Hymns We Love Leader's Kit: Exploring Hymns That Take Us the Heart of the Christian Faith

Steve Cramer first came across Christians aged 14 through a local church youth group and ever since, his faith and love for Jesus have continued to grow. Having spent a number of years working in relief and development in Africa, Steve is now a director of two growing businesses in hospitality and social media. A regular speaker and preacher, Steve loves helping people encounter God with both their hearts and minds. His other loves include Pippa, their two children, two dogs and one cat.

Pippa Cramer serves on staff at Holy Trinity Claygate, Surrey, UK, with responsibility for ministry to seniors, and in 2022 was awarded an MBE in recognition of her work with older and vulnerable people. Pippa is the founder of Connections – one of the largest Church based gatherings for seniors in the UK - and she is passionate about loving and caring for older people, reducing loneliness and giving seniors the opportunity to find hope in the gospel. Pippa is a qualified Occupational Therapist, having specialized in the support and care of older people, she is an Ambassador for Faith in Later Life, and in 2021 she was awarded The Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

This is a resource which engages with so many of our older people. They have sung these hymns again and again but don't necessarily understand the gospel they contain. While many older people are sadly a bit suspicious of just opening the Bible, this provides a way in to understanding the Christian message which they can trust. I wholeheartedly commend Hymns We Love as a unique tool for explaining the gospel to what is, unfortunately, an often overlooked generation. -- Rico Tice (Founder, Christianity Explored Ministries)

Hymns We Love is a beautifully crafted, interactive series of films, reflections and stories behind some great hymns. Steve and Pippa Cramer skilfully seek to inspire a new understanding of God and his life-changing gospel through music, testimony and short talks all based on the truths found in these great hymns. I warmly commend Hymns We Love for revisiting how these faithful songs, some written hundreds of years ago, reflect the human condition for us today, helping people to reconnect with God in our present age. -- Andrew Wileman (Assistant Director, Older People’s Services, The Salvation Army)

Hymns We Love has been wonderfully created to help the older generation engage with faith. Different generations need different approaches to faith discovery. This is an excellent "Christian basics" course and tool for mission to the older generations.  -- Rachel Jordan-Wolf (Executive Director, Hope Together)

I have known Pippa and Steve for a number of years and am always inspired and encouraging of their ministry. Hymns We Love is a tremendous gift to the church at this time. Using familiar words and melodies, they highlight and extend the invitation of Christ. They take the recognisable and memorable to introduce the eternal and astonishing love of God.  I pray that thousands of churches take up this resource to offer hope to those in their senior years, and that the wonderful stories behind these hymns put the song of salvation in every heart. -- Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury)

Now in my seventies, I look back on a life marked by hymns that have supported, comforted, guided, and inspired me on my journey of faith. Hymns are a familiar treasure trove of God's word and love which speaks so clearly to people in their later years. Hymns We Love is a wonderful series that has the power to touch hearts, lift spirits and share truth so that everyone can discover God’s love for us. -- Pam Rhodes (TV and radio presenter and author)

This is an outstanding evangelistic resource! Every church should use it to reach the elderly in your community who are frequently lonely, vulnerable and looking for hope.  -- Rebecca Manley Pippert