The state of the poor in mid-Victorian England challenged evangelical christians to respond and in 1867 Charles haddon Spurgeon opened his first orphanage. other evangelicals were moved to open similar works all over the UK and from these early beginnings the modern school system grew. Now, some 135 years later, British OAC evangelists visit about 750 schools each term, reaching approximately 225,000 children. This number is greatly inflated when schools visited by associates and those trained by OAC are added. Sketchboards are often used to tell the Bible stories, although modern multimedia techniques are now frequently used.
The impact of our work in schools is evidenced by the feedback that we get from staff as well as the children and their families. Staff, too, appreciate our visits and there have been many opportunities to pray with them in their time of need. Our only regret is that the opportunities outnumber our ability to respond positively. Please pray that many more will link up with OAC and go back to school.