Acts Trust

The Bailiff’s coming!House saved with one hour to go....

In 1992, at the young age of 38, my husband died. At that time, my son was only 7 years old and my daughter was 11. I was able to reduce my hours at work as a midwife to look after the children, with some help from friends and family.

As the years went by, I struggled with health and financially it became very difficult. It was a terrible time. I couldn’t tell anybody because I felt so ashamed. I hadn’t had to manage the finances before and found it so difficult by myself – I just didn’t have the ability to budget wisely. I felt inadequate and my self esteem was very low.

I became afraid to open letters, in fact my life seemed to be very full of fear and awful anxiety.

One day, at work I confided in one of my colleagues, Sarah. I had known her for a while and knew that she was a Christian. She always seemed very friendly – she is very special! It was easy to talk to her and looking back, I believe that God had placed her in that situation to help me. She told me about Christians Against Poverty and the work they do to help people budget wisely and repay their debts in an affordable way.

Simon from the Lincoln CAP centre (one of the ACTS:Restore projects) came to visit me at my home. He was very kind and not at all judgmental. He helped me to work out all my income and outgoings and CAP worked out a weekly budget for me to follow. He prayed with me and this helped me to feel at peace – knowing that God was with me and I was being helped. Through CAP all my bill and debt payments are made and I even have savings with them. My debts should all be repaid in just 5 years!

However, my mortgage arrears had become quite high and on the morning of a family funeral I received a hand delivered notice from the bailiff to inform me that he had a court order to repossess my house.

CAP arranged a special court hearing and reassured me continually that the judge would accept our offer of repayment of the arrears. He had confidence and knew all would be well. I was so frightened in the court room – the hearing was taking place only one hour before the bailiff was due to repossess the house. The judge seemed so powerful and I felt so small, so powerless. But then I felt a great sense of Gods power – it was so overwhelming! I knew that with God by my side, nothing could harm me. I could feel Gods presence in that room.

Of course, the judge did accept our offer and I didn’t loose my home. If it wasn’t for the CAP team I wouldn’t have received the advice and help that I needed. If it wasn’t for their prayers, then things could have been so much different!

From the moment I confided in Sarah, my anxiety was lifted and I experienced peace, knowing that she and her friends were praying for me. I ask God to bless her and those who prayed and I pray that CAP will be blessed in their work – helping people in need, just as they helped me. I am pleased to be able to give a small amount to them each month and I believe God is working with me here and now to help me live a better life.

A long time ago, when I prayed for help with my finances, I saw Jesus walking beside me, picking up all my papers, bills, invoices and letters. He sorted it out, put it in order and carried it all for me. He then just stayed by my side, walking with me. Even though I had to wait, I know my prayer has been answered, just as Jesus showed me he would.

Jesus said: ‘If you do this for the least of my brethren, you do it for me’. The people from CAP and their friends at New Life Church in Lincoln are living these words every day of their lives. I pray that I can too.