19th January, 2006

DAVID ADAMS

For more than 40 years, Britain’s Selwyn Hughes has been guiding the daily reading of Christians - initially providing written notes on blank postcards for friends and, more recently, delivering his thoughts to almost a million people across the world through his Every Day with Jesus devotionals.

“He touched hundreds of thousands of lives across the world, and yet his ability to engage with individuals was immediate and life-changing." - Steve Bradley, chair of trustees at Crusade for World Revival

That all came to an end last week when Hughes, 77, passed away, leaving behind a legacy which will continue to transform lives for Christ. Hughes, who died of cancer, spent his last few days in a hospice.

Born in 1928 during the depression, Hughes - whose family had been influenced by the Welsh Revival of 1904 - professed his own faith at the age of 16. Ordained an Assemblies of God minister, he served at churches in Cornwall, South Wales, Yorkshire, Essex and central London.

In 1965 he started writing devotionals and these evolved into the Every Day with Jesus devotionals, now read daily by nearly a million people in 130 countries around the world. The same year he founded the Crusade for World Revival which now publishes a range of Christian resources (including Every Day with Jesus) and provides training for Christian leaders and counsellors.

Hughes also authored dozens of best-selling books including Christ Empowered Living, The 7 Laws of Spiritual Success and his autobiography My Story.

In June last year, Hughes was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Brunel University for his “outstanding service to Christian education”, described by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey as “a giant of the faith”. Three months later, he celebrated the 40th anniversary of CWR and the publication of Every Day with Jesus.

Hughes' personal life was marred in more recent years with the death of his wife Enid from cancer in 1986 and the premature deaths of his two sons - John in December 2000 and David in October 2001.

In a statement Steve Bradley, the CWR’s chair of trustees, says Hughes' passing was 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,” he says.

“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.’

CWR said that Every Day with Jesus had always been the “first call of God” in Hughes’ life - in fact he personally wrote every issue of the publication and was only occasionally assisted by other writers - and when, in recent months, he had no longer been able to travel, had given him “great satisfaction” to continue writing it.

“He was therefore able to be well in advance in his writing schedule,” says a statement from the organisation. “In agreement with Selwyn, plans are in place for his ministry through Every Day with Jesus to continue into the future.”

In a second statement issued a couple of days later, the organisation added: “Our aim is to honour Selwyn Hughes, as the founder of this international ministry, by continuing to publish Every Day With Jesus for the benefit of readers around the world who are seeking to apply God’s word to their everyday life and relationships.”

The impact of Hughes’ writings can be seen in an online Book of Remembrance CWR have established on their website. Scores of people have left comments testifying to how Every Day with Jesus has encouraged them in their personal walk with Christ.

“Wow, what a man, what an inspiration! I am eternally grateful to God that I had the privilege of being introduced to his ministry in 1993,” writes one visitor. “I can honestly say that his words made a deep impact on me on several occasions.”

“Well done good and faithful servant,” reads another entry. “Thank you for your honesty and your vast experience of life as a Christian shared through the pages of Everyday with Jesus. Your writings have so often been relevant to us on a particular day and many times were an inspiration to us. You were a man who walked close with God and your writings were such a help. We look forward to seeing you in Glory one day.”

To add your comments to the Book of Remembrance, visit www.cwr.org.uk/selwynhughes/