Word Alive, a popular Christian event known for its teaching, encouragement, and fellowship, has announced its closure after 15 years of ministry.
Director Nigel Beynon, on behalf of the Word Alive trustees, shared the news with supporters in an email, detailing the extensive efforts made to find a sustainable future for the event.
He said: "As you’ll know we have been researching various venue options: holiday parks, universities, conference centres and even cruise ships... In all these possibilities we’ve wanted to be open to new models but also keep the essential elements of Word Alive.
"Sadly, we have not been able to find an approach that is affordable, sustainable in the medium term and is still distinctively ‘Word Alive’. We have therefore now concluded that the Lord is closing the door on running Word Alive for the present."
This news came after some turbulent years for the festival. Word Alive was cancelled in 2022 after Pontins (the holiday park where the festival was to be held) announced that they were closing all of their holiday parks due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Word Alive, formerly recognised as New Word Alive, was an annual conference rooted in conservative evangelical Christian traditions, established through collaboration between UCCF and Keswick Ministries in the UK. The event emphasised Bible study, collective worship, and family engagement.
It served as the successor to the original Word Alive event that was part of Spring Harvest until their separation in 2007. Alongside welcoming approximately 4000 attendees, the conference consistently hosted what is considered to be the largest evangelical student gathering in Europe.
UCCF told Premier Christian News: "We are very sad to hear the news that Word Alive is closing.
"We are so thankful for all that God has done through Word Alive and for UCCF’s partnership with Word Alive. We especially give thanks for how it has enabled and contributed to the discipleship of students and how it has served the church. We pray for the Word Alive team as they conclude this ministry, for trust in God’s sovereign purposes and goodness, as well as for much lasting fruit from the many years of this ministry."
Beynon told Premier Christian News: "I'm sad at the loss to the evangelical world - Word Alive resourced local churches by bolstering their Bible teaching (reinforcing it and giving the opportunity to widen it) and was a chance for building relationships in churches and Christian Unions. But, as I keep telling myself, the Lord knows what he is doing, he wasn't taken by surprise, and he is good."
John Stevens has been a trustee of Word Alive for the past two years and part of the event planning team since 2010.
He told us: "‘I first went to Word Alive in 1994, when it was still part of Spring Harvest, and have been a regular ever since. I have benefitted hugely from hearing the bible faithfully proclaimed and the gospel applied to every area of life. My children have grown up through the groups at Word Alive, and it was such an encouragement to them to be with so many other Christians as we were in a small church.
"I have hugely appreciated the pan-denominational nature of Word Alive and the tangible unity it has fostered. I am very sorry that the event has had to close, despite the best efforts of trustees to find an alternative venue. It is vital that we try to replicate the blessings that Word Alive brought to so many in other ways."
The closure process will unfold over the next few months, and supporters are encouraged to stop their monthly giving if they wish, though "continued support for a few more months would help cover remaining costs."
Beynon concluded the email with gratitude: "We give thanks to God for all He enabled and all the blessings He has given us, and in particular, we want to give thanks for you and your support of Word Alive over the years."