In 1995, BeaconLight Trust became a new registered charity and a limited liability company. We give God thanks for the privilege of being involved in this ministry, and for the way in which He has enabled it to continue and grow over 30 years.
It all started when the senior pastor of an independent church, just south of London, found that Christians from many churches around were looking for training in 'how to do what the Bible says'; they wanted to be equipped for ministry in their churches and communities.
And so BeaconLight was established, with some church elders, as a separate charity but 'in association with the local church' and 'in earnest for the gospel' - to meet the training needs of gospel-hearted people. It was a great blessing to the home church too. As well as offering pastoral counselling, over the first seven years more than 5,500 Christians attended face-to-face courses from 348 churches within 45 minutes' driving time.
Word@Work was developed to help business people, working in London, have some biblical input during the working week - by sending a short expository devotional to their email at work (to read before work or in the lunchtime). That started the idea of putting resources online - with our websites, and Word@Work mailings which still reach people in almost every country world-wide.
CrossCheck, the graphical gospel presentation and evangelistic tool in booklet and online formats, has been translated into nine overseas languages with two more currently being added. Its simple, but thorough, explanation of the gospel and call to respond has been used to win many souls and enabled churches to be planted and strengthened.
Another elder, with experience of prison ministry, recognised that inmates had no online access at that time. Although we never wanted to print, publish, warehouse and distribute hard copy books (including Inner Struggles of which almost 100,000 have been distributed) ... over the years we have been able to send out over 300,000 copies to prisons, churches, the military in the UK, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
One of the church ministers, who is now a theological lecturer and chaplain in Nigeria, has found that a work-book is better at helping people to learn ... than listening passively and watching a screen. He has already developed 'Grow in Christ' a disciple-making work-book course to build upon the foundation of the Truth Unlocked course.
Like many developing countries, Nigeria is teeming with young people ... all of whom need to find the hope of the gospel in Jesus; and we want to help that to happen.
There is no way we can identify all our ministry over 30 years, but it has included Pastors' Conferences, an English Language School in Bosnia, leadership mentoring, corresponding with prisoners, partnering with the Naval and Military Bible Society, YouTube videos in Urdu, pastoral counselling, and much prayer.
BeaconLight is organisationally light, most of the work is done by volunteers assisted by some technical people who are part of the BeaconLight Team. Over the years, some thirty people have worked closely with us in the UK, as well as ministry partners at home and abroad.
We do not make any charge for what we do and give to others. The BeaconLight approach is to trust the Lord to give us all that we need to do His work. We give freely to others because we have received freely from the Lord.
Thank you for your support over these years.
If you wish to mark BeaconLight's 30th birthday, please consider what the Lord would like you to do.
This is the Lord's work, we are only His servants - working with Him to achieve His purposes.
To our gracious God and Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be all the glory!