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CARING FOR LIFE CHRIST FOR THE WORLD FOR THE WORLD NEEDS CHRIST Sharing the Love of Jesus FEBRUARY 2019

JP S JOURNAL BY JONATHAN CEO Caring For Life CHRIST FOR THE WORLD FOR THE WORLD NEEDS CHRIST In 1925 a large crowd gathered to wish a fond farewell to Eric Liddell the Scottish sporting superstar He was leaving Waverley Street station in Edinburgh to embark on a journey which would take him to China where he would serve his Saviour as a missionary teacher I am sure we would also agree that the world needs Christ In fact the world needs Christ more than any other thing When we look at the desperate state of our world we know it s in a mess because it has turned its back on the Lord because so many live for self and sin and not for the Saviour Those who know the story well know that as he was about to leave he called out in a loud voice Christ for the world for the world needs Christ He then led the people in singing that great Isaac Watts hymn Jesus shall reign where er the sun That quote by Eric Liddell got me thinking Do we really believe Christ is for all the world Do we really believe that every soul needs Christ If the answer is yes then we have to ask are we reaching out to all parts of the world with the life changing good news of Jesus Eric Liddell was called to go to China We all could name others who have gone to other nations JESUS MAT THEW 28 19 with the good news of Jesus on their lips Remember Jesus words in Matthew 28 when I am sure we all agree that Christ is for the He tells us to Go and make disciples of all world because the Bible tells us that God nations loved this world so very much that He gave His one and only Son for it That commission is to all nations and to all within those nations Caring For We know that Jesus lived the life we Life s ministry is a response to that great couldn t live and died the death we should commission We take God s love and good have died and through that amazing act of news to the vulnerable and disadvantaged grace proved His love is very much for us here in Leeds and beyond the world Sometimes we can fall into the trap of That message of love and that call to the thinking this commission is for overseas lost is a call we at Caring For Life make Sometimes it can be easier to have very clearly and loudly as we share the love compassion on those who are out of reach of Jesus through all areas of this work than to care for those whom we can reach and ministry Go and make disciples of all nations 1

Over the years I have heard many people talk disparagingly about those in need in our own nation especially the types of people to whom Caring For Life reaches out They are just a drain on society Why don t they just get themselves sorted They should just get a job These kinds of quotes can do so much harm and they also show a real lack of understanding and care The people whom we care for at CFL are the very people Jesus cared for when He walked the earth Can you imagine what Jesus church would have looked like if He had set up a church where He pastored each week Robbers prostitutes murderers lepers poorly people tax collectors immigrants all the unsavoury people would be there That s a church to avoid wouldn t you say Well not for Jesus 2

JP S JOURNAL cont Those are the people He died for and those are the very people He is for Christ for the world And why is He for these people Because He loves them and because they need Him The prostitute needs Christ the abused person needs Christ the addict needs Christ the person who is mentally ill needs Christ the untouchables need Christ and the unlovely need Christ just as much as we need Christ and just as much as the cleanliving people need Christ If you really want to get a hold of why and what Caring For Life does you need to get a hold of why and what Christ did And when you get a glimpse of why and what Jesus did it blows your mind to think how much He cares for and loves us We now get just a glimpse of how great that love is As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face Now I know in part then I shall know fully even as I have been fully known What a joyful day it will be when we see Jesus then we shall realise how great His love is That s a joy that Jesus wants the world to know My friends Christ is for the world and the world does desperately need Christ I am excited because the Lord in His goodness and faithfulness established this work it is He whom we live for and speak up for And if you are a partner with us in this gospel work then you too will enjoy the blessings that come from God when we together consider the poor Psalm 41 1 We at Caring For Life look forward to seeing you sometime this year If you can make our Supporters Day in July then I am sure you will have a wonderful time of fellowship and fun so please make that date a must for your diary We shall be giving you more details of the seminars and attractions for that day in next month s bulletin But until then let s cry out together Christ for the world for the world needs Christ And let s pray that many hear and respond to that message Dear brethren thank you for all your love and support and may God bless and keep you all For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face Now I know in part then I shall know fully even as I have been fully known 1 CORINTHIANS 13 12 3

THEN AND NOW BY ESTHER Senior Pastoral Administrator This month it will be Caring For Life s 32nd birthday It s always a time of thanking God for His amazing provision for looking ahead and for rededicating ourselves to serve Christ in this ministry Looking at the needs all around us right now demonstrates that Caring For Life s work is far from over An average of 122 people bid for each property that becomes available and people can be waiting 3 5 years for a home maybe staying with friends or family unless they rent from a private landlord This is why so many of those we help have been part of the hidden homeless Many don t even go on the list to try to secure social housing and they are afraid to live in some areas of the city where private landlord accommodation may be cheaper but where they feel at risk so many of those we help have been part of the hidden homeless 32 years ago one phone call was often all it took to find a homeless young person or family a local authority home According to published figures there are currently 22 000 people in Leeds seeking council housing with 3 900 in the priority band urgently in need of housing Facing a task unfinished we greatly value your prayers for wisdom as we seek to both sustain and expand this ministry in the face of such need According to published figures there are currently 22 000 people in Leeds seeking council housing 4

LEARNING FROM BABY TA BY GAYLE Pastoral Director 5

ALK We have been very blessed in recent months to have a little baby boom at Caring For Life as a number of our staff members have had new additions to their families When they visit the farm with their newborns it is a delight to see them and we often queue up for a little coo or a cuddle As adults we seem to be programmed to orientate to babies to tune in to their every noise and movement and to make ridiculous noises ourselves in response to their baby talk Wonderfully babies are also programmed to seek these responses from us and will become very vocal if they don t think they are getting the attention they want This is an amazing and complex process but it often happens almost effortlessly and intuitively because that is how God designed us to be Sadly many of those in our care have had very different experiences in the first 1001 days and in the days that followed than the ones described above What a privilege it is for us as Caring For Life to be the people who can begin to tune in to them to communicate their value in the world to care about their distress and help them manage their emotions and relationships and navigate this tricky world It is an even greater privilege to communicate to them their inestimable value in God s eyes and to introduce them to the only One who can love them unconditionally the friend who sticks closer than a brother Isn t this exactly how God has designed us He created us to be dependent on love and care and to grow and develop in response to this And the love of a parent for an infant is a beautiful picture of God s unconditional and sacrificial love for His children What a privilege it is for us as Caring For Life to be the people who can begin to tune in to them to Child development research tells us that communicate their value in the world babies develop almost all their social and emotional capacities in the early years of life One of our young ladies we support recently in relationship with others and that the first commented 1001 days are particularly crucial I m so lucky God led me here It s such a loving As parents and care givers tune in to their place full of loving people Just goes to show baby s concerns and meet their needs the that love and respect works and is best way baby learn that they have value in the world to help people When you have love around These hundreds and thousands of tiny little you and are in good soil you can grow CFL is interactions lay the foundations of healthy good soil social and emotional development and Gayle actually affect physical brain development in those early years with lifelong implications 6

IN BLOOM Our Woodwork Project recently completed a commission for a Nidderdale village of 44 large planters for the Villages in Bloom competition The CFL woodwork project recently had a very special order to make up 44 planters for a village in Nidderdale which is taking part in the Villages in Bloom competition The planters had to be produced in varying sizes and shapes so Jed Woodwork Project Leader was kept busy giving each person a role in the production line Each planter bears a label stating where it is made so Caring For Life is going to be well advertised when lots of visitors come to see the Villages in Bloom entry in which our planters will line the village street The woodwork team are really looking forward to a trip out later in the year to see the village with all our planters looking very beautiful 7

In the CFL Nursery John has also been busy preparing for our own floral displays He has been rearranging the production area to maximise our ability to grow all kinds of produce This year our Nurseries will be growing the majority of their own bedding plants 10 000 more than in previous years Alongside the flowering plants they will also be growing tomatoes cucumbers peppers strawberries lots of herbs edible flowers and salads for the Granary This may be a dormant season for gardening in general but there s nothing dormant about the hive of activity in the Nurseries at the moment and we look forward to seeing the glasshouses filled with gorgeous blooms This year our Garden Nursery will be growing the majority of their own bedding plants 10 000 more than in previous years 8

PAUSE FOR A CAUSE 2019 FO R A CA E S U U SE COFFEE event We want to say a massive thank you to every one of you who has raised funds for CFL over the past year climbing the Scottish Munros coffee events in homes and halls craft sales afternoon teas fun runs music concerts half marathons marathons an Everest Trek cake bakes and toy sales by young people and so much more 9 U SE FO R A CA U CRAFT sale U SE FO R A CA U SE MUSIC event PA FO R A CA U The latest CFL snapshots film is also now available DVD or online This is a short film that gives an overview of CFL s life and ministry which can be shown at events and churches It is included in the Pause For A Cause pack SE U SE SE PA 2019 is now well underway and we d love this year to be our biggest fundraising year ever so do get in touch with your plans and ideas Our new 2019 Pause For A Cause poster packs are now available for coffee events afternoon teas music and craft events you can either download them from the website or contact Natasha at the office natasha headley caringforlife co uk and we will post them to you If you have a different event and would like an adapted version of the poster do let us know and we will see what we can do PA PA BY PAM Support Coordinator AFTERNOON tea For more information on how to fundraise online contact sonia brown caringforlife co uk

THANK YOU Supporters and supporting churches fundraise for Caring For Life in many different ways We want to say a massive thank you to Hook Church s youth band Sunday School of Rock who recently performed a White Christmas concert Their church told us more SSoR has an annual December Concert Each year they raise money for a different charity this year they decided to give to Caring for Life We heard thoughtful pop songs classical pieces and instrumental pieces The final song of the first half was It s the most wonderful time of the year by Edward Pola After delicious refreshments the second half started with I m dreaming of a White Christmas by Bing Crosby We heard some more pop songs a bluesy song and instrumental pieces Finally there was a whole band performance of The Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson As they sang We re riding in a wonderland of snow hundreds of balloons fell down from the ceiling as snow It was wonderful through the ticket and other sales to raise substantial money for Caring For Life over 1100 was raised through this evening Praise God You can read more about ssor on our website www hookchurch org ssor 10

UPCOMING SUPPORT GROUP DATES HOST LOCATION Mike Eunice Rolfe Liz Cyril Aston Joe Margaret Hart Paddy Val Manning Esther Cordle Christine Robinson Jack Alison Jenner George Christine Beacham Linda Naveiras Marian Paish Mike Cilla Taylor Paul Cox Ann Peter Buckle David Pam Young Peter Barbara Dean Malcolm June Evans Trowbridge Minehead South Norfolk Co Antrim Capel St Mary Ipswich Ulverston Winscombe Mid Suffolk Fetcham Wigton Plumbland Harrogate Heslington York Liverpool DATE TIME Thurs 7th Feb 7 30pm Fri 8th Feb 7 30pm Mon 11th Feb 2 30pm Mon 11th Feb 7 30pm Mon 11th Feb 7 30pm Mon 11th Feb 7 30pm Fri 15th Feb 8pm Sat 16th Feb 10am Sat 23rd Feb 7pm Mon 25th Feb 10 30am Mon 25th Feb 7 30pm Tues 26th Feb 2 30pm Thurs 28th Feb 7 30pm You can always check the website for a list of the most recent and upcoming support group dates across the country http www caringforlife co uk support groups CFL representative attending CHURCH PRESENTATIONS Sun 2nd February 10am Sun 3rd March 10am Sun 3rd March 10 30am Adel Methodist Church Leeds LS16 7NX Bells Yew Green Chapel Tunbridge Wells TN3 9AR Binfield Free Church RG42 4AS If you would like details about any of the Caring For Life presentations above please ring the CFL main number 0113 2303600 or email zoe smith caringforlife co uk We would love to come and share more about our work with your church or fellowship If we haven t been for a while and you d like an update or if our work is completely new to your fellowship and you would like to arrange for a member of staff to come and present our work please do get in touch FUNDRAISING EVENTS Cheltenham Support Group Light Lunch Refreshments Sat 9th Feb from 12 2 30pm On Feb 1st St Mark s Church Harrogate there was a concert in celebration of John Maureen Hammerton s Diamond Wedding Anniversary Thank you to everyone involved See the website for the list of most recent and upcoming fundraising dates www caringforlife co uk fundraising Pseudonyms are often used throughout these bulletins to protect the privacy of individuals Due to the sensitive information in this bulletin about individuals may we remind you not to leave it lying around copy reproduce any contents without permission or pass it on to others If you know of someone who would like to receive a copy please ask them to contact Pam on 0113 2303610 or pam parkinson caringforlife co uk to be added to our mailing list Thank You