Newsletter 2008
We are often asked how people find out about and then become residents at Christian
Family Centre in Armoy. The answers to these questions are varied and often very
interesting. We continually pray that we would only get connected with those who
we are supposed to be connected with. Somehow and through various avenues people
of all social backgrounds with all kinds of problems, from places as diverse as
Coleraine and Capetown, make contact with us requesting help.
One
such person was Rebecca Whiting who spent nine months at CFC last year. It was
only after Rebecca had been at the Centre for six weeks that we realised how God
had been at work connecting her to ourselves at CFC. Over one year previously,
while at a conference in Toronto, a couple told us about their concerns for a
girl they knew called Rebecca. They spoke of the extreme addictions in her life
and how they wished she would spend sometime at a Centre like ours. When they
returned home they informed Rebecca about CFC but she didn’t do anything about
it. However a few months later Rebecca heard about CFC from a totally different
source and made contact with us for help. We know that what we are doing at CFC
is a part of a wider narrative of God’s work of rescue and restoration in someone’s
life. Those who stay with us at CFC do so only for a season of their life The
work that God is doing in them usually has not started with us and will not end
with us. The outworking of this season is unique to each individual. Sometimes
people get a sudden ‘breakthrough’ that is often quite dramatic, others experience
changes slowly, quietly and progressively. And then there are some that leave
without any apparent change at all. Central to the daily activities at CFC Armoy
is time spent doing practical work. Through our wood and metal workshops, and
now a polytunnel, we endeavour to provide work that is both suitable for the abilities
of our residents and yet that is also creative and develops new skills. This could
not happen without suitable people to manage the workshops and assist the residents.
Thankfully two such people are Ernie Kilpatrick and Arthur Kennedy who have freely
given of their time over these past years. Both Ernie and Arthur have expressed
that at least in the medium term their own ‘season’ at CFC Armoy will come to
an end. It is certain that God matched Ernie and Arthur with the work of CFC;
therefore please pray with us that suitable replacements will become apparent
at the right time. Thank you to all who have supported and continue to support
us and what we are doing at CFC Armoy. Blessing, Paul and Kerry Paynter
