140 years old and still going strong

2008 is the year of the 140th anniversary of Scripture Union beach missions. On Wednesday August 26, 1868, Josiah Spears, founder of the Children’s Special Service Mission, or CSSM, later to become Scripture Union, was on holiday in Llandudno, North Wales. While walking along the beach he saw children playing and making a garden with things they found on the beach. He wrote ‘God is love’ in the sand and asked the children to decorate it with pebbles and seaweed. Josiah Spears went on to tell the children Bible stories and hold a children’s service on the beach that Sunday. From this the first beach mission began

Now 140 years later SU summer missions are held in places all over England and Wales, and indeed the world. In the summer of 2008 there are 19 missions in total: 14 beach missions, one near the coast and four inland, including one in London. There are also missions to Croatia, Hungary, Peru, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine under the Frontline banner.

Each of these missions are organised and run by volunteers with support from Scripture Union. To find out more about these missions visit http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/SummerMissions/1507.id

ENDS

For more information contact:  
Christina Farley
Media and PR Officer
Scripture Union
Direct line: 01908 856143
Email: media@scriptureunion.org.uk