A BRIEF HISTORY OF GREENSTONES CHRISTIAN TRUST
1974 to 2014
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1974 to 2014
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INTRODUCTION
28th March 2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of Greenstones Christian Trust. Many changes have happened during those years and this seems the right time to set out a brief summary.
Originally known as The Northern Gospel Message Trust, a major initial objective was to share the good news of the Lord Jesus in ways and in places that appeared to be too small or inaccessible to be included in some of the major evangelistic initiatives of the time.
The Trust Deed signed on 28th March 1974 by Bob Spratt, John Orr and David Devenish spells out that the Trust is “for the charitable purpose of furthering the preaching of the Christian gospel, including the publication of gospel tracts and provision of places for the preaching of the gospel and the worship of God and other activities for the advancement of Christianity including the outdoor preaching of the gospel”
The Trust was established as Bob was running down his architectural practice to concentrate more or less full time in Christian evangelistic ministry and it was envisaged that he would be the one most actively engaged in the work.
From the beginning the aim was also to work, on a non-denominational basis, alongside other Christian believers, encouraging, sometimes enabling, but never in competition.
The current Trustees in alphabetical order are Mr William Allen, Rev Calum Crombie, Mr Mike Ducker, Rev Rebecca Ducker as well as Rev Bob Spratt. There is also a worldwide circle of “Friends” that pray every day for the work and also join in in various ways from time to time as the Lord leads.
NORTHERN FOCUS
The early emphasis was definitely on the north – as far north as Shetland, into Northern Ireland and, of course, nearer home in the north of England. “Northern Gospel Message Trust” seemed just the right name!
At first the principal activities were in Cumbria. 1975 was a special year in Kendal and the Trust organised Charter Year Challenge with tent meetings on Victoria Field. Those taking part included Evangelist Joe Fudge and Alf Ridpath a former communist credited with introducing communism to Cuba. Orton Male Voice Choir were there and there was a double deck bus that was used in youth work and late night mission activities – offering coffee and a chat as young people were on there way home from a night out.
For a short time Bob joined with Martin Higginbottom in the work of Outreach to Industry and was involved in evangelism in factories, power stations, offices, schools, prisons etc. It was here that he was introduced to the value of films both as a medium for communicating the gospel and also as an introduction to a spoken gospel message. The film used – “Dust or Destiny” by Moody Institute of Science - proved excellent in this regard.
During preparation for a mission in North Belfast in March 1976, Martin was seriously injured and Bob was asked to lead it at short notice. Local believers from across the denominations were involved and the gospel message was able to be presented without sectarian bias! Prison ministry also began to creep in here - one of the venues being Crumlin Road Prison.
After Belfast whilst waiting to see where the Lord might be leading next, Bob returned briefly to the architectural world working on plans for Furness General Hospital in Barrow in Furness. There, thanks to a member of staff, he was introduced to the Lord Rank Film Scheme. Through this it was possible to use 16mm films at a very modest cost and quickly discover Films open Doors. First working title “Lakeland Christian Films” adopted.
Christian Film Festivals were organised, there were monthly film evenings in Kendal Town Hall and this was a time of great activity in rural communities. It was quite exciting to see village chapels full to bursting as people came from far and wide to see such films as Treasures of the Snow, The Cross and the Switchblade, Tanglewood’s Secret as well as a wide range of films by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Moody Institute of Science and other Christian film producers.
Invitations came from over the border into Scotland largely via the Church of Scotland and one very significant event was when at The General Assembly, a minister who was terminally ill with cancer, gave an “urgent call to the Kirk” about the need to be more mission orientated.
Bob heard about this and visited him in his home in Shetland. Later he was invited to join in a Church of Scotland mission based on that call and involving every parish in the Presbytery of Lochaber – Fort William, Mallaig etc and loads of tiny villages. It was a multi media event and people from many parishes were taught how to use 16mm projectors to show Christian films for children and Bob arranged a number of venues for the Jesus film – all were packed to the door and many – especially men - responded.
Films also began to be used increasingly in prisons as Bob was invited by Rev Noel Proctor in Manchester and chaplains in prisons throughout England and Scotland to go along to the prisons, present a 16mm film then speak with the men about the life changing nature of the gospel.
This was when the Trust’s work began to focus substantially on prisons and the work began which eventually was to lead to the change in name of the Trust to Greenstones Christian Trust (no longer just “Northern”) and the registering of 2 working titles with the Charity Commission – namely Missions to Prisons and Friends of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia.
GO TO JAIL
At the age of 57 - when many people in the prison service are retiring - Bob was encouraged to apply to work full time in HM Prison Service Chaplaincy and was appointed Senior Chaplain at HM Prison, Preston.
For the next 7 years the work of the trust was more or less on hold apart from providing videos and other evangelistic resources for use in prisons. Then in June 1996, at the age of 65, came a transfer from full time to part time working in the Prison Service, so the work of the Trust was revived.
The focus continued to be on prisons' ministry and work amongst people affected by imprisonment including prisoners’ families and ex offenders not forgetting prison staff and victims of crime.
In 1998 Bob was invited to visit Ethiopia in connection with a new prisons ministry there. The invitation came from Pastor Daniel, a young man who learnt what prison was like during the Military Regime that ended in 1991
GO TO ETHIOPIA
In January 1999, Bob made his first visit to Ethiopia and travelled around with a few brothers and sisters who were launching the prison ministry of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia. It was possible to go into five prisons and some of these were first visits even for the Ethiopian believers. In one remote prison Bob remembers being told he was the first white man ever to visit it.
Although photography was forbidden, in one of the prisons Bob was invited to take pictures of the children in prison with their mums. When the young folk in Bob’s home church saw these they raised over £2,000 which helped to launch what is now known as Twinkle of Hope child care. This was indeed a very special time and changed the whole course of the ministry again.
Now Bob, other trustees and a number of volunteers, in partnership with Ethiopian NGO Justice for All PF Ethiopia have visited prisons all over Ethiopia – from Gonder in the north to Dilla and Arba Minch in the south. Pastor Daniel who heads up that work has also been to the UK several times.
This Ethiopian dimension – like the films in former years - has also opened doors for the gospel message to be shared with people here in the UK. In prisons, prisoners and staff have wanted to know more, they have contributed to projects and the good news of Jesus has been shared in prison workshops as well as in chapels.
There have been invitations to speak in schools and colleges, and to clubs and societies - both secular and Christian. These too have been opportunities to reflect God’s love and justice as the practical projects and the life changing evangelistic stories have been recounted.
In Ethiopian prisons many thousands have come to the Lord. Although gospel appeals are frowned on in UK prisons, telling the stories about what happens in Ethiopia has resulted in men standing up for Jesus without specific invitation – praise the Lord!
Now in 2014 we are in a time of great opportunity and no little challenge as we eagerly wait on the Lord to lead us forward every step of the way.
And finally - if this is to be His work then HE, NOT WE, MUST BE AT THE CENTRE!
28th March 2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of Greenstones Christian Trust. Many changes have happened during those years and this seems the right time to set out a brief summary.
Originally known as The Northern Gospel Message Trust, a major initial objective was to share the good news of the Lord Jesus in ways and in places that appeared to be too small or inaccessible to be included in some of the major evangelistic initiatives of the time.
The Trust Deed signed on 28th March 1974 by Bob Spratt, John Orr and David Devenish spells out that the Trust is “for the charitable purpose of furthering the preaching of the Christian gospel, including the publication of gospel tracts and provision of places for the preaching of the gospel and the worship of God and other activities for the advancement of Christianity including the outdoor preaching of the gospel”
The Trust was established as Bob was running down his architectural practice to concentrate more or less full time in Christian evangelistic ministry and it was envisaged that he would be the one most actively engaged in the work.
From the beginning the aim was also to work, on a non-denominational basis, alongside other Christian believers, encouraging, sometimes enabling, but never in competition.
The current Trustees in alphabetical order are Mr William Allen, Rev Calum Crombie, Mr Mike Ducker, Rev Rebecca Ducker as well as Rev Bob Spratt. There is also a worldwide circle of “Friends” that pray every day for the work and also join in in various ways from time to time as the Lord leads.
NORTHERN FOCUS
The early emphasis was definitely on the north – as far north as Shetland, into Northern Ireland and, of course, nearer home in the north of England. “Northern Gospel Message Trust” seemed just the right name!
At first the principal activities were in Cumbria. 1975 was a special year in Kendal and the Trust organised Charter Year Challenge with tent meetings on Victoria Field. Those taking part included Evangelist Joe Fudge and Alf Ridpath a former communist credited with introducing communism to Cuba. Orton Male Voice Choir were there and there was a double deck bus that was used in youth work and late night mission activities – offering coffee and a chat as young people were on there way home from a night out.
For a short time Bob joined with Martin Higginbottom in the work of Outreach to Industry and was involved in evangelism in factories, power stations, offices, schools, prisons etc. It was here that he was introduced to the value of films both as a medium for communicating the gospel and also as an introduction to a spoken gospel message. The film used – “Dust or Destiny” by Moody Institute of Science - proved excellent in this regard.
During preparation for a mission in North Belfast in March 1976, Martin was seriously injured and Bob was asked to lead it at short notice. Local believers from across the denominations were involved and the gospel message was able to be presented without sectarian bias! Prison ministry also began to creep in here - one of the venues being Crumlin Road Prison.
After Belfast whilst waiting to see where the Lord might be leading next, Bob returned briefly to the architectural world working on plans for Furness General Hospital in Barrow in Furness. There, thanks to a member of staff, he was introduced to the Lord Rank Film Scheme. Through this it was possible to use 16mm films at a very modest cost and quickly discover Films open Doors. First working title “Lakeland Christian Films” adopted.
Christian Film Festivals were organised, there were monthly film evenings in Kendal Town Hall and this was a time of great activity in rural communities. It was quite exciting to see village chapels full to bursting as people came from far and wide to see such films as Treasures of the Snow, The Cross and the Switchblade, Tanglewood’s Secret as well as a wide range of films by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Moody Institute of Science and other Christian film producers.
Invitations came from over the border into Scotland largely via the Church of Scotland and one very significant event was when at The General Assembly, a minister who was terminally ill with cancer, gave an “urgent call to the Kirk” about the need to be more mission orientated.
Bob heard about this and visited him in his home in Shetland. Later he was invited to join in a Church of Scotland mission based on that call and involving every parish in the Presbytery of Lochaber – Fort William, Mallaig etc and loads of tiny villages. It was a multi media event and people from many parishes were taught how to use 16mm projectors to show Christian films for children and Bob arranged a number of venues for the Jesus film – all were packed to the door and many – especially men - responded.
Films also began to be used increasingly in prisons as Bob was invited by Rev Noel Proctor in Manchester and chaplains in prisons throughout England and Scotland to go along to the prisons, present a 16mm film then speak with the men about the life changing nature of the gospel.
This was when the Trust’s work began to focus substantially on prisons and the work began which eventually was to lead to the change in name of the Trust to Greenstones Christian Trust (no longer just “Northern”) and the registering of 2 working titles with the Charity Commission – namely Missions to Prisons and Friends of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia.
GO TO JAIL
At the age of 57 - when many people in the prison service are retiring - Bob was encouraged to apply to work full time in HM Prison Service Chaplaincy and was appointed Senior Chaplain at HM Prison, Preston.
For the next 7 years the work of the trust was more or less on hold apart from providing videos and other evangelistic resources for use in prisons. Then in June 1996, at the age of 65, came a transfer from full time to part time working in the Prison Service, so the work of the Trust was revived.
The focus continued to be on prisons' ministry and work amongst people affected by imprisonment including prisoners’ families and ex offenders not forgetting prison staff and victims of crime.
In 1998 Bob was invited to visit Ethiopia in connection with a new prisons ministry there. The invitation came from Pastor Daniel, a young man who learnt what prison was like during the Military Regime that ended in 1991
GO TO ETHIOPIA
In January 1999, Bob made his first visit to Ethiopia and travelled around with a few brothers and sisters who were launching the prison ministry of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia. It was possible to go into five prisons and some of these were first visits even for the Ethiopian believers. In one remote prison Bob remembers being told he was the first white man ever to visit it.
Although photography was forbidden, in one of the prisons Bob was invited to take pictures of the children in prison with their mums. When the young folk in Bob’s home church saw these they raised over £2,000 which helped to launch what is now known as Twinkle of Hope child care. This was indeed a very special time and changed the whole course of the ministry again.
Now Bob, other trustees and a number of volunteers, in partnership with Ethiopian NGO Justice for All PF Ethiopia have visited prisons all over Ethiopia – from Gonder in the north to Dilla and Arba Minch in the south. Pastor Daniel who heads up that work has also been to the UK several times.
This Ethiopian dimension – like the films in former years - has also opened doors for the gospel message to be shared with people here in the UK. In prisons, prisoners and staff have wanted to know more, they have contributed to projects and the good news of Jesus has been shared in prison workshops as well as in chapels.
There have been invitations to speak in schools and colleges, and to clubs and societies - both secular and Christian. These too have been opportunities to reflect God’s love and justice as the practical projects and the life changing evangelistic stories have been recounted.
In Ethiopian prisons many thousands have come to the Lord. Although gospel appeals are frowned on in UK prisons, telling the stories about what happens in Ethiopia has resulted in men standing up for Jesus without specific invitation – praise the Lord!
Now in 2014 we are in a time of great opportunity and no little challenge as we eagerly wait on the Lord to lead us forward every step of the way.
And finally - if this is to be His work then HE, NOT WE, MUST BE AT THE CENTRE!
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