The organisation began in a Chinese restaurant in Kensington...

Ruth Graham and several other wives of the Billy Graham team invited women who were closely involved with the crusade in 1966 to lunch. They told how American women were using their homes to invite neighbours and friends who would normally never enter a church, to coffee or a meal, and to hear the Gospel. These groups had grown so rapidly in number that it had been necessary to form an organisation to help and encourage them.

It was agreed that it would be an excellent idea to have a similar organisation in this country. On 18 July 1966 a committee was formed. Jean Rees of Hildenborough Hall had been heading up women’s prayer groups throughout the country during the previous year in preparation for the Billy Graham Crusade. Because she was already in touch with so many women, she was an obvious choice as leader. Ruth Graham became the first President. The organisation was called Christian Lunch and Dinner Clubs — quite a mouthful!

CLDC was to be an umbrella organisation, encouraging women to be active in sharing their faith by means of coffee mornings, lunches, dinners and similar functions, some formal and some informal. These would be held in homes, hotels or restaurants to reach women who had no church connections. Members were encouraged to join golf clubs, evening classes and other leisure activities in order to meet as many unchurched people as possible.

The name CLDC was used until 1984 when it was changed to Christian Viewpoint.

Adapting to the changes in society and the types of activities which supporters were involved in, the name ACTIVATE was adopted in September 2002 and the range of activities which our supporters are now involved in will become clear as you browse this site.