Selwyn Hughes died on 9 January 2006 ending a ministry that spanned more than four decades, in which he uniquely combined the roles of writer, pastor, counsellor and teacher. He also founded CWR (Crusade for World Revival), an international organisation that has spearheaded the training of Christian counsellors, leaders and workers in this country and abroad and that continues to produce Christian resources, including the bestselling dated devotional Every Day with Jesus.
Born on April 27, 1928, during the period of post-war depression, Selwyn Hughes was inspired by the faith of his family. Many of his relatives had been influenced by the great Welsh Revival of 1904 and, at the age of 16, he professed his own Christian faith.
Following ministerial training and ordination as an Assemblies of God minister, he served a number of churches in Cornwall, South Wales, Yorkshire, Essex and Central London.
In 1965 he initiated a series of short daily Bible-reading guides, written on blank postcards, for the benefit of friends and church members. Demand rapidly exceeded supply and soon these guides became a bimonthly publication. Now Every Day with Jesus is read daily by nearly a million people in 130 countries around the world.
Remarkably, he personally wrote every issue of Every Day with Jesus, only occasionally assisted by other writers. He continued to write prolifically for over 40 years, during which time he weathered the vicissitudes of life, including the death in 1986 of his wife, the tragically premature death of their two sons in more recent years, and his own serious illness.
In June 2005 Selwyn received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Brunel University for ‘outstanding service to Christian education’. He was described by Lord Carey, President of the London School of Theology (and former Archbishop of Canterbury), as ‘a giant in the faith’.
In September 2005 the 40th Anniversary of CWR and Every Day with Jesus was celebrated at Waverley Abbey House, drawing together over a thousand supporters and friends to offer thanksgiving to God and pay tribute to Selwyn for his dedicated servanthood over four decades of ministry. In agreement with Selwyn, plans are in place for his ministry through Every Day with Jesus to continue into the future.
Steve Bradley, CWR’s Chair of Trustees, commented: ‘This is a sad day for all who knew and loved Selwyn. He touched hundreds of thousands of lives across the world, and yet his ability to engage with individuals was immediate and life-changing. We rejoice that he has now entered the presence of Jesus, whom he served faithfully and proclaimed powerfully. He was a remarkable and singular man and we trust that God will lead us on in the work Selwyn established.’
No comments:
Post a Comment