Just Window Dressing?
Mark Schultz
This edition of “SU News” ties in with the launch of a new format for our publications and profile. If you have received other letters from the SUSA office in the last couple of months, you may have already encountered the new format. But why have we bothered?
Often these days, marketing is used to dress up something its not – to create a “too good to be true“ image! (I studied marketing in the 80s and saw some AWFUL examples!)
So, has Scripture Union ”re-badged“ itself? Not at all! Quite the opposite. Wendy Rayner (Partnership Project Coordinator) has worked hard with Nicole Dunkley on this to help our ”new look” convey who SU is in a way that facilitates her work in assisting us partner with others. (More about this in next issue.)
The key thing that we wanted to achieve in developing a new look was a representation of the nature and diversity of SU ministries. Hence, it has a contemporary, young aspect, coupled with a professional look. It also shows elements of urban, rural, school, beach environments, with the church and children, young people and families central to the feature. Above all, it includes the Scripture Union lamp, fl agging our foundation in the Word of God and guidance in His mission, and the mission to introduce children, young people and families to Jesus, the Bible and the local church.
The fi nal point that it highlights specifi cally for me is that all these things are part of the same mission. Be it camps, COPs, missions, lunchtime groups, promoting Bible-reading and prayer, they all come together under the one mission of Scripture Union. This issue of SU News seeks to show how often these various areas of SU's ministries interweave as God uses all facets of the movement together in bringing people to Himself.
As I keep on saying, Scripture Union is committed to a mission, not a model. Please pray with me that, in everything we do, we continue to follow God faithfully in His mission.