales (223798)and Scotland (SCO39313)

From 1906 to 2006 Urban Saints was known as Crusaders

We are very pleased to announce the book of testimonies is now available. ‘Celebrating the 100’ is a 192 page book, covering the history of our first 100 years through inspiring testimonies from Crusaders from all walks of life including Sir Cliff Richard and Stephen Timms MP.

Read and be stirred and encouraged by all God has done through this amazing movement for over 100 years!

Copies are available from the Support Centre at £7 plus £1.00 p&p per book.