Article source: JOY! Magazine
Sakh’Ulutsha, Scripture Union’s life skills education initiative, is dedicated to building up young people, equipping them with the essential tools to thrive in today’s world. This initiative provides practical opportunities for youth to cultivate resilience, make informed decisions, and live purpose-filled lives. Sakh’Ulutsha stands as a beacon of hope, introducing biblical truths that foster spiritual growth and lasting transformation.
Scripture Union’s lifeskills education initiative
Sakh’Ulutsha means “to build up” – through our lifeskills education initiative we aim to equip young people with the tools to build resilience, make informed decisions, and lead lives marked by purpose and integrity.
The importance of soft skills
Soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are critical in today’s world. However, many young South Africans, especially in under-resourced communities, lack access to the training and mentorship needed to develop these skills. Therefore, we offer practical, hands-on opportunities for youth to cultivate these abilities, preparing them not just for work, but for life.
A cornerstone – leadership development
Leadership development is another cornerstone of our life skills programme. We believe every young person has the potential to lead, so, by fostering leadership qualities, we empower them to become change-makers capable of guiding their peers and contributing to the broader societal good.
A brighter tomorrow
Our commitment to preventing HIV, teen pregnancies, and substance abuse is rooted in our belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilled life. These issues are not just statistics; they represent real lives and futures at risk. Through education, support, and compassion, we aim to reduce these risks and offer hope for a brighter tomorrow.
The importance of God’s Word
At the core of SU’s approach is our belief in the transformative power of God’s Word. Life skills education is an opportunity to introduce young people to biblical truths that offer not only moral guidance, but also a deep understanding of God’s heart for them. Through these truths, they can discover their worth, purpose, and the abundant life that Christ offers. As we empower young people to navigate their challenges with wisdom and strength, we also invite them into a deeper relationship with the One who holds their future in His hands.
Supporting and sustaining spiritual growth
Our resource ministry began in the 1950s with a humble Strepsils tin as a cash till. Our director tasked young admin Lucy St. Livres with sourcing daily reading notes to help children read the Bible, selling them at camps and holiday clubs. From that simple start, SU’s resource ministry grew, becoming synonymous with excellent daily Bible devotional material, thanks to Lucy and her successors like Barbara Mulder. Many impacted by SU recall the reading notes that introduced them to scripture and fostered true spiritual growth.
Expanding horizons
Today, SU still prioritises devotional material, but has broadened its range to meet the diverse needs of our world. Children’s books remain central, addressing important topics like identity, belonging, and loss.
Top class curriculum
Our commitment extends to helping children’s ministries select the best curriculum for their needs. The Ivangeli Curriculum, specifically written for South Africa, spans three years and caters to ages from preschool to teens. Released in English this year, it will also be available in Xhosa, Zulu, and Afrikaans by 2025.
Bible study for adults
A key focus today is adult Bible study, as we believe children need biblically wise parents to guide them. We offer a wide range of Bible studies, widely used by churches and study groups.
Alpha courses
We also distribute the full range of Alpha International materials, including Alpha, Alpha Youth, the Marriage Course, Pre-Marriage Course, and Parenting Children and Teens courses. All are film-based with supporting journals. We’re here to help you run these courses in your church or community.
Scripture Union deaf resources
Scripture Union South Africa is excited to have started the journey of translating some of our resources into South African Sign Language (SASL). We believe that the deaf community should have access to Christian resources in their first language, and this initiative is a significant step towards inclusivity and resource development. This is an exciting opportunity for us to make the Gospel accessible to all. We invite anyone who would like to contribute in any way to contact us.
Partnerships are valued
We value our partnerships, supporting churches and speakers with book tables at major and local events. We also supply Anglican, Methodist, and Baptist resources, all available through our online store at subooks.co.za. Though SU Books and Resources has grown significantly, our mission remains unchanged – to equip children and adults with Christ-centred, biblically sound resources so that we all may become mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Eph 4:13).
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Date published: 16/11/2024
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