Translations for the Clifford's older life story are available via these buttons:
Highways for Jesus
A
true story of Love.
Just as the second world was coming to an end Clifford Edwards
was born into a poor working class family. They lived in an old two up two down
terraced house with the toilet at the bottom of the yard and very few basic
amenities. He was an only son with five sisters, three older, one younger and
his twin sister Christine.
At the time of Clifford’s birth in Lancashire his dad was coming
to the end of his time in the army, where he was serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers.
His dad regretted the fact that he spent all his time as a soldier working as a
cobbler, repairing boots for other men but never getting down to fighting for
his country. He was eventually sent to France but was wounded as he landed on
the beaches and was promptly sent home to hospital for treatment to a shrapnel
wound . He never got the opportunity to return to active service and fight for
his country.
Before the war he had achieved his ambition to
become a football referee in the Lancashire combination and he had been short
listed to be promoted to the football league.
Because of his time away he lost this golden opportunity.
What hurt him most was that a local younger man he had trained
before the war got the position and was eventually chosen to referee a cup
final at the famous Wembley stadium.
The family grew, but Clifford was a weak and often sick child. In
fact before he was six weeks old he was fighting for his life with whooping
cough and pneumonia. His mother fought the battle with him and due to her
constant care he survived. Clifford’s
memories of his childhood are of fear and constant hunger.
School was a nightmare for Clifford as he was
an easy target for the bullies. It was during his school days that Clifford
began to realise that the biggest bullies were not always children, but adults.
Eventually Clifford moved on to secondary school where corporal
punishment became a normal part of life.
Some of the teachers had developed a sadistic streak during the war.
They often took advantage of weaker children with parents who would not
complain about their brutality. Clifford was never a clever child, in fact he
spent all of his school time at the bottom of the class.
He was always tired and found it difficult to concentrate because
of his home life. He suffered constant bouts of tonsillitis and influenza
caused by the bad diet his parents were forced to give her children due to lack
of money. Most of the teachers in secondary school only taught because it was a
job. Going home was the best part of the day for them.
Three teachers had a major influence on Clifford’s life.
The gym teacher was a real bully and when Clifford was 12 years
old he caned him so hard for not moving fast enough during a lesson that he
bruised the boy badly. Of course when Clifford went home for lunch his mother
was horrified as she did not know of the constant abuse. She took him back to
school herself and reported the abuse to the headmaster.
The teacher was removed from his position within a week, but
returned to the school two years later.
The oldest teacher in the school was Mr Jones. He taught religious
education and took a real loving interest in every pupil. He was jeered at in
the playground yet respected by everyone because he lived everything he taught.
He was a true Christian and had refused promotion to headmaster because he did
not believe in corporal punishment. He tried so hard to help Clifford but could
do so little.
The English teacher also taught music and became a friend to
Clifford.
Clifford had been born with a
good voice. This teacher used his talent at every opportunity.
Assembly and parents day would
see Clifford at the front of the whole school, singing his heart out. This of
course created jealousy, and increased the amount of abuse in the playground,
but Clifford put up with the bullies because of the attention he was getting
from the English master. Then one day his voice began to break and the friendly
teacher became the biggest bully of them all.
Clifford was
learning to trust no one.
At the age of seven
Clifford had joined his local church choir and this had made a difference to
his life.
At the age of fourteen Clifford left school and took a job
labouring in a local foundry. He was not clever enough to take an
apprenticeship.
For the first time ever the parents were able to save a little. Most of the
family had now found employment in the
local cotton mills. They now had to save for five girls who had begun to think
about getting married in the near future.
Clifford moved from job to job but could not find happiness.
His voice had broken but returned as strong and good as before,
and he was still a popular choir member.
The American evangelist Billy Graham came to Britain in the early
sixties. During his tour he appeared at Maine Road football stadium. A local
church hired a coach for the twenty mile journey to go and see him. Somehow,
Clifford was invited to go with them. It was the first time that Clifford had
heard the gospel preached properly and during the meeting he realised that,
*Jesus was truly the Son of God*
and that Jesus truly loved him. At the end of the meeting an
appeal was made. Large crowds moved towards the front and onto the football
field. Clifford was amongst the seekers.
It did not last long !!!!
Soon Clifford was living
the same godless way he had always done.
His church did not believe in being Born Again or American
evangelists. Also, the vicar had assured him he was going to heaven because he
was a protestant and a church member.
At the age of nineteen Clifford began working in the local pubs
and clubs as a singer.
When he passed his driving test he was able to take bookings at
venues in other towns and cities. Soon he was popular enough to be able to turn
professional and he started to dream of fame.
Clifford had promised himself that he would never be like his
father.
He would never touch alcohol, or abuse his children if he had any.
As time passed the boy that no one wanted was on his way to
stardom and venues and agents wanted to use the singer from Lancashire.
In 1971 Clifford married a young lady he met in one of the clubs.
They were both very much in love and extremely happy together.
One evening Clifford tried drink for the first time and he really
enjoyed the feeling of freedom he experienced. From that evening Clifford
gained a taste for alcohol and it became a vital part of his life. Within a
very short time Clifford could not perform without his liquid crutch. He did
not yet realise what a hold the drink had over him but Margaret his wife
realised she was married to a no hoper and left.
The career of a performer lasts only as long as the booking agents
want him and overnight Clifford was deemed as no longer trustworthy. He was a
drunk and no longer reliable.
As the gossip rushed around the entertainment grapevine, the
agents began to cancel bookings and within a short time Clifford became a has
been entertainer.
His career was over
During his career Clifford had made and spent a vast amount of
money. He had a circle of friends who had always been around to party with him,
but they disappeared when the money ran out.
Clifford’s drinking problem was now an embarrassment to everyone -
but Clifford.
Within a very short time Clifford began to realise that his life
of entertaining was now over and that he was practically destitute. Only one
solution came to mind, he would go to London and try to begin again.
But no one wanted to give him a second chance and he was now
homeless. It was fortunate that he had arrived in London during the summer for
within a very short time he was penniless and searching for somewhere to sleep.
He was able to drink himself into his normal drunken state by begging off
passers by as he staggered along the Thames embankment.
Throughout the summer he slept each night on park benches or on
the seats along the river. The winter approached and the nights had begun to
get chillier.
During his time on the streets and around the Thames, Clifford had
met a group of men who also lived a similar lifestyle. Just like Clifford they
had lost hope. One evening as the first frosts began to take hold, one of them
approached Clifford and invited him to join them. From then on Clifford had a new home every
night, a cardboard box under the arches outside Embankment station.
During the day Clifford would walk from the Houses of Parliament
to Tower Bridge and back again, begging his way up and down the Thames. If he
passed a pub and anyone had left a drink unattended Clifford would drink it and
just keep on walking. As he walked along he would be on the lookout for
cigarette ends on the pavement and stoop to pick them up.
As well as a drinking. He chain smoked his health away without
realising that he had a problem. Each night, he and his friends would be
wakened at regular intervals by people who offered tea and sandwiches. Most of
these volunteers were of course from the church organisations. Many of them
were verbally abused by the tramps like Clifford who wanted nothing to do with
their charity. Free food and clothing was offered as well as the offer of
prayer. But Clifford had been brought up in the church and had proved to his
own satisfaction that prayer did not work.
It was many years before he admitted to himself that prayer had
not worked for him. The true reason was, he had not even bothered to even talk
to God.
How can God answer if He has never been
asked?
If the winter was too cold, Clifford would book into a hostel and
share a dormitory with up to a hundred men. The most popular one was run by The
Salvation Army. It was situated in Great Peter Street and was only a five
minute walk from Westminster Abbey. The basic rule in the hostel environment
was to keep your clothes on in bed or they would be stolen before you woke up.
Comfortable second hand shoes were hard to find so extreme care was taken that
they were kept safe by putting them under the pillow. All the residents had to
leave the hostel during the day but would be allowed back inside in the
evening.
The winter of 1976 was a hard one and Clifford booked into a
different hostel for a few weeks. He had been resident at Spa Road in
Bermondsey for over a month when he heard that free clothing was being issued
by the Salvation Army staff who ran the hostel. Of course like everyone else he
decided to join the queue for a free handout. As he made his way to the
clothing shop he was stopped by an elderly Salvationist.
When are you going to pull yourself
together?
Was the greeting
from the elderly officer !!
Normally Clifford would have retaliated with a mouth full of
abuse, but somehow he was not insulted by this man. He could actually feel the
love and concern radiating from this person in a way he had never experienced
before.
Who
wants a no hoper like me
was Clifford’s reply? A few moments went by as the Salvationist
looked Clifford in the eye, and then he gently said.
I know someone
who wants to know you,
even though you
don’t seem to want know Him.
I can have you admitted to our detox clinic today and when you
come back you can have a room to yourself.
Clifford made his way over Tower Bridge and headed for the east
end of London and sobriety. He did not know the agony, both mental and physical
he would experience during the next few days. He had never experienced
delirium-tremens before. It occurs when the brain craves the alcohol that has
poisoned it over the years.
He eventually arrived at Booth House and went through the process
of admission. After a bath he was put to bed for twenty four hours.
How great it was to be in a room with only three more men and to
be served all meals in bed. As the hours passed and the craving for alcohol
began to set in, Clifford felt that he could not possibly manage to stay and he
would not be able to face the hours of agony that he was now experiencing. He
started to sweat and then his body began to shake. Within a few hours of the
shakes beginning Clifford had his first fit, for the next few hours his body
shook as he experienced one alcoholic and epileptic fit after another.
It was two days before Clifford was capable of getting out of bed
and four days before he could face food.
The Salvation Army had many rules for residents but one rule they
would not break was that all patients who were allowed out of bed had to go to
morning service. The meeting only lasted for fifteen minutes and even though
Clifford attended and enjoyed singing the old hymns it had no meaning for
him. All too soon, the course of
treatment came to an end. Much had to be done in those seven days of care. But
because of the number of alcoholics
waiting for the treatment it had to be limited to seven days.
Of course, Clifford
replied with a grateful
Clifford was feeling on top of the world, the impossible had
happened, he was alcohol free and full of confidence and yet he knew that he
was very vulnerable. Each evening the staff would go home and leave just one
staff member on duty to care for the residents.
Each Friday and Saturday evening a young Christian volunteer came
on duty to give the staff a break.
He was not a Salvationist but belonged to the Methodist Church.
None of the patients in residence had met this volunteer before. When he
arrived and took over his duties they had a pleasant surprise. The young man
came round and spoke to each resident. As the evening progressed he took an
interest in each of the men and Clifford felt that he could actually trust him,
but he was very careful as he spoke to him.
The residents went to bed at eleven o’clock, but this evening was
different. By ten thirty the only patient still out of bed was Clifford.
Would you like a cup of tea? The volunteer enquired.
Yes please, was the delighted answer as by now Clifford felt at
ease with Eric, the young well dressed volunteer. Clifford went into the office
and sat down to await his hot drink, but Eric was reading!!!!!!!
*For God so Loved the World that He gave
His only begotten Son,
That whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but shall have Eternal Life*. John
3 verse 16
Clifford looked at Eric and wondered what was going to happen next
.
The tea eventually arrived and as the conversation progressed
Clifford was able to ask questions about things he had never understood.
By the time Clifford retired for the night and Eric had gone home,
a soul had given his life to his Saviour.
For the next four years Clifford followed His beloved Saviour. At
times he found it difficult but he kept away from alcohol.
He became a Salvationist and was proud to wear the uniform and
even went into the pubs around London selling the War Cry, “The Salvation Army
newspaper,” to his old time drinking buddies. In 1980 Clifford was introduced
to a family that the officer in charge visited.
Mavis had a mentally handicapped son and a young daughter.
In 1981 after a courtship of over a year Mavis and Clifford
decided to get married and it was a proud bridegroom who drove from London to
Lancashire with his new family. They had married in their local Salvation Army
Citadel which was crowded with their Christian friends. Eric even consented to
be Clifford's best man on this special day. After the ceremony they went back
to Clifford’s home town for a blessing ceremony attended by his family. When it
was over the newly-weds joined the family for a celebration buffet. Before they
left for the trip back to London and a honeymoon in Spain, the wedding presents
were opened. The time came to say goodbye. But before they left a surprise
present was given to them.
A bottle of
champagne.
Even though Clifford refused and explained why, one of his sisters
just would not listen to him. To end the arguments Clifford accepted a glass.
The newly-weds left, Clifford was drunk, and all the years of
sobriety had come to an end.
Within two years the marriage was over and the boy who had promised
never to be like his father had become an evil bully. Mavis had done her very
best to help her new husband but she found she could not compete with alcohol.
Clifford became a different person when drunk and he had an evil temper.
It soon became evident that Mavis would have to divorce her new
husband for the safety of her children. Clifford would not find work and spent
every penny he could find on drink. The couple tried so hard to make their marriage work and they found hope
when Mavis became pregnant.
It was not to be, and Mavis endured a number of miscarriages
before the devastated couple eventually split up.
It was to take fourteen years before Clifford once again became
sober. In 1992 Clifford returned home to Lancashire. He found a rented flat in
the village until a council flat could be found for him.
To subsidise his drinking habit. He travelled daily to the local
towns and stood on the streets busking
and begging money. He met a doctor on the streets one night in Manchester city
centre. Doctor Rob spent time at the side of the road talking to Clifford and
Clifford realised that this man had a caring heart. If ever you need help, come
and see me the doctor said as he left to keep an appointment. He gave the
staggering drunk his business card and shook his hand in farewell.
A few weeks later, Clifford got out of bed feeling ill. This was
normal for the desperate alcoholic and he knew a drink would put things right
for him. Clifford searched through the flat but could not find any drink or
even the money to purchase a can of beer. Some of his drinking buddies would
mix after shave, perfume or boot polish with water and drink it to get an
alcoholic lift. But Clifford was never so desperate. He had once seen a man
drinking “ Brasso” metal polish diluted with water but the thought of these
extremes made Clifford shudder with disgust.
He searched through the pockets of all his clothing but all could
find was the business card of the doctor he had met in Manchester one dark
rainy evening. He was about to throw the card into the rubbish bin but by
chance he noticed the address of the kind medical gentleman.
The doctor did not have his surgery in Manchester which was twenty
miles away as Clifford had assumed. His surgery was in same village Clifford
lived in and he was only a ten minute walk away. He went to the surgery hoping
that this man could work a miracle for a hopeless drunk.
Doctor Rob could not work miracles but,
he knew a man
that could.
The doctor was a Christian and he soon had Clifford in Hospital.
For the next four years Clifford became a regular inmate in the
local hospital for the drying out treatment. Like so many addicts Clifford
found it nearly impossible to give up his poison. He despised himself for his
own weakness yet could not beat the incessant craving. He had tried to give up
his habit so many times. He had stopped drinking for periods over the years and
each time he had a good reason for doing so.
He had done it for his career, for Margaret, and recently he had
tried to do it for Mavis and the children. None of these reasons lasted for
long and Clifford knew why. He had to face up to his problem and stop drinking
because he had an alcohol problem and he could never drink for the rest of his
life. The only cure for addiction is abstinence for life. But Clifford still
would not or could not accept this basic fact of life.
He was screwing
down the lid to his own coffin and he was still alive.
He was admitted to the detox clinic many times before he
eventually gave up alcohol. The years had taken their toll of Clifford’s health
and physical appearance. He looked old and ill and he was.
He now really was a has been.
Clifford had got to know and respect the consultant psychiatrist
at the hospital and as he left the hospital in February 1996 Clifford was
surprised to be summoned by this great man. In the privacy of the consulting
room Clifford was confronted at last with the cruel truth of his self abuse.
You have irreversible brain damage and also you are in the latter
stages of cirrhosis, you have only got about six months to live the doctor
explained.
If Clifford had taken notice and stopped drinking just a few years
earlier his liver could have healed itself. Now it was too late and he was on
death row with no hope of reprieve.
Clifford stopped
drinking, but it was too late.
Clifford went home to die and as the weeks passed it became
evident that the doctor was correct. At first it was a constant headache, then
his weight began to increase and soon jaundice reared it’s ugly head. He called
out to God for help but the heavens were brass and Clifford knew he was dying
without the comfort of the promise of Eternal Life. He had abandoned his faith
in Jesus for a bottle of alcohol.
In the village Clifford had been brought up in a weekly prayer
meeting was held by a group of men. One day Clifford was invited to join them
for the evening and was made so welcome that it soon became the highlight of
his week. When he had walked with Jesus, he had heard of the worldwide men’s
organisation who joined together to worship and invite others to join them for
a meal. Then afterwards to hear testimonies of the way individuals had met
Jesus and how their lives had been changed. What amazed him was the way the men
moulded together.
Even though they came from many church denominations. Each person
was a successful businessman. Clifford was informed that groups of men like
themselves met in the same way for united fellowship in over fifty countries
throughout the world. They called themselves the Full Gospel Businessmen’s
Fellowship International or the F.G.B. for short.
Clifford was now totally sober for he had not touched alcohol
since being given the death sentence. Although he acted a convincing part, he
was very aware of the emptiness within his heart. He called out to God, but
answers and peace never came. Clifford reached his fifty first birthday in late
July and spent it in agony of mind and body.
As the disease progressed, his body had become bloated and it now
began to shut down because of the toxins his damaged liver could not cope with.
Clifford
was facing his last battle and he had already been defeated. During the
second week of August 1996 he realised that the end was very close. He became
aware of the smell permeating his home.
Death has an aroma of it’s own and Clifford had experienced that
smell before in the presence of friends who had died.
Now it was his turn to face this
dreadful enemy.
With no hope left and with tears rolling down his face, Clifford
at last surrendered to the only person that truly loved him.
Heavenly Father I have turned my back on you
for so long. Will you please forgive me, even though I have nothing to offer,
you can have every breath I have left. Jesus I believe you died for me and rose
again. Please help me to keep my promise and serve you. Amen.
It happened on Tuesday 13th August 1996 at nine thirty in the
evening. That night Clifford slept like a child for the first time in many
years.
When he awoke the following morning he knew that something special
had happened. As he looked out of the window he realised that even the trees he
could see looked different. They somehow seemed a deeper shade of green. He
also found that walking was not quite so painful.
As the day progressed Clifford experienced a deep sense of peace
and contentment.
He
was still dying, but it no longer concerned him.
He knew that God had heard and answered his prayers at last.
As Clifford relaxed for the evening he could not resist thanking
God for such a wonderful day and just telling Him how much he wanted to live
for ”Jesus” his saviour.
Father
I thank you for your great gift of Salvation and I know now that without doubt
last night you did something very special in my life. I promised to serve you
with everything I had left and now Lord, show me what you desire of me and then
equip me to Glorify You and Your Son Jesus.
As Clifford waited, he felt an inner voice giving him instructions
to find a book of maps.
It wasn’t a voice that was heard by his ears but by his very inner
being. Even though it was an experience Clifford had never had before, he
somehow recognised the voice and knew the presence of the Holy Spirit as if he
was an old friend.
A book of maps was found and Clifford sat down and opened it at
random. The page he turned to showed a map of Devon and Cornwall. As he looked
at the page, the town of Bristol seemed to be highlighted and the name grew
larger and darker. Clifford wrote it down and as he completed the name, the
town of Bath appeared. This went on for a while and by the time he had finished
writing he had written down twenty one different towns. They extended from
Bristol to Penzance and then back to Bristol.
What
now Lord?
As Clifford prayed, he once again heard that voice he would learn
to know and love in the coming years.
Go and sing on the streets and tell all
who speak to you that I love them and desire to know them better.
But Lord I am dying and this will take weeks to organise and save
for. I have no money and this trip will cost a fortune, but I will depend upon
You Lord to provide all the strength to complete this task.
Tell your friends at the prayer meeting
tomorrow what has happened to you.
Lord you told me in your Word that you would confirm in your Word
anything you have instructed your people to do. I will open my Bible and if
what I believe you have told me is correct I will not question your
instructions again.
As Clifford opened his Bible he realised what an enormous bargain
he had made with God. He had given God a massive challenge. Even to come close
to confirming the task that had been given to this inexperienced evangelist was
virtually impossible. He opened the Bible and began to read.
Then
He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over
all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of
God, and to heal the sick.
Luke Chapter 9 verses 1 to 9
How could
Clifford argue with those words.
During the following day
Clifford typed out his itinerary and a letter to be given to passers by. Then
he had them photocopied. He prepared himself to go to the meeting and wondered
what the reaction would be to such an improbable adventure.
At the meeting, the worship and singing took on a new dimension
for Clifford. When the opportunity arose he handed out his first newsletter and
waited for the reaction from the room full of men. Nothing needed
to be said, the look of joy that lit up these men’s faces as they finished
reading told Clifford all he wanted to know. Then they erupted into praise as
they committed themselves to helping their new brother prepare to make the trip
of a lifetime. A collection was made and someone even gave Clifford a phone
card so he could ring anywhere he needed. At this time mobile phones were not
yet available. Clifford prepared to leave and on the morning of his departure
he packed his shopping trolley with all he would need for a four week trip
around the England’s West country. On the Lord’s instruction he had paid all
his outstanding bills. That had taken
all the money given to him by his friends.
At last the car turned up to take a very scared yet excited
evangelist and he set off on his mammoth tour for Jesus.
Agnes the wife of one of his friends arrived and loaded the car.
Then she drove him to the station to catch his train. All Clifford had taken in
his trolley was a Bible, a change of underwear, a collecting tin and a fluffy
puppet to entertain and attract the children as they passed by. The train
pulled into the station and Clifford prepared to board. He had not told anyone,
but he only had a one pound coin in his
pocket to pay all his expenses on the trip. He didn’t even have a train
ticket, but he did have a promise that his Saviour would provide all his needs.
Agnes hugged him and said goodbye then she walked away. The train
was ready to go, but for some reason it was held up at the platform. Clifford
then began to worry.
“Lord please help me, I’m scared”.
As Clifford uttered the words the train guard prepared to raise
his flag and blow his whistle, but suddenly stopped as a lady ran onto the
platform and spoke to him. Clifford leaned out of the window as Agnes rushed up
and handed him a single ticket to Bristol.
Jesus
really did love him and would help and protect him.
The train arrived in Bristol and a weary man climbed out.
The local F.G.B. chapter had promised to put Clifford up for the
night and one of the men came to pick him up. Martin was a stranger but
Clifford was wearing a coat covered in badges about Jesus to attract attention
and he was easily recognised by his host. As the car pulled away from Bristol
Temple Meads Station, Martin turned to Clifford and confessed that he had
double booked the evening. This meant that instead of having the evening at
home he would have to go to a meeting. If you like I will take you home and
make you a meal, you can relax and watch TV or read.
Or you can come
along to the meeting with me.
Clifford was exhausted. He had been travelling for six hours. He had a migraine, and he was actually dying
and felt like it would happen soon. Now he was being given a choice of a meal
and an early night or,
A
Prayer Meeting.
It didn’t take much time to make up his mind and off they went to
a home group and prayer meeting. During the course of the meeting Clifford was
asked to tell the group a little about himself and his mission. He spoke for a
few minutes and at the end of the evening a love gift was given to him. This
was the way the Lord supplied his needs and each evening throughout the tour he
counted his money and always had just enough to get him through the next day.
On the fourth day of the trip the weary evangelist arrived in the cathedral
city of Wells and began singing on the street outside the magnificent church.
He had been singing for a couple of hours when it began to rain. There was
nowhere to shelter so Clifford continued busking.
The rain developed into a thunder storm that soon became a
downpour. Within moments he was soaked to the skin but carried on singing to
the sheltering crowds of tourists. The rain continued to fall but for some
strange reason Clifford felt a real desire to keep on working for Jesus. He had
been there for a while when he heard someone speak to him.
Clifford turned and found he was being spoken to by a man in his
early thirties. Why are you standing there singing hymns and getting soaked?
The young man enquired. It appeared that he had been walking up the street and
heard the gospel busker in the distance. Clifford explained what he was doing
to the interested enquirer and told him what the Lord had said he must tell
everyone he spoke to,
“Jesus
really Loves you Monty and He desires to know you in a more personal way”
The look on Monties face (for that was how he had introduced
himself) was a mixture of shock yet understanding.
The two men continued chatting, totally oblivious of the rain and
crowds. Before Monty had finished enquiring, he surrendered his life into the
loving arms of Jesus. They prayed together in the rain knowing that the
presence of the Holy Spirit was with them. After a time they both realised that
the rain was getting even heavier so the joyful evangelist suggested going for
a cup of tea to get out of the downpour.
Later, as they parted, Clifford smiled and pointed out that it was
unusual to see a person converted and baptised at the same time.
As Clifford continued the tour he was greeted with mixed emotions
in each town, sometimes he was welcomed with open arms but he soon learned that
jeering and malicious laughter would be the norm from people who did not want
to understand. He stayed with F.G.B. members or found a cheap bed and
breakfast.
His last day in Cornwall was spent in Bodmin and Clifford stayed
once again with an F.G.B. member and his wife.
Ty and Vera made
him really welcome and just could not do enough to help him. They not only made
him comfortable in their home but even took him out for the evening to show him
the area. It was with deep regret that he got on the train and headed for
Bristol and his last day of the tour. In his shopping trolley was a lunch-box
provided by Vera and in his pocket was a cheque to pay his train fare to
Lancashire. Clifford is still very proud to call them his friends.
In Bristol he was invited to finish his tour by speaking at an
F.G.B. breakfast meeting. Martin was at the meeting and afterwards drove him to
the station to catch his train home and as the journey passed, a very contented
ex vagrant snoozed the hours away. He had set off nearly four weeks earlier
with only a pound in his pocket and Jesus in control. He had never missed a meal and through the
Holy Spirit had led seven people into a relationship with Christ, including
five children in St Just. He had spent over five hundred pounds, but had begun
the tour with only one pound. He had made many friends and witnessed in song to
many thousands of passers by.
Clifford could look back with joy upon the last few weeks since he
had given his life to Jesus.
He was now able
to rest and await his call home to Heaven.
It was two weeks later as he was reading a book and relaxing
during the early evening that Clifford once again heard that familiar voice in
his heart. It told him to find his book of maps and open it. This time he was
sent to Scotland for a two week tour concentrating on the border towns. After
this he went to Wales, then the Isle of Man and as Christmas approached he
crossed the Irish Sea for a four week tour of Ireland.
For a year Clifford continued to wait for trains and buses as he
spread the good news of Jesus throughout the United Kingdom. It was hard work
and very tiring.
He had been to
many churches and as he listened to those he met he realised that in this
Christian land,
the people had moved from Truth to
Tradition.
Many believed in
Jesus, yet did not even know Him. Just like Clifford had been before meeting
Jesus in a personal way.
They had become Church People.
The church has
become bogged down in good works and the sermon on Sunday has been replaced
with stories on morality instead of the Cross of Christ. In fact people are
going to HELL, and it is the church that is sending them there because of their
watered down weak preaching. Clifford had been travelling for over a year when
he decided to buy a second hand car to make the work a little easier and to
save money.
He had no income
other than the generosity of the public.
He was in
Bournemouth when he purchased his first vehicle. Clifford was very happy to at last be able to
reach the more inaccessible places with the Gospel. He cooked his meals in the
car boot and slept on the back seat.
It may not have
been a comfortable bed but it was better than a cardboard box underneath the
arches.
Clifford had by
now realised that his twenty years as a vagrant had not been wasted years but
training for his life’s vocation as an evangelist to the Highways and Byways of
the United Kingdom.
After driving the
car for a year Clifford was really enjoying his life of evangelism. He had
great freedom and would spend a few weeks on the road and then return home for
a break and let his friends know of his wonderful experiences.
He had seen
individuals healed including one in Ulster who was given up by the doctors
after a triple heart bypass. Many years later he is still having no problems
after the Lord touched him.
Clifford had
prayed for someone with serious breast cancer recovering from a mastectomy and
years later you would never meet a happier healthier person.
It was at an
F.G.B. meeting that Clifford was offered a camper van in exchange for his car. Clifford needed
no persuading, and within days he was on his way to Ireland. It was sheer bliss
to be able to lie down at night in a bed. In that twenty year old vehicle
Clifford travelled over thirty thousand miles and it was only after the van
finally gave up that he found out that a scrap dealer had refused to buy it
before it was offered to Clifford. The van brakes failed in the Republic of
Ireland and Clifford had to drive the two hundred and fifty miles with no
brakes until he reached the house of a pastor who was expecting him.
Pastor Graham Logan joined Clifford in prayer asking the Lord to
supply a fresh vehicle and the money to buy it. They agreed to tell no one of
the problem but to wait upon the Lord.
They found a vehicle that would do the job but it was just an
ordinary ex mini bus and needed converting inside. Clifford rang Pastor Logan at the end of the
following day nothing had happened.
No one is aware of the problem so how do you expect them to supply
over seven hundred pounds? The pastor said.
Just wait and see, replied the evangelist, with more hope than
confidence!
So they waited.
Two hours later they went to pick up the vehicle with all the
money required in their pockets, it had come in to the manse a little at a time
over two hours.
As the Lord spoke to individuals they would call with a few pounds
or go to the cash machines and withdraw money. The gifts varied from five to
two hundred pounds and once again Clifford saw how much Jesus really loved him.
The vehicle was stripped of all the seats inside. Then Clifford realised that
he did not have the skill to do the work required. But God had gone before him
and someone had already ordered the kitchen units required.
It was at this point that Clifford met someone who would have a
major influence on his life and work. He had spoken to Gerald Henderson, but
until now he knew nothing about him. Gerald was a bus driver but he was also
the unpaid person who did all the work around the church.
As Clifford was chatting, the pastor told him that he was expected
to meet Gerald the following day to let him check the vehicle over.
Gerald and his teacher son Ian began work and before the week was
over Clifford was proudly driving his restored and converted camper van. From
that time Gerald has worked on nearly all Clifford’s vehicles and sent them out
worthy of His Saviour.
In the year 2000 Clifford was devastated when Doug. A friend from
Yeovil died.
Within two weeks of his daughter‘s death from Muscular Dystrophy.
Doug died of cancer. Clifford went to both services and even though he knew
that Doug and Rachel had both made decisions to accept Jesus into their lives
it did not lessen his feeling of loss.
Doug’s wife Marjorie was left alone, but as a Christian she knew
with certainty that they would meet again. A few weeks later Clifford travelled
to Yeovil to visit Marjorie. He was amazed at the way the Lord had helped her
cope with such a great tragedy but he found a lady living very close to her
wonderful Saviour. In the garden was a beautiful caravan that the family had
used for holidays each year. The camper van had once again broken down and now
Clifford was driving a car, but when he left he was towing a caravan for Jesus,
given to him by Marjorie.
Every vehicle that Clifford has used for the work carries large
advertisements telling of the love of Jesus. The caravan was soon emblazoned
with words from the Bible. Once again Clifford heard that wonderful voice.
Go
around the coastline of Ireland in Prayer and I will honour you. Clifford did
what he was told and spent the summer travelling around the country.
Over a thousand people signed the visitor book in the year 2000
and many came into a closer relationship with Jesus as Clifford prayed and
talked with them. The roads in County Kerry are the worst in the United Kingdom
and major damage was done to the caravan as he drove around the Dingle
Peninsula, but it completed the long journey before it was finally retired and
given away. The loss of the caravan was a real blow to Clifford as he realised
that the Lord wanted to use him as a prayer ambassador to Britain. 2001 brought
a new vision and Clifford acquired a thirty foot coach. Gerald was consulted
along with another friend Roy and then work began on the conversion.
Clifford still lived in Lancashire at this time and the coach was
being restored in Northern Ireland. The work was going well and Clifford
returned to Lancashire for a few weeks using the car to do his work.
It was during an evening at home that Clifford felt a lump in his
neck that he had not noticed before. It concerned him so much that he rang his
doctor at home, even though it was very late in the evening.
He drove over to see his friend to have the swelling checked and
was told to go to the hospital for tests.
It was a week before he saw the specialist and two weeks before he
operated on Clifford to confirm his diagnosis.
When the results came through it was revealed that Clifford had
cancer of the tonsil and also the lymph glands in his neck needed to be
removed. It was vital that major surgery was done within days.
Two days later Clifford walked into the operating theatre for
surgery and the surgeon began an eight hour operation. When Clifford awoke he
had an assurance in his heart that all would be well and within hours he amazed
the nursing staff by getting out of bed and acting normally. He was forced to
take heavy doses of morphine to ease the pain.
It was much later before he was told that he was not expected to
survive more than three months.
After the operation Clifford drove to Northern Ireland to be with
his friends and await radiotherapy treatment at the cancer hospital in
Manchester.
The coach was coming on well, but would Clifford ever have the
strength to drive it? The coach was very old and did not have power steering.
Clifford had been asked to appear on a Christian radio programme over Easter
and he had given his word to be there.
Norman Somerville, the programme presenter has done much to help
Clifford over the years and he did not want to let down this treasured friend.
He found it difficult to drive or concentrate because of the pain.
But he arrived and kept his word to the people of the Baptist church in
Limavady to broadcast and he had once again proved that,
Jesus Loves me.
The radiation treatment was over and Clifford was discharged from
the cancer unit. His mouth was full of painful ulcers and he could no longer
eat. He arrived back in Ireland with a tube up his nose and was fed by machine.
But he was alive.
The bus was coming on well and when Clifford arrived back in
Tobermore to check on the progress he was delighted to find that it was now
completely repainted and looking nearly ready to drive away. Clifford was quite
worried about driving the bus. He had never driven anything so large and long
and the steering was a nightmare to him. It was such an old bus. It had no
power steering and was very difficult to drive. Clifford was still not well and
did not stay in Ireland long but returned to Lancashire to continue with his
work using the car.
A few weeks after returning Clifford had to ring his doctor to
check his breathing. He was wheezing and in distress and was very worried that
the evil cancer was redeveloping in a different area. It was a slight relief to
find out that it was only a bad bout of bronchial pneumonia and he was rushed
into hospital for treatment.
The bus was ready at last and one of the first appointments for it
was with Clifford’s friend Norman in Limavady.
The bus was booked for a week in the town to evangelise late at
night to the pub and club customers.
It was a great time and the bus was packed out every night with
drunks and also some serious seekers of the gospel. During the day the bus was
used for shoppers to call in for a cup of tea and a chat or Clifford would go
and speak about his life as an alcoholic to the children in the local schools.
At the end of the week decisions had been made for Christ and lives had been changed. For the next months Clifford
drove his Mobile Prayer Sanctuary around England, Wales and Ireland but had to
return on a regular basis for cancer check ups.
It was agreed that it was not possible to continue driving such a
difficult vehicle and Clifford was able to find an old Royal Bank of Scotland
display coach. It needed lots of work doing to it but Gerald as always took
Clifford under his wing and the coach was repaired. It had many problems, and
because the roof leaked the whole structure was rotten. It took the whole
winter but eventually the coach was ready for work. Clifford still dreamed of
power steering but at least this coach was only twenty seven years old and much
easier to drive.
So much work was still needed to be done on the coach that it was
agreed to spend each winter restoring and touring during the summer.
That summer Clifford began what became an annual drive.
For four years he had not visited Scotland but now the time had
come. He had now found a home in Northern Ireland and used it as his winter
quarters. As soon as the weather improved and the days grew longer Clifford
headed for the ferry to Wales. He travelled through Wales and headed for
Cornwall. When he got to Land’s End he began the long journey to John O Groats.
On the six week trip he halted in lay byes and car parks to allow visitors into
the bus. It proved even more popular than he had anticipated and many called in
for a chat. He drove this journey four times!!!!
As he passed by towns he had visited in the past it was wonderful
meeting old friends. The highlight of the trip was meeting Ty and Vera and
sitting once again in their beautiful garden surrounded by a colourful display
of shrubs. So many memories came flooding back of that first tour. Clifford had
been dying of liver failure then and now it was all happening again, but this
time it was cancer.
Two years after his first tour an ultra sound scan had been taken
of the dying liver. The doctor wanted to find out why Clifford was still alive
and working eighteen hours a day without too much distress. It came as no
surprise to the man of faith when they could find no trace of cirrhosis and he
had been remarkably healed.
Many have wondered why this has happened but Clifford just thanks
God and gets on with the work.
*MY WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS SAYS THE
LORD*
That is quite sufficient for me says the travelling evangelist.
At the first prayer meeting in Bristol that Clifford had attended.
A well spoken gentleman approached Clifford and introduced himself. My name is
John the older person had said. Clifford chatted for a while to the well spoken
Christian and accepted his name and address. No more was thought about it but
John had also attended the final F.G.B. meeting in Bristol .
During a later tour Clifford had been feeling very alone and rang
John for a chat. He was made to feel very important to the kingdom during that
encouraging conversation and a real friendship developed. It is very rare that
the unlikely pair of men miss meeting when Clifford passes through Bristol.
One of them is a public school gentleman, the other one an untidy
ex+vagrant with one wonderful thing in common.
”JESUS”.
During his years of service Clifford has come to realise that when
a person truly walks with Jesus there are no barriers of culture or education.
Christ fills an individual with His Love.
In Jesus we are all on the same team.
Clifford finally arrived at the end of his mammoth journey and
wondered what the Lord had in store for him. He felt led to follow a certain
road and finally halted at the picturesque town of Scrabster. What now Lord he
enquired and within a couple of hours he was sailing to the Orkney Islands for
a month of witness.
He met many wonderful people and was made to feel very much at
home. His only complaint was that the Orkney ferry fares were the highest in
the United Kingdom (Clifford fought the price structure with the council in
2005 for motor home owners and succeeded in getting them reduced to a fair
price), he saw many people come into a closer relationship with Jesus during
his time there. From Orkney he boarded ship for Shetland and the remoteness of
these wonderful islands captured his heart for ever. It was a place that
Clifford could come apart and pray for the U K with only the sound of the sea
birds to disturb him.
From Shetland the tour
moved on to the outer Hebrides and he even visited the village of Barrabas (
Barvas ) the centre of the Hebridean Revival on the Isle of Lewis.
The following summer as Clifford headed for the Scottish Islands
he drove to the Isle of Mull and as usual called on the colourful village of
Tobermory. This village has become very famous as the children’s television
programme * Ballamory * and attracts thousands of visitors each year. As
Clifford parked he became aware of a man crossing the car park and heading for
the bus. He entered the sanctuary area and enquired. What is this all about?
All was explained to him and he appeared to be very interested in
the work. Clifford gave him some literature and he went off home. The following
day Archie turned up again with many questions which Clifford appeared to
answer to his satisfaction. Archie works in the forest cutting down trees for
the forestry commission in the surrounding area. Clifford stayed a few days and
Archie was a regular and welcome visitor. On his final visit to the Sanctuary,
Archie asked where Clifford was heading next and was quite excited when he
heard that Clifford was heading for the Shetland Islands.
I know a pastor in Shetland but I don’t know where his church is.
If you can find Vince McDougall let him know you have met me Archie requested,
I haven’t seen or heard from him for over twenty years.
Clifford drove away and soon arrived on Shetland for his annual
visit. He was very busy meeting people but eventually made contact with the
elusive Baptist pastor.
When they met, Clifford told him about Archie’s message and during
their initial conversation the story unfolded.
Vincent left Mull during the nineteen seventies. He had made a
decision for Jesus and was trained as a Baptist Pastor. After training he and
his wife Sadie were sent to Brazil and stayed there for a number of years planting
churches. Eventually they moved to
Shetland and led a church in the village of Brae. The family had been there for
five years by the time Clifford met him. As the two men chatted Vincent
revealed that he had prayed daily for Archie for nearly thirty years.
Eventually Clifford arrived back in Tobermory and of course his
first visitor was Archie.
Did you find
Vince in Shetland enquired the excited wood cutter.
He was so pleased that Brother Clifford had found his old
workmate. How was he, what did he say, does he remember me? The questions ran
on until Clifford spoke. Vincent told me to inform you that he has been praying
for you for nearly thirty years, the evangelist told him.
Something has
happened to me since you left, Archie replied.
I want to know
Jesus like you and Vince.
During a short time of prayer Archie found just how simple it was
to invite Jesus into his life and Clifford once again witnessed the beginning
of a transformed life.
What
do I do now?
Tell someone that you have become a Christian, Clifford advised
him.
Can
I tell Vince, Have you got his telephone number?
Thirty years of prayer had been answered and today Archie
continues to follow His Saviour.
It was in the April 2002 that Clifford was invited to speak at a
home group meeting in the town of
Ballyclare in Northern Ireland. He had spoken to these good people
before, but was surprised at how many new people attended that night. One
particular man kept asking questions but pointed out that he had only come
because his wife kept asking him to attend. He had come just this once to keep
her happy but he was not at all interested. The evening ended and everyone went
home including the man with no interest. Clifford announced during the meeting
that he would be available the following morning for prayer.
He parked on a muddy lay bye not far from the meeting house and
went to bed. The following morning he was surprised to see the man with no
interest in the Gospel coming into the bus. My name is Brian and I am not
interested was his opening statement. A couple of hours of very difficult
talking went by and Clifford was ready to give up. But Brian kept asking
questions and before he left the bus he had given his heart to “Jesus” and the
angels rejoiced in heaven.
Brian continues to serve His lovely Saviour and goes out on the
streets of Belfast to meet the crowds as they come out of the pubs. He even
went on a mission to China and is a very active member of Release
International.
Clifford
continues to serve his beloved Saviour.
Travelling the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and the Baltic States
as the Lord directs.
At the last count, Clifford has evangelised in seventeen countries
and each year travels through the Tiger. The forest that borders the lands of
Russia, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Most of his time in the
summer is spent meeting people beyond the Arctic circle.
He has driven over a million miles, Featured on many television
programmes. Countless newspaper articles and radio programmes have carried
interviews, but even after the many years of service he knows without doubt
that,
Jesus is the same Yesterday Today And
Forever.
Clifford has driven many vehicles during the lifetime of the
ministry God has given to him. Cars, vans, coaches and even double decker
buses. His largest vehicle was a converted 100 seater Neoplan double decker bus
which he drove for three years.
Christmas 2008 was spent in the town of Sandviken in Sweden.
During his four week stay there the heating in the bus failed and the
temperature plummeted to minus 28. The bus looked like a Christmas card scene
as the whole body was covered with a couple of inches of solid ice.
It was during this time that Clifford was invited to speak to a
class of students at the local High School. Before he left he had spent three
weeks speaking to over a thousand students of all ages in four different
schools. He still speaks in many schools and normally uses the students to
translate for him. Many schools in Britain and Scandinavia will not allow
Christian witness in the classrooms. Clifford does not go into schools to talk
about Christianity because it is not allowed. He goes in to talk about his life
and teaches English or Geography, but he uses the Bible as his text book.
He now drives a mobile home and finds it a lot easier to live in.
As he has travelled he has experienced much abuse from those who
do not understand. He has been physically assaulted many times including an
unprovoked attack by a youth in Enniskillen who hit Clifford in the mouth as he
walked out of the bus door. He broke Clifford's false teeth and caused a lot of
pain to a stranger he had never even spoken to. Clifford has had stones, bricks
and eggs thrown at him and during a tour of Sweden he was actually shot at from
a passing car by a man with a shotgun. He has found that being a Christian is
no place for a coward.
Brother Clifford now has the all clear from the doctors and there
is no trace of cancer or liver problems. He continues to live in faith and has
no income other than what is donated.
In the year 2009, Clifford was asked to take ten thousand gospels
of John in the Russian language to Scandinavia. He did not want to do it but
eventually said yes to stop the telephone calls from the man who would not take
no for an answer.
William Wilson from County Armagh is even more persuasive than
Clifford. Most Saturdays he joins a group of friends and together they travel
to the city of Dublin where the gospel is distributed on the streets to those
who desire a tract or a Gospel. William specialises in distributing the Word of
God in many different languages but mostly in the Russian language. He has been
instrumental in getting the gospel into many countries and felt led to recruit
Clifford into the work. Eventually God used Clifford to assist other Christians
and lay people who smuggle the gospel into the communist block countries.
Clifford drove through Denmark, Sweden and most of Finland before
he found anyone who would take any of the booklets.
But before Clifford left Finland in October. Two twenty foot
containers and six pallet loads of gospels had been smuggled into Russia.
The work goes on and now depots are open in the Finland and the
Baltic States. Couriers take the gospel over the borders using normal
routes. Other couriers smuggle the
Word over the borders in many different ways. In rucksacks or personal luggage
carried by both young and old and recently contacts have been made with ships
and fishing boats . Some travel as far as Moscow, Murmansk,The Urals, Saint
Petersburg, Siberia and Archangel. So many parts of Russia are reached with the
word of God and Clifford hears of new areas and countries when he meets up with
the saints on the Gospel trails.
Clifford and his friends have proved that ,
in Christ “All things are possible”
Clifford is now in his second decade of service and well past the
official age of retirement but he continues to travel for His Saviour. He will
not retire from the work until he has no alternative because of age or
infirmity. Clifford promised to give every breath to Jesus in 1996 when he
asked the Lord into his life and he is still breathing.
Clifford has witnessed thousands of miracles during the time he
has been on the road.
He gave up his home many years ago and travels constantly as the
Holy Spirit directs. He is always willing to speak about the ministry to
churches and to anyone who asks for information as he passes by.
A question he is asked constantly is,
” How many
people have you led to the Lord during your time in ministry”
The answer is so simple. ”I have led no one to
Jesus” but I have been there when the Holy Spirit has brought many to
Christ.
Clifford has found over the years that Brother Clifford has no
power.
But Christ through the Holy Spirit enables him to accept the
promise.
”I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me”
My friend.
I pray you have enjoyed reading my life story and that through it
you have found yourself challenged to walk a closer walk with the Lord Jesus
Christ.
If you have been helped or challenged please let me know. Your
Emails and letters are be a real encouragement to me, so please do not hesitate
to drop me a line. When on tour, letters are forwarded on but if a reply is desired, there may be a long
delay.
I do my best to keep Clifford's page on
my web site up to date and to keep everyone informed of my current stopping
place. I update the page in each country I am travelling, as I am able.
Every few weeks I
send out a newsletter to inform my readers of my needs and to tell of the great
things I see as I travel.
Just drop me
an Email at
thejesusbus@hotmail.co.uk
If you have made
a life changing decision for Jesus or you desire to contact me. I would be
delighted to hear from you.
Finally would you
please pray that the Lord will continue to Bless and Provide the wisdom and
finance for this very exciting mission to the highways and bye ways of the
Northern Hemisphere.
Please Contact.
Brother Clifford Edwards
PO Box 1 Magherafelt County Derry Northern Ireland BT45 9AD
Email brothercliffordinprayer@gmail.com
Mobile telephone 0044
07818230279
Or on the Web at. www.highwaysforjesus.com
Copyright Brother
Clifford Edwards 2013