|PIC1|As Christian youth organisation Crusaders celebrated their 100th anniversary Saturday, they announced their new name, ‘Urban Saints’, which will be used from 1 January 2007.

Claims that the name ‘Crusaders’ is anti-Islamic were one of the reasons for the change. Schools and charities said its name might be offensive to Muslims, and that it was too closely associated with the crusades, the military campaigns in the 11th and 13th centuries to recapture Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims.

“Our new identity is part of a recognition that we are now a 21st-century organisation and are not still stuck in the last century,” said Matt Summerfield, executive director. “There are some people who love the name Crusaders, but we recognise that others get very offended by it, as they think we are harking back to the historical crusades.”

Rob Rawson, director of Crusaders Scotland, said the name Urban Saints was more relevant. “In the west of Scotland the term ‘saints’ often has Catholic overtones. We are stressing that the name is based on the biblical term — basically a follower of Christ. Crusaders is a strong, almost aggressive name which was fine in 1906, but is certainly not appropriate in 2006.”

|TOP|Muslim leaders applauded the change. Sajid Quayem, of the Islamic Society of Britain, said: “The term crusader is still seen as offensive by many Muslims and Christians, particularly after George Bush misguidedly referred to the war in Iraq as a crusade. The name Urban Saints is quite groovy and will not cause offence to anybody.”

Thousands gathered at the Royal Albert Hall 20th May as Crusaders celebrated their 100th birthday and introduced their new name.

The sold-out centenary celebration was titled ‘No Turning Back: The Main Event’ and featured music from some of the UK’s top Christian bands and performers including Delirious?, yFriday, thebandwithnoname, Blush, The Psalm Drummers, Rob Lacey (Street Bible Theatre Company), Steve Legg, Tommy Baker, Tim Vine and John Archer.

Teenagers, children, and youth leaders hooted and celebrated the occasion with loud screams, cheers, and singing, as thebandwithnoname opened the stage with a dynamic performance, which included dancing and rapping. The rest of the night was filled with more God-glorifying entertainment, including the highly anticipated Delirious? performance.

|AD|At the celebration stage, a letter of congratulations by the Queen was delivered to Crusaders through a letter which was read out to the crowd, as well as video messages from youth leaders Andy Hawthorne and Steve Chalke.

Delirious? front man Martin Smith told Christian Today: “I think it’s incredible for any organisation to run this long.”

“My memory as a kid is being in ‘Covenant; which was rival group of Crusaders’, playing table tennis against them, and always losing.”

Tickets sold out to over 4,000 Crusaders from across the United Kingdom. According to Crusaders, the aim of ‘No Turning Back: The Main Event’ is to challenge young people to go for God’s very best, rather than having them settle for second rate Christianity, with one foot in the world and the other in God’s Kingdom.

Matt Summerfield concluded the event by saying: “I just pray that through everything that happened today, every person here can discover for themselves- not because I said it, not because the other bands said it- but discover themselves, that Jesus Christ is real. And that He gives us hope for the future.”

Crusaders is a dynamic interdenominational youth and children’s missionary movement, established in 1906. Over the past 100 years, Crusaders has been reaching out to children and young people, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them and challenging them to live out God’s great adventure for their lives. Every week many thousands have an opportunity to hear the awesome Christian message through our Crusader and Energize groups. Thousands more attend our wide range of residential camps, holidays and events