For the PDF Format, Please click Here.......

AN INTRODUCTION OF SCRIPTURE UNION IN NIGERIA

   
Working with the churches, Scripture Union aims:

      young people and families, and

so that they may

- come to personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.    
- grow in Christian maturity and
- become both committed church members and servants
  of a world in need.
We therefore aim to follow Biblical principles in all that we do and to emphasise the vital importance of prayer.

     What we are

    Scripture Union Nigeria is:
                        

         - We are not a church denomination but a handmaid of the church.
         -  We work with all church denominations.
         -  Our membership cuts across all denominations.
         -  We are not pro any denomination nor against any.

         -  We are self-financing, self-propagating and self-governing.
-  We are a totally indigenous movement affiliated to SU Africa together with other 43 movements.

-  We raise our funds mainly from Nigeria through members’
    contributions.
-  Our literature work is primarily a ministry but is used by God to  
     provide assistance in other aspects of our work.
 -   Our belief is solidly Biblical, evangelical and balanced.

II.        *How we began
             The Scripture Union is an interdenominational and International Christian Organisation which started in Britain as the Children’s Special Services Mission (CSSM) in 1867.  The founder of the CSSM, Mr. Josiah Spiers aimed at bringing the Word of God to children who were largely neglected by the churches at that time.  He had summer sea-side holiday camps with them and taught them choruses such as: “All the way to Calvary He went for me.”  Some ten years later, Miss Annie Matson proposed a system of providing children with passages to read for each day during the week.  This system was adopted by the CSSM in December 1878 and in 1879, the Children’s Scripture Union (CSU) was born. 
The CSSM and CSU continued to work in that close collaboration from that time until 1960, when the name Scripture Union was adopted worldwide at the 1st International Conference held at Old Jordan, London.
From this humble beginning, Scripture Union work has grown and is now operating in about 140 countries spread over all the continents.  It is at work in more than 44 countries in Africa alone.
In Nigeria, as far back as 1885, missionaries who were voluntary workers with SU came and started circulating SU Bible reading cards in several of the country main languages through the local churches. Native ministers formed SU groups in various churches.
In the early 1950s, large numbers of Christians from overseas came to Africa as teachers and in government service. Many of them had been converted through SU and had helped at camps and beach missions when they were students. Most of them came to Africa with the firm purpose to disciple people in the schools and colleges. These expatriates’ teachers initiated and founded SU fellowship groups in the schools and colleges. During the holidays, they feature camps to model Christ’s life and create such a spiritual environment to nurture Christian discipline and reproduce leaders. Tony Wilmot, a camp leader in 1954 reported: ‘Many campers confessed that the first thing which moved their heart and minds toward the things of God was the wonderful spirit of fellowship in camp – it was something they had never seen before. It cut across all barriers of tribe, race, and age. It was so obviously of God.’
In November 1955, the London Council appointed Nigel Sylvester as the staff worker for the whole of West Africa. He went everywhere speaking about Bible reading and SU notes, showing fact and faith (moody) films, or talking about the camps. Many responded to the claim of Christ and became enthusiastic fellow-workers. One of these was Gottfried Osei – Mensah who became Executive Secretary of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation.
In 1958, John Dean was appointed the first Nigerian based staff. He was teaching at the Sudan United Mission School in the Northern Nigeria, and the mission generously agreed to continue to pay his salary while he did SU work. In six months, John Dean took 223 meetings and covered 10,000miles. Many SU groups began during the year. There were then 22 in the West, 11 in the East and 38 in the North. He kept up a programme of this intensity for the next twenty years.
The National Committee was formed in 1957. Dr. Ishaya Audu, a Nigerian was the Chairman. In 1960s, SU work expanded that there was great need for more staff. In 1961, the University College Ibadan students SU group promised 50 pounds to support one of them, Reuben Ariko, to help with SU work. Other expatriates joined the staff team: Peter Edwards (1961), Jane Sutton (1963), and Bill Roberts (1964). In 1966, Mr (now Rev) Mike Oye became the first Nigerian Travelling Secretary. It was the same year that SU Nigeria became autonomous. The Travelling staffs has increased to more than 40, auxiliary missionaries average 70 annually, support staff are more than 100, voluntary workers are about 30,000.

The Scripture Union was inaugurated in Nigeria about 1885.  Groups were organized in the churches and the few schools that existed then.  The first Scripture Union Committee meeting was held in Ibadan on 11th May 1957.  At that time, Mr. Nigel Sylvester, now a retired International Secretary, was the Travelling Secretary for all of West Africa.  In 1958, Mr. John Dean was appointed the first Travelling Secretary for Nigeria.  He later became Regional Secretary for Africa and Malagasy and retired as International Training Consultant.

Scripture Union (Nigeria) was registered on 9th October 1967 as a voluntary non-profit making Christian Organization.  A Nigerian Council was established under the constitution with full powers to run the affairs of the Union in Nigeria in 1966.  This Council drew its membership from all over the Federal Republic. The first Nigerian Travelling Secretary, Mr. (now Rev. Dr,) Mike Oye was appointed in July 1966.

In 1972, the former Sub-Committees located in the various States were given greater powers and responsibilities and were constituted into State Committees of the National Council.  They are presently called Area Committees.  Sub-Committees were appointed by the Area (or State) Committees to look after the work in the various areas or zones of the States.

*Scripture Union (Nigeria) in the new millennium

2.   The Union was God’s instrument for the great evangelical revival in Nigeria.
The present structure of the Union is:  National → Regional → Areas → Zones → Groups
The development and size of the Union as at 2004.
- There is a Council overseeing the work in the whole country; and there are
            - 8 Regional Committees: each oversees the work in two or more States.
            - 33 Area Committees:  each oversees the work in a State or part thereof;
            - 178 Zonal Committees: each oversees the work in one or more LGA’s
            - 1,207 SUPGs = Scripture Union Pilgrims Group for adults.
            - 2,251 SUSG’s = Scripture Union School Groups in Secondary Schools.
            - SUCG’s = Scripture Union Children Group in SUPG’s or primary schools.
            - 100 SUCF = Scripture Union Campus Fellowship in tertiary institutions.
- We are in full operation in the following States: Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom,    
   Cross River, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo,
               Ogun, Lagos, Abuja, Benue, Plateau.
            -We have presence in the following States: Kano, Kaduna, Niger, and Kwara.

III. What we do.
       Our major ministry areas and results from programmes held in 2003 are summarized below.
*Camps and Conferences
            - Camps are held for the evangelisation and discipleship of youth.
            - This is the result from our 2003 camps across the nation. In our 2003 camps across the nation, there were a total of 126 camps, with 3,441 camp officers, 31,898 campers, 4,354 converts; total expenditure was N13.5m.

  c)   No. of converts         = 4,354
  d)   Amount spent           = N13.5m.
  e)   No. of camps             = 126
- Conferences are for the mature voluntary workers/adults.  There are two major   
   Conferences every year.  Pilgrims Conferences are held in each Area during Easter
   and Regional Conferences are held in each Region in September.
- Statistics of 2003 Conferences
- The 31 Areas held conferences with 5,754 adults in attendance, 4,533 student.
    leaders trained
 -  The 5 Regions held conferences with a total adult attendance of 2,251
*   School Ministry
     - The following programmes/activities are usually carried out in SU (Nig): Rallies,
        School Leavers Workshop, Leadership Training Camps.etc.
     - There are trained Youth Missionaries, Rally Unit Coordinators and Permanent School
        Visitors along with a large army of voluntary workers who visit schools weekly to                         
         disciple youth.
      - From available 2003 reports, we have the following data in school ministry -
       a)  Existing secondary school groups                   =  2,090
       b)  Total Student membership                              =  122,034
       c)  No of trained student leaders                         =   5,050
       d)  No of Daily Power sold in schools                 =  56,386
       e)  No. of Students’ Bible Study booklets sold   =  45,290

*   Children’s Ministry
    -  This is ministry to those yet to enter Secondary Schools.
    -  It comprises work in Primary Schools, Community Children Clubs and Children Wings   
        in our SUPG’s.
    -  Provision is usually made for them at all Easter Pilgrims Conferences.  In 2003, 866
        children were at EPC’s.  Special attention is given to them at the annual youth camps
        between July and August.  In 2003, over 7,136 children were at the holiday camps.

*   Literature
     -  Most Area offices have book centers that stock readable, reliable and relatively cheap
         books.
     -  One major thrust of our literature work is the production and distribution of Bible
         Reading notes/materials.
     -  The production for 2004 was

       -   Enemi Kuromi (Nembe Note) will return to the stable with a new name – Numo
            Tukpa, which means, Light of Life.
       -   An entirely new vernacular note is in the pipeline.
       -   The aim is to have everybody hear God in his own mother tongue.

*   Family /Pilgrims Ministry
      -  This is work among adults, Parents, Volunteers.
      -  Programmes and activities include weekly Bible Study and prayer meetings.
      -  This arm of the Union provides support for all the others.  It is charged with the
          responsibility of providing the manpower and money with which all the work in the
          Movement is carried out.

*   Aid for AIDS/ DESIGN for the Family
            - Our approach is different and unique.  It is preventive rather than curative.
- We believe that the collapse of the family structure is the main cause of  
   promiscuity, which is 90% responsible for HIV transfer.
-  Design for the family is our tool to prevent the HIV/AIDS scourge.
-  By means of our Life Skills and Peer Education programmes in Secondary
    schools, we are enabling many youth to say, “No to sex before and outside
    marriage.
-  There are many booklets and leaflets produced and in use.
-  There is a full-time national coordinator; in addition, all Traveling Secretaries have  been trained and are seriously involved in the campaign against HIV/AIDS.
-  We provide counsel and care for both the infected and affected.

*   Missions
-  Everything we do is missions:  we have missions to children, young    
. people and families
-  Our missions is first by means of Bible Use.
-  Missions to rural areas is fast spreading.  Full attention will soon be given to
   foreign missions. SU (Nig) is playing a major role in the Central West Sub region     
   of SU Africa; she is facilitating missions in the Sub Region. Some skeletal foreign  
    missions has begun  already. There are ‘Macedonian’ calls to send SU(Nig) staff           to some other national movements.
 
*   Church Relationship
            -  Every where in the world, SU works with the churches.
            -  SU (Nig) produced over 70% of the enduring, foremost ministers in the 
                country.
            -  We supply the churches with adequate trained manpower.
            -  They are sustained by our Daily Bible Reading materials.
            -  SU (Nig) was God’s instrument to spark up flames of revival in the
                churches and  has been behind the present move of Pentecostalism in the country.
            -  Quite a sizeable number of our members have joined the clergy file of churches.
                This has had tremendous influence on the churches.
-  We have had rural missions with a number of churches in recent times.
-  SU (Nig) has been empowering the churches for the evangelisation of the  
   unsaved.

* Areas of Support
-  Regular prayer support will be greatly appreciated.  We publish termly prayer
   bulletins; they can guide you.
            - Emotional support by way of calls and visits to find out how we fare, will greatly
              encourage the staff, voluntary workers and missionaries.
           -  Direct involvement in the work will help extend our borders, and also help us
              realize the kingdom objective faster.
           -  Attending our fellowships regularly will keep you abreast of developments and
              provide you adequate information as to where you can help.
           -  Regular financial contribution in general and specific ways.
           -  Adopting staff, missionaries, projects or programmes to finance.
           -  Sponsorship of staff and missionaries training will help to sharpen their skills and
               equip them for greater effectiveness.

*  Areas of partnership

   For more information, fill our contact form on this site or
            -  Call:  02/8100559 or 08034061644.
            -  Visit:  Scripture Union (Nig) Headquarters, Oyo Road, Opposite Old Airport,
                Samonda, Ibadan.

For the history of Scripture Union International please click Here..........

For Question and answers on Scripture Union History Please Click Here.........