Why do Urban Saints need me to volunteer?
Jesus said “the fields are ready for harvest but the workers are few.” What he meant was, there are loads of people ready for his message and love but they needed others to come along and help them understand the Gospel and how to live it out. It is the same today, with 10 million young people in the UK, most of whom know almost nothing of Jesus. To fix this we need more local volunteer missionaries, so we can reach more young people. Simple.
How can I help?
Great question! First and foremost, we would love you to volunteer, in whatever way you can. Maybe it’s making the orange squash or leading an activity or being the person a teenager comes to talk to - it all makes a huge difference. You can give money. Put simply, the more trainers we can pay for, the more volunteers we can support and train and the more young people we can reach. Money makes a real difference.
You can pray. This is where the power comes from. We don’t want to be successful without God, so prayer is at the heart of everything we do. Join our prayer network and you will get helpful items and guidance to help focus your prayer time.
I am really busy, can I still help?
Yes! Let’s have the conversation and see what works for you. Whether you can help out once a fortnight, month or term or just at special events or camps, there is bound to be a role you can play.
What are the benefits of helping out?
You get to change the world, hang out with Jesus and meet amazing young people! We love it and think you will too. Of course along the way you will gain loads of skills and experiences, developing your CV and abilities in ways that you just couldn’t do elsewhere. We believe deeply in investing in our volunteers, so expect a journey that sees you grow and develop your full potential.
Do I have to be a Christian to help out?
No. Anyone is welcome to help and be a part of Urban Saints so long as you are fine with what we are all about.
Do I have to be a Christian to be a leader?
Yes. If you want to be a leader then we are looking for people that have been Christians a while and have really understood what it is to make disciples and to live and share the Gospel.
What is the process for joining?
There is an application form to fill out which someone in your Group will be able to help you with. For leadership roles you will be required to meet a small group of people outside of the Group to discuss the role you wish to take on. References are also required for some roles. An enhanced Criminal Records (DBS or equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland) check is carried out on all volunteers.
Will I be insured?
Yes. All volunteers are covered under our Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy.
I am going to university away from home and would like to continue my being a Leader, is this possible?
Yes. The best way of doing this if you are 18-25 is by joining the Urban Saints online Network. The Network has links with local Urban Saints' Groups and Churches and will be able to help you locate a Group close to your university. Alternatively, or if you are already a Member of the Network, you can contact the local Team Leader, of the area where you will be studying. They can then put you in contact with a local Group based on your interests. You can find out these details by telephoning the Urban Saints Support Centre on 01582 589850 or by filling out the online form.
Urban Saints?! Do you only work in cities?
We are aware that the word 'Urban' generally means 'of/from the city'. With this in mind, 'Urban' seeks to reference the city, or Kingdom, of God (particularly bearing in mind the reference to the ‘King of Kings’ in the crest). This is about saints of the Kingdom. However, 'Kingdom Saints' does not resonate with young people as well as ‘Urban Saints’.
From other feedback we have had, 'Urban Saints' could also be called 'Community Saints' as this is about young people being agents of change in their communities by living lives of faith, hope and love through Christ. Again, ‘Community Saints’ does not resonate with young people as well as ‘Urban Saints’ and it might imply a purely social action agenda, which is not our mission.
Didn't you guys used to be called Crusaders?
We did. Crusaders became Urban Saints in January 2007 after celebrating our centenary as a movement. The name change was primarily motivated by our conviction that a new brand/image was needed in order to better serve the Gospel in the new century. God has continued to refresh the movement in the years since the decision, ensuring that we are rigidly holding to the original mission of the movement. To this end, we firmly believe that Urban Saints resonates better with un-churched young people and therefore provides us with increased opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Since 2007 we have seen many doors that were previously closed to us, in some parts of the country, become more open.