Evangelicals Now
<< March 2006 >>

Selwyn Hughes, 1928-2006

Obituary

Selwyn Hughes was one of the UK’s most influential post-war Christian leaders. In a ministry spanning six decades, he successfully combined the roles of writer, pastor, counsellor and teacher.

He was also the founder and Life President of CWR (Crusade for World Revival), an organisation that produces a wide variety of Christian resources, including the international bestselling publication Every Day with Jesus, and has spearheaded countless training and teaching courses, especially in the field of Christian counselling and pastoral care.

Welsh background

Selwyn was born in Wales on April 27 1928, during the period of post-war depression. Inspired by the faith of his family, many of whom had been influenced by the great Welsh Revival of 1904, he professed his own Christian faith at the age of 16.

Prior to Christian ministry, Selwyn was one of the Bevan Boys, working as an apprentice engineer in a local steel works. Following his ministerial training and ordination as an Assemblies of God minister, he served a number of churches in Cornwall, South Wales, Yorkshire, Essex and Central London.

Turning point

1965 proved to be a turning point for Selwyn Hughes as the year when he began composing daily Bible devotional guides, written on postcards, for the benefit of friends and church members. Within a short period, these became a bimonthly publication that developed into Every Day with Jesus. This highly respected daily devotional is now read by nearly a million people in 130 countries around the world. It has proved particularly popular in Nigeria where over 130,000 copies are distributed every two months.

Selwyn personally wrote every issue of Every Day with Jesus and this remarkable output was maintained over four decades, with only occasional assistance from other writers. During this time he weathered the vicissitudes of life, which included not only the death of his wife, Enid, in 1986 and their two sons, John and David, in recent years, but also a considerable period of serious personal illness.

In addition to Every Day with Jesus, he authored dozens of books, including Christ Empowered Living, The 7 Laws of Spiritual Success and his widely acclaimed autobiography My Story.

Preacher and pastor

But Selwyn was not just a writer. His preaching and teaching abilities, particularly on the subject of Christian marriage, were globally appreciated and he was enthusiastically welcomed on repeated visits to Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria, Uganda, India and Sri Lanka.

Selwyn was also a pastor. Readers of Every Day with Jesus frequently wrote to him, sharing their concerns and problems, and he was a careful and compassionate correspondent, as many who received his personal response can testify. This concern for the individual’s spiritual and emotional wellbeing eventually led to the development of numerous counselling seminars and ultimately to the establishment of Europe’s largest centre for training in Christian counselling at Waverley Abbey House, Farnham, the headquarters of CWR.

His pastoral ministry also extended to other pastors and leaders, particularly in economically deprived nations. CWR’s supporters regularly donated funds to enable conferences for developing world pastors, allowing Selwyn to encourage and stimulate church leaders ministering in challenging circumstances.

Passionate for Christ

In June 2005, Selwyn received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Brunel University for ‘outstanding service to Christian education’. He was described by Lord Carey, President of the London School of Theology (and former Archbishop of Canterbury), as ‘a giant in the faith’.

In September 2005, the 40th Anniversary of CWR and Every Day with Jesus was celebrated at Waverley Abbey House, drawing together over a thousand supporters and friends to offer thanksgiving to God and pay tribute to Selwyn for his dedicated servanthood over four decades of ministry.

Selwyn Hughes was, in private, a softly-spoken and somewhat retiring man, in stark contrast to his electrifying presence before a congregation or audience. He stands among a small and select group of Christian leaders who have sustained a passionate and diverse ministry over a lifetime of commitment to Jesus Christ.