AFCLU   Air Force Christian Link-Up  

        AFCLU - A History

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Many people acknowledge that a key date for AFCLU was 1968, but most involved in those early days felt that AFCLU's roots really go back to the early 1960s in Malta when a number of RAF Coastal Command Christians joined in an active fellowship of Naval Christians (members of UNCF, renamed the Naval Christian Fellowship in 1968). It was these men God used a few years later to launch AFCLU. The UNCF fellowship met together in members homes and the RAF Christians who joined with them enjoyed a Christian family fellowship atmosphere where all were welcome. Their experiences provided them with the model for the Christian fellowship which came into being in the RAF a few years later. RAF Crest
Cranwell Gate In the autumn of 1965 the RAF Technical College at Henlow merged with the RAF College Cranwell and the Lord used this to bring together a number of Christian instructors, staff and students at Cranwell. Some Christians recently returned from Malta had joined Cranwell that year and prayed about forming a College Christian Union (CCU). The formation of the Christian Union was assisted by another committed Christian who held the position of Director of Studies of the new combined college, in whose residence the CCU met for a time, and by the Assistant Commandant, a Christian who later became Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

In 1966 the Cranwell CU moved to members' homes outside the college to permit Christians of all ranks to attend. The Christian family grew and a YPF was established meeting in members homes. This group included some cadets and a number of teenage children of staff.

The Billy Graham Crusade in 1967 gave spiritual impetus to the CCU and Christians at Cranwell took several coach loads to the relay of the Crusade in Nottingham. About 30 went forward and 15 joined the fellowship. Among these were some airmen, families and children and this underlined the need for the fellowship to be open to all ranks. The Thomas Cooper Memorial Baptist Church in Lincoln provided good foundational teaching for many of the young Christians at Cranwell and Aunt Cath's home in Lincoln was always open and is remembered with much affection. The College churches were well supported; One CCU member was a Lay Reader and other CCU members provided nearly all the Sunday School teachers for more than 200 children enrolled.
Among the Christian Cadets at this time were various people who went on to hold various posts within AFCLU and Christians who later worked for the Lord full time in various other forms of Christian work. There were also foreign student officers who were part of the fellowship and who ultimately progressed to high ranks within their own service. Lightening
The dispersal of core members of the CCU at the end of 1968 and early '69 was the catalyst which led directly to the forming of AFCLU. In the autumn of '68 it was recognised that there was a need for a fellowship to link RAF Christians together and it was felt that there was now a mandate from the Lord to make the move. As Christians departed from Cranwell they promised to keep in touch with each through one person. He in turn promised to circulate a prayer letter. This 'Covenant to Communicate' and pray for each other was the beginning of AFCLU. In April '69 the first CCU Prayer Letter was circulated, with a list of CCU members, past and present. At the end of May a fellowship weekend was held at Cranwell attended by 60 past and present members of the CCU and their friends. Although it proved somewhat of a disappointment for the organisers as far as outreach to Cranwell was concerned, God used it to direct their thoughts to the wider needs of the Royal Air Force. As members pondered these needs, the example of the Naval Christian Fellowship was an encouragement and there were many discussions on the concept of an all-ranks RAF Christian Fellowship.
Vulcan Two weeks later five members of the CCU met together to pray about the organisation of an Air Force Christian Link-Up. All five felt God was leading them to go ahead. When the next CCU prayer letter was circulated in July, a Link-Up Page with 68 names (not counting wives) was included, two thirds of whom were Cranwell or ex-Cranwell. A covering letter explained that it was hoped to build a list of Christians in the Air Force to help them link up and share their news. In October the first AFCLU newsletter was published. The newsletter explained that because RAF Christians were scattered over the world in ones and twos and moved regularly between units, AFCLU existed to bind them together as one family.
The second AFCLU Newsletter in February '70 explained that they did not wish to compete with existing Christian organisations, but work in co-operation with them, by providing the informal letter which God had guided and enabled them to produce. In discussion with the Soldiers and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association (SASRA) and the Officers Christian Union (OCU) members they appealed to Acts 5:38 & 39 'if this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it...' At the next Cranwell Christian Union Weekend in May '70, it was realised that an all rank fellowship was needed, and if they did not persevere with AFCLU then many Air Force Christians would be left without fellowship.

In October 1970 the first AFCLU conference at Lowestoft was held. It was at this time that the camping and fellowship weekends, such as the May Bank Holiday gathering at Gorsley, which have become one of the strengths of AFCLU, were started. In June '71 AFCLU held its first Hothorpe Hall weekend signifying a fellowship that was now well established.

At the 20th Anniversary weekend in March 1988, a past AFCLU co-ordinator spoke from Nehemiah of how God starts a new work. First, God moves a man to see a need (chapter 1); then He requires a stepping out in faith (chapter 2); much hard work is involved (chapter 3); a work of God inevitably draws opposition (chapter 4). Finally the gathering was reminded that a work born of God will succeed and prosper. Puma
A 25th Anniversary celebrative weekend was held at Hothorpe Hall in the summer of 1993 and was a well supported and joyous day for all who attended.

AFCLU celebrated again in 1998 with the 30th anniversary held at RAF Wyton. Many members old and new came together to celebrate Gods goodness to AFCLU throughout the years. What was true at AFCLU`s inception and throughout the years that have followed, is the fundamental need for Christians to meet together for encouragement and fellowship wherever they find themselves.

AFCU Today the RAF is involved in many ongoing world-wide commitments and works much more closely with with the other service arms. At the end of 2004 the Officers Christian Union (OCU) changed it's constitution and name to become the Armed Forces Christian Union (AFCU) - a multi service ministry with an all ranks membership. By 2005 the time had arrived to merge AFCLU with the new AFCU. AFCLU dissolved on 31 March 2005 with the need to encourage one another in the in the Christian faith as valid as it was, all those years ago, for those attended the Navel fellowship meetings in Malta in the 1960s.
 
Produced by AFCLU 2003 - Updated 2005