"CFL's Silver Jubilee"
By Esther Smith
On 28th February 1987, Caring For Life’s ministry began as Carey House opened its doors to four young men who were very much in need of a safe home. Memory can be a tricky thing, but some memories don’t fade. Memories of those four extremely nervous lads, young men who were also excited, hopeful, and above all, relieved. One could almost sense that relief as they sat around the dinner table and began to tuck into large helpings of shepherd’s pie, then crumble. Some talked freely; others didn’t speak, but very gradually they began to smile.
The poignancy of that first night and the events leading up to it are related in Juliet Barker’s book, “The Deafening Sound of Silent Tears”, very kindly researched and beautifully written for CFL’s twentieth anniversary.
Now twenty five years have passed, yet the memory of that first evening is clear and fresh to those who were there.
Memories of the past years come tumbling in .. so many totally and almost unbearably funny moments; sheer hilarity and out of control laughter. This really isn’t what one would expect when working for a charity helping many deeply traumatised, abused and formerly homeless people.
Yet as the love of Jesus has been shared day by day, week by week, month by month and year after year, hurting and lost people have very gradually begun to smile, to shriek with laughter instead of fear, and to enjoy life again.
So many tragic memories come flooding back as well, memories of those who, despite all our efforts, took their own lives, usually accidentally, but so deeply mourned by the CFL family.
Laughter and tears mark the years of CFL’s first twenty five years, and will no doubt mark the years ahead, but something else will never change.. the faithfulness, the greatness and the wonder of the God we serve.
Caring For Life’s motto is “Sharing the Love of Jesus”. This ministry was inspired by passages such as Matthew 25: 31-40 and Isaiah 58. Most of all, it was effectively called into being and inspired by the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. We at Caring For Life are simply stumbling along, very inadequately, following in His footsteps.
Twenty five years of blessing, of miracles, of laughter and of tears. But we have only just begun!!!
We have been deeply blessed and privileged to see so many lives unutterably changed, outer smiles being the only visible evidence of the slow gentle healing that is taking place in troubled minds. But Caring For Life has to do what it says on the tin. It has to continue caring … for life. We opened our doors on 28th February 1987, and, whatever form our caring takes in the future, we cannot close our doors.
At CFL’s Rededication Service for staff and for volunteers on 26th February 2012, we closed with a deeply inspiring hymn:
Facing a task unfinished,
That drives us to our knees,
A need that, undiminished,
Rebukes our slothful ease,
We, who rejoice to know Thee,
Renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee
To go and make Thee known.
Where other lords beside Thee
Hold their unhindered sway,
Where forces that defied Thee
Defy Thee still today,
With none to heed their crying
For life, and love, and light,
Unnumbered souls are dying,
And pass into the night.
We bear the torch that flaming
Fell from the hands of those
Who gave their lives proclaiming
That Jesus died and rose.
Ours is the same commission,
The same glad message ours,
Fired by the same ambition,
To Thee we yield our powers.
O Father Who sustained them,
O Spirit Who inspired,
Saviour, Whose love constrained them
To toil with zeal untired,
From cowardice defend us,
From lethargy awake!
Forth on Thine errands send us
To labour for Thy sake.
(Frank Houghton 1894-1972)
If you are reading this article and are not a supporter of this very specifically Christian ministry, please do consider becoming a prayer supporter. We need your daily prayers. We need financial support and much of our work marches ahead on gifts of just £1 a week, faithfully given, our daily bread.
Please pray that God will bless our humble efforts to serve Him and to love hurting people in His name, on into the next twenty five years and way beyond.
To God be all the glory!
