History

SCEM was founded in 1965 as Scottish Counties Evangelistic Movement, when a group of Christians from across Scotland were burdened to take the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to rural areas of Scotland.

Based in Hope Street in Glasgow, SCEM utilised the ‘team’ concept, sending out groups of young people to conduct missions.  Each team had a leadership group of houseparents, bible teacher, cook, and as appropriate, children’s and youth workers. Accommodation varied, but most teams stayed in local church or village halls for the duration of the mission.

Initially SCEM’s focus was in the Borders, with work in Jedburgh, Hawick and the surrounding areas.   A church was planted in Peebles in 1968, and in 1969 a total of 184 team members were involved in seven missions.   Work in the Borders continued and in the early 1970s spread to other parts of Scotland.  At least fifty-two missions were held during the first decade.  The increased workload meant that we outgrew the office, which was re-located to Argyle Street.

The 1980s saw a widening of focus with inner city missions in Dundee, Inverness and across the central belt, alongside traditional rural locations.   During this period younger people were greatly encouraged to be invited to join SCEM’s leadership team within three sub-groups with responsibilities for Publicity, Prayer and Training, and Evangelism.

Our fourth decade saw a significant drop in the numbers of team members, due in part to the wider choice of summer missions available, particularly overseas, and the need for young people to be employed during their summer holidays.   Around this time the office moved to Tollcross Road for a few years, before reaching its current home in Challenge House.

SCEM has worked with churches from Stornoway to Portpatrick, Shetland to Chirnside, and from Oban to Inverbervie, seeing people won for the Lord and churches encouraged.   Some churches now operate their own children’s summer holiday clubs, while many former team members now in full-time Christian work, point to the experience of being on SCEM as a pivotal point of their lives.

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