BrotherClifford in Prayer

From Streets of London to Streets of Gold

Clifford Edwards was born in 1945, he was born into a poor working class family living in an old two up two down terraced house with the toilet at the bottom of the yard. 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 father was coming to the end of his time in the army where he served in the Lancashire Fusiliers. His dad always 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 of the continent and was promptly sent home to hospital for treatment to a shrapnel wound . He never got the opportunity to return and fight for his country and the man that came home from a war that was meant to change the world for the better was a changed man.

He went away a happy person with dreams for both himself and his family’s future but he came home bitter, disillusioned, older, and well on the way to a serious drinking problem. His job as a labourer working in a foundry for British Rail at the local railway works was waiting for him when he was discharged from the army.

Living in a house full of females and six small children was not easy, so his dad Alfred started to spend his leisure time in the pub. His deepest disappointment was in his sport. Before the war he had achieved his ambition to become a football referee in the Lancashire combination. He had been short listed before the war to be promoted to the football league, but because of his time away he had lost his opportunity. What hurt him most was that a local younger man that he had trained before the war got the position and was eventually chosen to referee a cup final at 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 but 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..

Summer and winter after the pubs shut on Saturday and Sunday afternoon the whole family would go for a long walk until father had come home and then gone to bed to sleep off his latest drinking session. The favourite walk was to the local cemetery because it was not too far to walk and there were plenty of places to sit or play.

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. Some of his teachers had developed a sadistic streak during their war service and took advantage of the weaker children who’s parents would not complain about their brutality.

Eventually Clifford was moved to secondary school where the cane and slipper became a normal part of his daily life. He was never a clever boy, in fact he spent all of his school time at the bottom of the class. He was always tired and could not concentrate because of his home life and constant bouts of tonsillitis and influenza caused by the diet his mother was forced to give her children due to lack of money. Most of the teachers in secondary school only came because it was a job, home time was the best part of the day for them.

Three teachers had a major influence on Clifford’s life.

The P.E. teacher was a real bully and when Clifford was 12 years old he caned him so hard for not moving quickly enough that he bruised him very 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 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.

Because Clifford had been born with a good voice the 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 the 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 home life. It meant that he was at church on Sunday when father was at his worst because of his evil temper caused by drink. Alfred had become an abuser of his wife and children, not physical but constant mental torture. The rows went on every night now and the whole family was kept awake until the early hours of the morning.

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 and his mother needed her large brood to bring in as much money as possible. She was now for the first time ever able to save a little. She now had to save for five girls who had begun to think seriously about getting married in the future.

Clifford moved from job to job but could not find happiness.

His voice had broken and then 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 and during his tour he appeared at Maine Road football stadium. A local church hired a coach for the twenty mile journey to see him and somehow Clifford was asked to go with them. It was the first time that Clifford had heard the gospel preached and during the meeting he began to realise that *Jesus was truly the Son of God* and that he truly loved him. At the end of the meeting when the appeal was made and the crowds moved towards the front and onto the field Clifford was amongst the seekers. It did not last long and soon Clifford was living the same way he had always done. His church did not believe in being Born Again or American evangelists and the vicar assured him he was going to heaven.

Clifford had been christened as a baby and it was a well known fact that all Anglicans were going to heaven.

At the age of nineteen Clifford began working in the local pubs and clubs as a singer and 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 and that he would never touch alcohol or abuse his children.

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. Command performances similar to the Royal Variety Command performance are held throughout the north of England and Clifford was in great demand. On one very special performance everyone was toasting the star of the show *Clifford* and champagne was flowing like water. During the evening Clifford tried champagne for the first time and he really enjoyed the feeling of freedom he experienced brought on by alcohol. From that evening Clifford gained not only a trophy but 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 but he did not yet realise what a hold the drink had over him. He found out when during one performance when he fell off the stage and could not continue because he was drunk and totally incapable of performing. The career of a star performer last’s only as long as the booking agents want him and overnight Clifford was no longer trustworthy. He was a drunk and no longer reliable. As the gossip rushed around the entertainment grapevine the agents began to cancel and within twenty four hours 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 as quickly as stardom 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 luxury 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 because within a very short time he was penniless and searching for somewhere to sleep as he faced his first night out of doors. He had managed to drink himself into his normal drunken state by begging off passers by as he staggered along the Thames during the day and that night he slept outside the Royal Festival Hall. 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 and like himself 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 Vauxhall bridge 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 and pick them up. As well as a drinking he chain smoked his health away without realising that he had a problem.

As he slept the nights away outside the tube station he and his friends were awakened at regular intervals by people who offered tea and sandwiches. Most of these volunteers were of course from the church organisations and 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 He 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 the reason prayer had not worked for him was because he had not ever bothered to even talk to God. How can God answer if He has never been asked?

If the winter was too cold and windy Clifford would book into a hostel and share a dormitory with up to a hundred men. The basic rule in the hostel environment was 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.

The winter was a hard one and Clifford booked into a hostel for a few weeks. He had been resident for over a month when he heard that free clothing was being issued by the Salvation Army 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 store he was stopped by an elderly Salvationist.

When are you going to pull yourself together? was the greeting from the elderly stranger. 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 before the Salvationist looked Clifford in the eye, and then he gently said. I know someone who wants you even though you don’t want Him. I can have you admitted to our detox clinic today and when you come back you can have a room to yourself.

As Clifford made his way over Tower bridge and headed for the east end and sobriety he did not know the agony both mental and physical he would experience in the next few days. He had never gone through delirium tremens as the brain craved the alcohol that had 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 began to feel that he could not possibly manage to stay and that he would not be able to face the next 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, over the next few hours he went from one fit after the other.

He was told after he was allowed out of bed that the nurse had sat beside him all through the night and she did not think that he would survive, he was not only having alcoholic fits but also he was having epileptic fits. 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 the rule they would not break was that all residents 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 to soon the course of treatment came to an end. Much had to be done and because of the number of vagrants waiting it had to be limited to seven days.

It was Friday lunchtime when Clifford made his way to the office to say goodbye to the members of staff who had done so much for him. It took him by surprise when he was told that the person who was supposed to take his place had decided he could not face detoxification. How would you like to stay until Monday? the duty officer asked. Of course Clifford replied. Clifford was now feeling on top of the world and the impossible had happened, he was now dry and full of confidence and yet he knew that he was still very vulnerable.

Each evening the staff would go home and leave just one staff member on duty. On Friday and Saturday evening a volunteer came on duty to give the staff a break. None of the patients had ever met this volunteer and when he arrived and took over his duties they had a pleasant surprise as the young man came round and spoke to each one of them in turn.

As the evening progressed he took an interest in each of the men and Clifford felt that he could actually trust him yet still he was careful as he spoke to him. The residents went to bed at eleven o’clock but this evening was different for by ten thirty the only person 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 cuppa, 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*.

Clifford looked at Eric and wondered what was going to happen next with this man who read out loud instead of brewing the tea. 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 and even though at times he found it difficult he kept away from alcohol. He became a Salvationist and was proud to wear the uniform and even went into the pubs around London to sell the War Cry 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 agreed to getting 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 church which was crowded with their Christian friends. After the ceremony they went back to Clifford’s home town for a blessing ceremony attended by his family.

When it was over the newlyweds joined the family for a celebration buffet. Before they left for the trip to London and a Spanish honeymoon the wedding presents were opened and the time eventually came to say goodbye. Before they left a big surprise present was given to them, a bottle of champagne. Even though Clifford refused, the family just would not listen and eventually to end the arguments Clifford accepted a glass. Before they left, Clifford was drunk and all the years of sobriety came to an end. Within two years the marriage was over and the boy who had promised never to be like his father became an evil bully. It was to take fourteen years before Clifford sobered up properly. In 1992 Clifford returned home and found a flat until a flat could be found for him. He had been living on the streets of London for nearly twenty years and could no longer be called civilised.

To subsidise his drinking habit he travelled to the nearest large town of Bolton and stood on the streets busking and begging money. He had met a local doctor on the streets who was a Christian and been invited to join his practice.

For the next four years Clifford became a regular inmate in the local hospital for drying out. He was admitted to the detox clinic thirty three times before he eventually gave up alcohol. The years had taken their toll of Clifford’s health and physical appearance and he now really was a has been.

He had got to know and respect the consultant at the hospital and as he left the hospital in February 1996 Clifford was surprised to be met 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 the liver could have repaired itself. Now it was too late and he was on death row with no hope of reprieve.

Clifford went home to die

As the weeks passed it became evident that the doctor was correct. At first it was a constant headache, his weight began to increase and then as jaundice reared it’s ugly head Clifford started to turn yellow.

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.

In the village Clifford had been brought up, 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 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 invited others to join them for a meal. Then afterwards to hear of the way individuals had met Jesus and how their lives had changed. What amazed him was the way the men moulded together even though they came from so many church denominations and each one 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.

He was now totally sober and though he acted a convincing part he was very aware of the emptiness within his heart. He called and screamed out to God, but answers and miracles never came. Clifford reached his fifty first birthday in late July and spent it in agony of mind and body. As the disease had progressed his body had become bloated and it had now begun to shut down because of the toxins the liver could not cope with. Clifford was facing his last battle and he had already been defeated. During the second week of August he realised that the end was very close when he became aware of the smell permeating his home. Death has an aroma all 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 his dreadful enemy.

Heavenly Father I have turned my back on you for so long. Will you please forgive me even though I have not even a future 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 13^th August 1996 at nine thirty in the evening and 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 and 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 somehow it no longer concerned him and 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 prove his new found love.

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 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 towards the end of the book 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 back to Bristol. What now Lord? As Clifford prayed he once again heard that voice he would learn to know and love as he continued to serve His Lord.

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.

The book of Luke Chapter 9 verses 1 to 9 said it all without any argument.

During the following day Clifford typed out his itinerary and a letter to be given to passers by, then 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.

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 west country. On the Lord’s instruction he had paid all his outstanding bills and that took all the money given to him by his friends.

At last the car turned up to take a very scared yet excited evangelist on his mammoth tour for Jesus. Agnes the wife of one of his friends arrived and loaded the car, then 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 waited to go but for some reason it was held up at the platform. Clifford wondered how God would give him a ticket and 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 down the platform and spoke to him. Clifford leaned out of the window as Agnes rushed up and handed him a single ticket to Bristol. From that time Clifford realised that he was in good hands and that Jesus really did love him and would help and protect him in any circumstances.

The train arrived in Bristol and a weary man climbed out. The local F.G.B. 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 was easily recognised by his host.

As the car pulled away from Bristol Temple Meads Station, Martin turned to Clifford ( The Badge man ) 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. Alternatively you can come along to the meeting with me. Clifford was worn out, he had been travelling for six hours.

He had a migraine and he was actually dying and he felt like it could 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 and then 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 then 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 Monty’s face ( for that was how he had introduced himself ) was a mixture of shock yet understanding. The two men continued chatting, totally oblivious to 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. As they parted, Clifford smiled and pointed out that it was unusual to see a person converted and baptised at the same time.

Each Sunday 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 cheap bed and breakfast.

It was in Helston on the second Saturday night that arrangements hit rock bottom when he was shown his bed for the night. He was taken to the local Methodist church and shown into the wooden hall and told he could sleep there for the night. In the morning Clifford thanked the Lord for his provision .

The following day he spoke in the church and the people were very friendly but he moved on that evening to the next town.

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 lunchbox 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 four weeks earlier with only a pound in his pocket and Jesus in control.

He had never missed a meal when he was hungry, led seven people into a relationship with Christ including five children in St Just. He had spent over five hundred pounds in expenses, had made many friends and witnessed in song to many thousands of passers by. Now he had to decide what to do with the change he had from his one pound coin. So he gave the four hundred pounds surplus away.

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 as his liver continued to deteriorate. It was two weeks later as he was reading a novel during the early evening and relaxing when 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, 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 he realised that in this Christian land, the people had moved from Truth to Tradition. Many who believed in Jesus did not even know Him. Like himself before meeting Jesus in a personal way, they had become CHURCH PEOPLE. The church had become bogged down in good works and the sermons on Sunday had been replaced with stories on morality instead of the Cross of Christ. In fact people were going to HELL, and it was the church that was 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 now had no income other than the generosity of the public. He was in Bournemouth when he purchased his first vehicle.

He had bought it from a pastor who sold the odd car to supplement his income. It seemed to work well and Clifford proudly drove away. He was on the way home when the engine blew up on the motorway and the dream became a nightmare. Eventually the car was repaired and Clifford was very happy to at last be able to reach the more inaccessible places with the Gospel. He cooked in the 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 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 wonderful experiences. He had seen individuals healed including one in Ulster who was given up by the doctors after a triple heart bypass. Nine 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 campervan 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 and even have a toilet on board. 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 it before it was offered to Clifford.

A similar vehicle was donated by a Baptist Church in the village of Tobermore in Northern Ireland. The brakes had failed in the Republic and Clifford drove the two hundred and fifty miles with no brakes until he reached the house of the 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.

Clifford rang Pastor Logan at the end of the following day and 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, said the evangelist with more hope than confidence! and so they did.

Two hours later they went to pick up the vehicle with all the money 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 it’s seats and then Clifford realised that he could not do the work required, 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 but until now he knew nothing about him. Gerald was a bus driver but he was also the unpaid person who did all the maintenance 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.

Gerald and his son Ian began work and before the week was over Clifford was proudly driving his restored and converted campervan. From that time Gerald has worked on all Clifford’s vehicles and sent them out worthy of His Saviour.

In the year 2000 Clifford was devastated when a friend from Yeovil died of cancer within two weeks of his daughter‘s death. 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 campervan had once again broken down and now Clifford was driving a car but when he left he was towing a caravan for Jesus.

Every vehicle that Clifford has used for the work carries large advertisements telling of the love of Jesus. The caravan was emblazoned with words from the Bible and 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 visitors book 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 trip 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, the work began on the conversion as Clifford lived in Lancashire and the coach was in Ulster. 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. He drove over 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 to confirm his diagnosis. When the results came through it had been discovered that Clifford had cancer of the tonsil and lymph glands in his neck. 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. The operation over, Clifford drove to Ulster to be with his

friends and wait radiotherapy at the cancer hospital in Manchester. The coach was coming on well, but would Clifford ever have the strength to drive it? He had been asked to appear on a Christian radio programme over Easter and had given his word to be there. Norman had done much to help Clifford and he did not want to let down a treasured friend. He found it difficult but he arrived and kept his word in Limavady to broadcast and proved that Jesus Loves Him.

The 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 long, but returned to Lancashire to continue with his work.

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 at last ready 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 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 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.

Clifford was at last 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 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 during the summer touring.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.

As he passed by it was wonderful meeting friends from the past. The highlight 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 a 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 very unlikely pair of men miss meeting when Clifford passes through Bristol. One of them a public school gentleman and the other one an often 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 is His Love. In Jesus we are all on the same team.

Clifford finally arrived at the end of his 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.

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 in 2005 for motor home owners and succeeded in getting them reduced to a fair price), but he saw many 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 seabirds to disturb him.

He was very well received by the local Christians and was really made a fuss of. Two churches in Cunningsburgh a small village on the main island took him to their heart and became regular visitors to the sanctuary and he spent many hours walking the remote coastline with one group. It was here that Clifford met friends for life. During this tour Clifford visited the most northerly church in Britain. It is a Methodist church in the village of Haroldswick on the island of Unst, it was wonderful to be able to sign the visitors book in such a remote spot. What really thrilled Clifford was being able to pass the church and park at a remote beach for the night, knowing that for a few hours he was driving the church and the Sanctuary was the most northerly place of worship. He even had visitors to pray with during the evening. From Shetland the tour moved on to the outer Hebrides and even visited the village of Barrabas ( Barvas ) the centre of the Hebridean Revival on the Isle of Lewis. It was a real disappointment that after waiting on the main street for the day not one person called to say hello. It is now one of his most popular calls.

Then back to South Wales and the boat to Eire.

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 waited for his first visitor.

What is this all about? the stranger enquired of the evangelist. 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 Shetland.

I know a pastor in Shetland but I don’t know where his church is, if you can find Vince McDougal let him know you have met me. I haven’t met him for over twenty years.

Clifford drove away and three months later arrived on Shetland for his annual visit. He was very busy but eventually made contact with the 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 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 it was revealed that he had prayed daily for Archie for nearly thirty years even though they had had no contact. It also appeared that Vincent was known by friends of Brother Clifford in Northern Ireland and they had also asked him to try and locate Vincent.

Eventually Clifford arrived back in Tobermory and of course his first visitor was Archie. Did you find Vince in Shetland? said the breathless woodcutter. 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 said, I want to know Jesus like you and Vince.

After prayer Archie found how simple it was to invite Jesus into his life and Clifford 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? and thirty years of prayer had been answered and Archie continues to follow His Saviour even today. Clifford continues to serve his Beloved Saviour and travelling the United Kingdom. From Lands End to Unst, the Hebrides and the Emerald Isle and the Isle of Man are his territory. There are not many large or small lay byes that he has not witnessed in and he has parked on every motorway service station in Britain. He has clocked up over half a million miles, Featured on RTE television in the South of Ireland and also for United Christian Broadcasts in the Shetland islands, featured in countless newspaper articles and radio programmes and even after the years of service he knows without doubt that,

Jesus is the same

Yesterday

Today

And Forever

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. This year he begins work with a 1980 Atlantean double decker bus and hopes to reach many thousands this year. But most importantly he knows that,

*JESUS LOVES YOU *

God Bless

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 letters can be a real encouragement to me so please do not hesitate to drop me a line. When on tour, letters are forwarded on so if a reply is desired there may be a short delay.

If you have made a life changing decision for Jesus or stopped drinking because of this story. I would be delighted to hear about it.

Finally would you please pray that the Lord will continue to Bless and Provide for this very exciting mission to the highways and bye ways of the U K.

Please Contact.

Brother Clifford Edwards

Sanctuary Cottage

40 Desertmartin Road

Tobermore

Magherafelt

County Derry

Northern Ireland

BT45 5QY

Email brothercliffordinprayer@hotmail.co.uk

Mobile 07818230279

Or on the Web at. www.brotherclifford.com

OR www.highwaysforjesus.com

From Streets of London

The Streets of Gold

The living and growing Testimony

Brother Clifford Edwards