Always Winter but Never Christmas?

Hearts sink as the snow falls in choking, fluffy flurries from thick conglomerations of clouds and we shiver bound by the icy snow in a Narnia-like winter. The cold lifted for a momentary week which gave us the faintest of warm hopes but then the frost and snow returned so that the winter seems endless in its sparkling eternity, the cold gripping the heart and searing the lungs.

Despite this, there is a festive, cheerful warmth in the lead up to Christmas. At home myself and Rosie (another intern) created our own Christmas tree! We trudged up to the park near my house and gathered (along with some odd looks!) ivy, holly and branches, then became very liberal with some white and gold spray paint. We made some pomanders (oranges covered in cloves, smell delicious!) and hung them on like baubles which along with some gold ribbon, stars and fairy lights created the illusion of a tree. The lounge now looks and smells very festive.

At the office, work continues as normal although there's a tree, fairy lights, snowflakes and some eye-achingly bright tinsel to bring that Christmas flavour on rather chilly mornings. Last Tuesday I drove myself and my boss Sarah down to Birmingham in a rather epic 7am till 8pm journey, touring the area on a venue hunting mission for a fundraising dinner we are holding in the area next March. Exhausting but rather fun, something we will be doing lots of as we have 10 dinners to organise next year!

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters now how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

~ William Ernest Henley

A week of sunrises

sunrise 1: grey bitter sharp oyster-coloured etched cold

sunrise 2: white diamond-like glittering blinding glaring searing pale fresh frosted

sunrise 3: dark cream heavy nubulosity buttermilk sky

sunrise 4: thick viscous black rain pelting melting slick wet soaking

sunrise 5: misty dimmed smothering blanket damp clammy mucous cough

sunrise 6: searing blue blaze metallic taste musical chime tingle

sunrise 7: suffused gold pink warm rays touching cold molten metal reflecting brilliant caramel

The Beautiful Game

The squeak of shoes, the tattered, shredded breathing, the sideline encouragement calls. The team operating in concentric thought as we fight for possession, minds focussed, eyes sharply calculating for any opportunity. Turnover. The breath tangles in my lungs, muslces blaze and my heart stumbles in its frantic race to pour oxygen through my veins as I run for the disc, the cut, the score.

Ultimate Frisbee.

Once it's in your life, its very hard to forget how much fun playing Ultimate Frisbee is! Having played at uni and since moving to Bradford I have been trying to re-join a team but not surprisingly its been a little bit difficult due to no club team yet set up in Bradford. However, one of the other interns (Matt) played Ultimate Frisbee at Bradford Uni so when he asked if I wanted to play in a tournament this past weekend I jumped (quite literally, might have actually been bouncing up and down) at the opportunity! Being able to play again was a thrilling, intoxicating, exhilirating pleasure, the culture of an Ultimate tournament unlike any other, regonising old faces from previous uni tournament tours and making new friends an added bonus.

Ultimate Frisbee: The Beautiful Game.

Check this out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=24D8OgbqrV4&feature=related

Bradford

The city of Bradford broods like a cold ashy pigeon, nestled in its valley of industrialisation, abandonded buildings fluttering like tattered leaden feathers in the breeze. Soft, muted clouds puff from lonely mills, a faint echo of a once prosperous generation fallen from its grey heights to a desultry jumble of empty buildings and viscous lives.

The desperation seeps through the town in the eyes of jobless fathers, defeated mothers and disheartened children. In the burning darkness of alchol many grope for comfort; in the joyless, empty echo of monetary status many seek valuation; in the wretched need to be seen, heard, felt, loved, others cast their lives away. Where does their help come from?

I lift my eyes to the hills as the wind soars above me, blowing through the frayed rags of Bradford's poverty. In the distance, seen through a haze of filtered, pearly sunshine, the Dales cluster; crisp hills drawn with the fresh, pure light of verdant greens. The purple heather stains the mountains in swathes of mauve, unrolling over the horizon with a timeless, amaranthine beauty that catches at my soul and gives me new breath. As the spirit call to the deep, fathomless Creator, archs out of mortal aches, the Maker of heaven and earth answers with a cross and a church and a people.

With love in one hand and a solution to people's debts in the other, every home CAP enter is a hope piercing the cold darkness, every life reached into with care is a fountain-flame in the bitter battle against poverty.

On Wednesday we took time out of the office and out of work to make Christmas hampers for a few of the Bradford CAP centre's clients. The families in Bradford recieving them will be facing a Christmas of paucity and bleak budgets. Bountiful, pressed down and running over - simple outpourings of love to say that someone cares, that someone loves, that someone has noticed.

"I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121 vs 1-2)

Monday November Morning Rain

My skylight window greets me on a wet Monday morning in November with the scattered patter of grey rain falling from sodden skies. Occasional leaves flutter forlornly from glistening trees as black branches tangle with soft velvet clouds and the wet tail lights of cars lights the silky dawn.

Walking through the roar of rain spattered traffic, occasional blasts of scowling moor winds fling past us in a flurry of damp, torn leaves as we arrive at work, stung by the sudden cold.

As people drip in to the staff meeting room, a typical Monday morning at CAP begins with worship; putting God first in the week, ready for the days to come, we stand together and sing:

Turning our eyes upon Jesus, looking full in his wonderful face.

The things of earth, (Mondays, November and rain) grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace!

Running the Race

Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure's face,
my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
A children's race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn't hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought "My dad will be so proud."

But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
the little boy who thought he'd win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.

As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn't win it now.
Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win that race!"

He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that's all,
and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.

He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
"I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race."
But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face
with a steady look that said again, "Get up and win that race!"

So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
"If I'm to gain those yards," he thought, "I've got to run real fast!"
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.

Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
"There's no sense running anymore! Three strikes I'm out! Why try?
I've lost, so what's the use?" he thought. "I'll live with my disgrace."
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.

"Get up," an echo sounded low, "you haven't lost at all,
for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!" the echo urged him on, "Get up and take your place!
You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!"

So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been,
still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.

Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.

But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he'd won the race, to listen to the crowd.

And to his dad he sadly said, "I didn't do so well."
"To me, you won," his father said. "You rose each time you fell."
And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.

For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
another voice within me says, "Get up and win that race!"

by D. H. Groberg

Autumn

As the mists of October draw like a grey, tattered shawl around the shoulders of the cold northern moors, autumn lights the trees of Yorkshire in a blaze of golden yellow, deep russet brown and thick viscous red.

Swirls of bronzed leaves warm the ground like banks of embers, glowing on the scattered pavements; quenched when the clouds break and it rains.

Right now the skylight is latticed with raindrops, a staccato flow above my desk as I call multiple people for their RSVPs, trying to get over 300 people to come to the Client Awards and Fundraising Dinner in London, the dial tone drumming in time with the muted thunder.

Someone answers.

Hello?

Fundraising Dinners

The work in my department is going well - something that has been exciting but quite challenging and a lot to get used to. I'm working in the Partnership Department which does all the events / fundraising stuff and within that I'm specifically working in the Major Donors area on fundraising dinners.

We had a fundraising dinner in Manchester just last Friday night so in the lead up to that we've been sending out invitations, getting menu chioces out to people and doing lots and lots of phone calling for RSVPs. The actual organisation of the dinner is probably the easiest part, the hardest part is getting people to RSVP to us within enough time!

Anyways, 140 people said they would come, which is great! One of the fantastic things about CAP is that despite being a charity, they are extremely business like and professional and they want to do the best that they can, and give the best that they can. For example, they want to give the best debt advice and counselling service possible, believing that just because the people they help are poor, this does not mean they should get a poor service.

This is extended into everything that CAP do, including their events which means that everything is meticulously planned and thought out. For the fundraising dinners, by getting a well known, respected venue to host us gives a great impression and so last Friday the dinner was held at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester - one of the swankiest places I have EVER been to! As a charity, they have got very good at gettting things really cheap so although The Lowry is normally ridiculously expensive they managed to get room hire and a three course meal for an absolute steal! (Although I guess it helps the business of the hotel if they have just had over 100 people come to an amazing dinner and enjoy being there.)

We got there around 2pm to do all the set up such as table decorations and drinks reception before the guests started arriving at 7pm. I and a couple of others registered them, (whilst Manchester United footballers walked past - apparently a lot of them stay at The Lowry!) they had a small drinks reception and then we all went in and sat down for the meal. Matt Barlow (Chief Executive) welcomes everyone, says grace and we have starters. I was a table host for the evening which was quite scary to begin with, but meant I just needed to be a point of call for those who maybe didn't know all that much about the work of CAP and so wanted to know more. Did test my 6 weeks worth of CAP knowledge quite a bit though!

After starters they showed a short 6 minute DVD which gives a brief explanation about the work that CAP does. There are some amazing client testimonies in the DVD as well, which although I've seen it loads of times by now, still breaks my heart with the pain of what some people go through, and yet shows the light and redemption that God brings through CAPs intervention.

We then had our main course, and after that there were two clients there that evening who had come to share their stories. One was a lady called Stella and another lady called Kerry. Two really brave women with a fantastic testimony of God's love and grace in their lives who just explained what the impact debt had on their lives before CAP were involved, the impact which having that hope of being free from debt had, and then the impact church and coming to know Jesus had on them and their families - amazing!

John Kirkby (founder and international director of the charity) then gives a talk with more of the background, vision and heart of CAP. I've heard the talk quite a few times by now through different events, and yet it is always so inspiring - John's passion and belief that this nation can be changed and that people can be reached with the good news of the gospel is incredible.

So after giving peiople the vision and heart of the charity, and after hearing from some of the clinets who have been helped by CAP, John then gives people an opportunity to respond financially. Because the tickets to the dinner are free, people are never under any pressure to give - they can just come, have a great meal, and then leave although most people are so touched by what they hear that this doesn't happen very often!

Anyways, it was amazing - in the end people gave around £180,000 in gifts of pledges that evening. Really humbling to see God's provision to CAP through such amazing people.

CAP Money

Total UK personal debt at the end of July 2010 stood at £1,456 billion.

The average household debt in the UK is (excluding mortgages) £8,628. Including mortgages it is £57,810.

The average consumer borrowing via credit cards, motor and retail finance deals, overdrafts and unsecured personal loans has risen to £4,447 per average UK adult.

The average owed by every UK adult is £29,929 (including mortgages) which works out at 126% of average earnings.

(Credit Action Statistics)

Whether we like it or not, money is important - it affects almost every aspect of our lives and as these statistics show, how we spend our money today can have a drastic impact on how we live our lives tomorrow. With this amount of personal and household debt many people are looking at house repossession, bankruptcy and bailiffs - issues that CAP deal with every day, on behalf of their clients.

However, a few years ago CAP realised that there must be more they can do to stop people becoming clients, to prevent people from getting into the amount of serious debts CAP daily deal with.

So CAP Money came to be. A simple money management and financial planning course run through local churches, one night a week for three weeks - there are now more than 700 churches trained to run the course and more than 10,000 people this year will have attended and "graduated" from a CAP Money course.

The CAP Money system is tried and tested, works irrespective of income or financial know-how and is based on three basic principles:

1. Building and living on a budget
2. CAP Money system of 3 accounts - one for cash, one for regular payments and one for saving.
3. Living from week to week using cash, not card.

Regardless of how much or how little money we have, all of us can struggle to manage it and have the right attitude towards it. Being in control of our money can be a very simple process (such as the above), and when we are in control of our money, rather than our money controlling us we find that not only is our life fuller but our money can be used as a tool for good so much more easily!

One of the local churches in Bradford was running it this October so I decided that I should probably go along to one of these courses and see for myself what all the fuss was about! Anyways, it was suprisingly easy, suprisingly fun and even though I didn't have particularily poor money management skills, it really helped me to be in even more control of my finances.

They go through our budgets with us personally, give us a few hints and tips to make it easier and show us extra ways we can save money. The CAP Money coaches were brilliant - very reassuring and so eager to help us with everything. The simple but effective methods of having three seperate accounts and then only using cash is really helpful as it makes sticking to a budget so much easier.

This is something I'm realising that a lot of people my age haven't had a chance to learn about - money management, budgeting or financial planning aren't necessarily in every school or university curriculum so I feel very lucky to be able to do the course!

One of the most exciting things from doing the CAP Money was that I realised I can save a lot more than I am at the moment (I thought only getting paid £80 a week would make that difficult but CAP Money has shown otherwise!) and I can also afford to give away much more than I am at the moment - how exciting to realise that I can become not only a channel of God's love and peace on earth but also of his money and resources!

Saving lives

One of the things I've realised from working at CAP is the need for its work and God's intervention becoming so appallingly clear.

I don't think I realised the extent to which debt and poverty affects people here in the UK and it's so easy to think that this kind of thing doesn't happen yet here it is - on our doorstep, in our nation, affecting our neighbours.

So when you start to look, and when you start to see the world in all its brokenness the need is so great it is almost difficult to know how you could possibly not have noticed it before!

From depression to suicide, from divorce to ill health, the impact debt has on people is crippling - most of it behind closed doors, hidden away out of shame or fear or depression.

One of the most heartbreaking things is that there are over 250 people a month who are turned away from CAP because there isn't a centre in their area, when we know if we sent someone into their situation it would transform their life!

I met a lady who is a CAP client a couple of weeks ago at one of our fund-raising events who said that she literally knows she wouldn't be here today if CAP hadn't walked into her life, taken the burden of debt off her shoulders, told her she was loved by God and stopped her from committing suicide.

Its quite scary to think about the depths people are driven to because of debt, yet exciting to be a part of the change that keeps people alive!

Whatever you did for the least of these

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "

(Matthew 25 vs 35 - 40)

CAP is a 21^st century model of meeting these needs.

"For I was hungry and you fed me…”

67% of CAP clients missed meals 1 in 4 doing so regularly.

With testimony after testimony of mothers not eating so they can feed their kids, CAP’s budgeting system prioritises food so that families can provide for and feed their children.

25% of clients have no food when we get there.

Often the people CAP visit will have literally nothing in the kitchen or fridge due to debt-related poverty. Because we want to show them God's love, not just a financial plan, CAP will take their new client food shopping, blessing them in a joyful and abundant way! The thankful response is heart-breaking in its simplicity and wonder that people would actually care enough to do this for them.

Through CAP there is instant and sustainable food, hunger is removed, the picture of helping people with simply a drink, given with love.

“I was a stranger and you invited me in…I was in prison and you came to visit me”

80% said they lived in fear.

Debt is isolation, people hiding behind chairs, not answering doors, hiding from family and friends, ashamed, broken, lost.

We reach in to show love and compassion, we break the isolation caused by debt and through a fantastic base of volunteer support workers CAP befriends clients, introduces them to church and shows them they have value and worth in God's eyes.

“I was sick and you looked after me…”

There are huge health issues caused by stress and poor nutrition.

74% visited their GP due to debt-related stress with 44% prescribed medication.

1 in 3 either considered or attempted suicide before seeking help.

Let's pause right there - people are literally dying in pain, fear, depression and darkness, all because of debt?!? How is this in any way acceptable? When did we give evil such power?

1 in 4 couples split up due to debt and 77% of all respondents said the financial strain of being in debt caused arguments and stress with their partner.

CAP is there to bind up the broken-hearted, to bring restoration and healing, to see God's peace, love and mercy enter troubled households. By praying for and with our clients, CAP declare God's kingdom here on this earth.

CAP is a 21^st century expression of God’s heart for the lost and broken, we pray with clients, invite them to church and every year hundreds are saved and brought into local churches to see their lives transformed.

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

True Stories ~ Jenny Nicholls

"Eighteen months ago I was destitute, with no way out. My debts amounted to £8,000. A five year illness had stripped me of my life savings and meant I could no longer pay my credit card bills. This led to stress and depression.

I couldn't cope with life most of the time, let alone conduct my finances. I could no longer juggle my money to pay the bills, eat and keep a roof over my head.

I was truly at the end of my tether. It was my darkest hour, with suicidal thoughts running through my head.

I phoned my friend Judy, who told me about CAP and introduced me to Dani (CAP Clevedon Centre Manager). She visited me at home and we planned a way forward.

I can't explaine the relief I felt when I realised CAP weren't looking to gain financially from me, but were genuingly there to help me.

The pressure was taken off my shoulders and I had enough money to live on each week. Feeling better, I then tried to come off my anti-depressants but ended up with horrendous withdrawal symptoms.

I called Judy, who came to see me. She asked me if I wanted to be saved and I said, "Yes I do. I'm desperate, I want Jesus in my life." From that moment on, things have just got better and better!

CAP managed to get a reduced settlement figure for my debts and, after re-mortgaging my house to release some money, I am now debt free!

Due to my previous illness, working full time wasn't possible, so with some of the money from my re-mortgage, I bought a smaller house to renovate. That property is now fully renovated and back up for sale - I have a new career in property development!

I also have time to concentrate on my singing voice, which will now be used for His glory.

I'm now off anti-depressants and I have my life back - none of this would have been possible without Christians Against Poverty."

Partnership

The days pass quickly, shrouded by golden sunsets and wakened by crisp blue skies, or more often, by the pitter-patter of tiny raindrops on my window. As we walk to work the city sprawls beneath us, yorkshire moors hanging clean and fresh in the background whilst the traffic trundles by us.


Each day is different, but always begins with prayers in the basement "common room" (for lack of a better word!) with all 150 head office staff. Whether it is to pray for our clients, to seek God for finances or to share with one another our needs and desires the 15minute session starts the day at 9am with God as our provider and our stronghold!


I am working in the Partnership department which looks after the CAP Money course, National Events, Sponsered Events, Lifechangers (what you can become!), CAP Sunday, Church Partnership and my team - Major Donors and Fundraising Dinners.

So we have three more fundraising dinners this year which are a chance for some of our supporters to hear from a couple of clients about the way in which CAP has impacted their lives, and God's love changed them, hear from John Kirkby about the work that CAP wants to continue to do in this nation and then an opportunity to give into this.

Always a really inspiring night, Manchester, London and Darlington still to come!

What is this all about?

"... Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people." (Isaiah 58:6)

Christians Against Poverty is a natioinal debt counselling charity which uses its unique and in-debth service to bring justice to those in need by releasing people from debt. In partnership with local churches, CAP seeks to relieve people from poverty so they can experience and respond to the love of Jesus.

In the UK debt is a major contributor to poverty as well as causing marriage breakdown, illness, fear or even suicide as people see no other way out.

But CAP offer a solution, they offer a way out. By going in to people's homes and dealing with them personally they address the financial, physical, spiritual and emotional well being of each of their clients. This completely free service relieves people of the stress and worry of dealing with multiple, complicated debts and allows them to have their lives back, released from fear.

CAP will work out a budget, creat a CAP account for the clients to make monthly payments into which is then redistributed to pay their debts, and intercede and protect them from aggressive and predatory creditors. CAP will then encourage and support them as they begin to pay off their debts, enabling them to re-enter a society previously hostile to them and their lack of resources, enabling them to live healthily on an affordable financial plan and enabling them to experience the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ who loves them and died for them.

At the end of this the client walks debt free, bound no more by the chains of poverty, free from oppression and often released from a greater debt than their financial ones - by knowing the saving grace of a loving God.

This is Christians, working Against, the oppression of Poverty. This is CAP.

To find out more visit: www.capuk.org

Would you like to be invovlved? Want to play a part in God's work in our nation?

Become a LIFECHANGER and see the transforming power of the good news of Jesus Christ at work today!

CAP recieve no government funding and rely completely on people such as yourselves who believe in the vision to bring hope, justice and salvation to the poor and downtrodden, our neighbours here and now.

If you would like to give regularly, as little or as much as you can a month can quite literally save and transform people's lives.

Think about it, pray about it, change lives!