90 Years of ISCF

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Since 1910, Christian students attending Public Schools in NSW have gathered to read the Bible and to pray together. These ‘school bible studies’ were largely an ad hoc affair, and it wasn’t until after a visit to Australia by Howard Guiness in the early 30’s that these groups started to flourish.

By the beginning of 1935, a group of invested individuals—teachers, local ministers, and SU NSW workers — had recognised the need for a more coordinated approach to these ‘school bible studies’ to enable them to flourish and grow across all public schools in NSW, not just in a handful of schools in Sydney. Thus, ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship, a name borrowed from Guinness’s work in Canada) was born in NSW.

This year marks 90 years of ISCF groups meeting in public schools.

Each group is marked by students voluntarily gathering to read the Bible, pray, encourage one another in the faith, and share the good news of the gospel with their peers. Records are unclear on how many schools have had continuous ISCF groups over the last 90 years, but we know that North Sydney Boys is one such school. In mid-October, we held a service of thanks and celebration to thank and praise God for his work through ISCF in NSW over the last 90 years and at North Sydney in particular.

We heard from past and present students, and overall, it was a very encouraging event for all who attended. We ask that you join us in praying for God to continue using Scripture Union school groups to enable students to meet him in the Bible and through prayer, and that he might bless us all with seeing many young people in our public schools come to know the deep love of the risen Lord Jesus.