The world has changed in 60 years and so has Every Day with Jesus, but it remains committed to helping people connect with God in their daily lives. Here’s how it started, and how it’s going.
1965 - Winston Churchill’s funeral takes place, Lyndon B Johnson is sworn in as President in the US and Mary Poppins wins five Oscars. War rages in Vietnam as well as between India and Pakistan. Thunderbirds airs on TV for the first time; and Susan, David, Julie and Paul were the most popular baby names in the UK. It was also the year when Selwyn Hughes started writing postcards to help his congregation study the Bible, and Every Day with Jesus was born.
Sixty years later, the world has changed in many ways, but Every Day with Jesus continues to transform lives.
Here’s the story so far:
1965 - Selwyn Hughes started writing Bible postcards for his congregation.
1967 - the first Every Day with Jesus was printed and given out for free. Over the next 40 years, Every Day with Jesus grew across the UK and around the world, with an estimated peak of 2 million readers.
2012-2021 - email subscriptions and e-books are introduced, as well as new contributors.
2024 - the Every Day with Jesus free mobile app is launched.
Countless encounters with Jesus
Over the last 60 years, in print and online, Every Day with Jesus has brought about millions of encounters with Jesus.
It’s been used by individuals, some for decades. ‘I have been reading Every Day with Jesus for 20 years now,’ says Diana. ‘First the booklet form… and now the app version. It has been a source of encouragement and comfort through the years.’
It’s also used by chaplains - including in UK prisons where we distribute 24,000 copies for free each year, reaching 97,000 prisoners - and in countries around the world, by families, groups and organisations. So the numbers really are countless, in the best way possible.
Helen uses Every Day with Jesus among the global network of Christians she’s formed through her organisation, Mother Hen Foundation:
‘We started using [it] for our daily devotional as I wanted to encourage each member to start their day with some good Biblical teaching and prayer,’ she says.
‘All the Mother Hen Foundation family love the readings and enjoy them regularly. One particular pastor, Dickson from Kenya, finds [they] encourage him in his own church and Bible College teaching ministry and his pastoral ministry to the slums in Nairobi.
[And] one of our Bible Study Group members, an elderly widow named Geraldine who lives in Spain, is really keen on the daily readings and has said many times how much they encourage and bless her.’
In the words of Selwyn Hughes, ‘Life works better when we know how to glance at things but gaze at God.’
The power of God’s word
For people who follow Jesus and value His word, the vital benefit of time spent reading the Bible is clear. God’s word, connection with Him, is the bread of life.
One study in the US showed that, of 40,000 participants, those who read the Bible at least four times a week experienced better mental health, better relationships and (unsurprisingly perhaps) a better spiritual life!*
‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)
Yesterday, today, tomorrow
Not only is Every Day with Jesus going strong 60 years since it began, it’s growing. In 2024, more than 25,000 individuals from 137 nations downloaded the mobile app, benefiting from relevant, inspiring, on-the-go encounters with Jesus. And for free.
PRAY WITH US
Father God,
At Waverley Abbey, we are passionate about helping everyone, everywhere, every day to encounter Jesus. We pray, lifting up this mission and asking God to continue touching lives and hearts through Every Day with Jesus for many more years to come.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
* Center for Bible Engagement, 2009.