John Kirkby
15 December 2008 at 10:59am

I’ve had a great week rounded off by our staff Christmas party on Friday night – a real chance just to have fun with all the staff who work so hard for our clients.

On Wednesday, we had a special training session for staff and volunteers who would like to speak at churches across the UK about CAP. It was a really encouraging day. How great to see our staff and volunteers giving up their free time to share the vision of CAP around the UK.

This day was then followed by our biggest ever church leaders day. What a privilege to see so many churches with such a heart to reach out the poor and socially marginalised in their communities. I am somewhat overwhelmed when I think about the potential of these churches to really impact this nation one life at a time.

Other exciting news is that the international board have approved my strategic plan for CAP in Canada. This means we will start work out there at the end of 2009. What a joy to think that another nation will be impacted by the work of CAP. We are due to launch CAP Money in New Zealand and Australia in March 2009 and we are also pioneering CAP Money into Norway! Haakon has been working as an intern on our Reach programme since September, but has a real heart to take CAP Money into his home country along with his wife, Tone. What an incredible step of faith for this extraordinary couple!

Well that's all for now. I am greatly looking forward to a rest at Christmas and time with my family before the pace steps up again in 2009.

I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

God bless
John.

John Kirkby
01 December 2008 at 15:34pm

Well, it's great to be home!

I had an incredible time in Australia and New Zealand. What stood out most to me was the fact that the stories of lives transformed are exactly the same as here in the UK. The problems out there are identical – crumbling marriages, depression and suicide, fear of eviction and utter devastation. I had the privilege of meeting clients helped by CAP Australia and CAP New Zealand at their Client Awards and Fundraising Dinners. Each story was an incredible testimony to what God is doing with broken people. To see the hope that CAP is bringing to these beautiful people made all the travelling, jet lag and time away from my family worth it.

For the last week, I have been spending time catching up with all the CAP UK needs. I am so proud of the team. This machine keeps on turning, even when I am on the other side of the world. I also spent time preparing for the UK's Client Awards and Fundraising dinner in Bradford. This incredible event took place on Friday 28 November. What a night! The client testimonies were amazing and the support we received from such generous people blew my mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for their wonderful support – we could not do it without you.

This week, I am back in the office. Plenty on, with lots of meetings and also the arrival of CAP's brand new book Journeys of Hope. This book features twelve incredible testimonies from our wonderful clients and staff. Order your copy from our online shop – it promises to be an inspirational read!

I hope this is a great week for you all and I look forward to updating you later.

God bless
John.

John Kirkby
13 November 2008 at 12:36pm

I've just arrived in New Zealand after spending an amazing seven days with the CAP Australia team. My time in Australia started somewhat dramatically! I spent the first evening jet lagged in casualty having my nose cauterized after the 24 hours flight played havoc with my blood pressure and nose! The doctors hadn't done one before, and were reading the leaflets about how to apply the anaesthetic and the solution in front of me! Not exactly inspiring confidence! However, it was all sorted and off I went!

The following evening I spoke at the CAP Australia Client Awards and Fundraising dinner. I was so inspired as I heard from clients whose lives have been completely transformed through the work of CAP. How incredible that thousands of miles away from where CAP first began in my house in Bradford, CAP is still impacting hundreds of lives. The dinner was amazing. Over 350 people attended a glittering evening of celebration with $153,000 raised in gifts and pledges for 2009. During that year, we aim to double the number of centres in Australia to 30 in total. This means we can reach even more people! I can't wait to hear more stories from those whose lives have been changed.

I now face an exciting week. We are preparing for Gareth and Heather Jones to return early next year to the UK after spending 18 months pioneering the work in New Zealand. What an incredible couple! I am overwhelmed by what they have achieved so far. We already have five centres, have helped over 75 families and seen 19 people become Christians. This Friday will be our 2008 CAP New Zealand Awards Ceremony, where over 300 people will be attending. We have high hopes for another amazing night of testimony and fund-raising for 2009.

I will be returning to the UK in time for CAP Money Training next Saturday and the UK awards dinner the following Friday.

What a month! It's been exhilarating, amazing and a little overwhelming! Praise God!
John.

John Kirkby
24 October 2008 at 10:26pm

After a crazy weekend of CAP Money training, conferences and church launches, this week has been relatively quiet!

Wednesday, however, was a special day. Over 40 pastors from our partner churches came to the mill for our Northern Pastors Conference. What a joy it was to hear from them of the incredible work being done in their communities. To hear how inspired they are about the individual people being helped by their church and how much they appreciate working with CAP to reach the poor and needy was truly humbling, and certainly gave me hope for the future of the church in this country.

One of our clients, Donna, came and shared her story with the group. Her life had been devastated because of debt and the pressure that put on her marriage. It was amazing to listen to her describe how CAP and our partner church, St John's Bowling in Bradford, had reached into her darkness and shone God's light into her life. Her family and the kids are now fully integrated into the church, and Donna is even coming to work for CAP on Monday! What a privilege to see the local church impacting communities one life at a time.

Well, it's my birthday on Saturday, so I am looking forward to a well deserved rest and time with my beautiful family.

Catch ya later, John.

John Kirkby
15 October 2008 at 09:52pm

It is difficult to find the words to tell you just how incredible our Southern Client Awards event in London was last Friday. What a night! The team made the room look absolutely beautiful and people were just blown away by the whole event. Our supporters gave an amazing £135,000 on the night in gifts and pledges for 2009. How awesome is God!

We gave awards to three incredible clients who have overcome so much to get out of debt. What a privilege to hear their testimonies and meet them face to face. These three clients represent the thousands of people across this nation who are discovering hope in the midst of their dark situation of debt. We also honoured one of our centre managers, Anna Weaver from Ealing, for her commitment and hard work reaching people in her community.

So what does this week hold? Friday sees me driving back down South. I am going to Bracknell for our first ever Southern CAP Money training day on Saturday. To date, we have 193 CAP Money Coaches signed up for it. Our largest yet, so it promises to be a fun day! On Sunday, I am driving to Leamington Spa for another centre launch. How great to see all these churches stepping out in faith and partnering with us to reach the poor and needy in their communities.

It's a busy week, but as always, I feel privileged to be part of this exceptional ministry. God is so good to us!

John.

John Kirkby
02 October 2008 at 11:32pm

Yet again life is busy, busy, busy!

I had the privilege of preaching at our new partner church, St Mary's in Reigate, to launch the centre there. What a response! The church was so excited about the work of CAP and so warm and welcoming to the team and me. It was a real joy to share our heart and vision. I am looking forward to hearing the incredible testimonies of transformed lives that I know will happen in that town as a result of CAP's work.

So that was Sunday. Early on Monday morning, I hopped on a plane and flew down to Penzance. Four incredible CAP supporters had cycled 350 miles from Witham to Penzance in just four days – what an achievement! I went to welcome them home and then spoke at a special fundraising dinner in the evening. I am always so encouraged when I hear of CAP supporters doing extraordinary events to raise money for CAP – please know how much we appreciate anything you can do to help us help the poor and needy.

Today I am driving down to Bracknell for the Willow Creek Leadership Conference until Saturday – I know that it will be an inspiring and challenging two days.

Then I'm back in the office to prepare for our first ever London Client Awards and Fundraising Dinner next Friday. I simply can't wait. This will be an amazing evening! I can't wait to hear from the clients who are going to be honoured on the night and find out how their lives have been utterly transformed through the work of CAP. And if that’s not enough for one week, I’m also dropping in to the Hillsong Conference in London for a couple of days!

I look forward to updating you later, John.

PS – The Corporate Partners' Open Day at Jubilee Mill was a real success. Members of the finance and utilities industries were blown away by the work we are doing. What a day!

John Kirkby
23 September 2008 at 02:38pm

Well what a week! 11 brand new centres in their first week, and 12 new debt advisers and replacement centre managers starting in their new roles reaching out to the poor and needy. These people are certainly a special group. They are our 'front-line warriors' and each and every one of them will do amazing things in their community for God.

Saturday was also a very exciting day as we trained around 80 people as CAP Money Coaches. CAP Money is such an incredible tool that the church can use to empower people in their community with the knowledge they need to avoid falling into a situation of debt. It was such a buzz to see the passion these people had for the work of CAP. What an honour to be part of this incredible work!

This Thursday is another 'first' for CAP. We have 20-30 people from the Corporate and Finance Industries coming to visit us here in Bradford for a special Corporate Partners’ Open Day. We hope to 'wow' them with the work we are doing and inspire them that they are part of something quite incredible. For the sake of our clients, it is vital that we have a great relationship with creditors. Please pray that they are impacted by their visit on Thursday.

Well that's all for now. I am preaching at our new partner church, St Mary's, in Reigate this Sunday. Please come and see me there if you are nearby – I'd love to say hello!

God bless, John.

John Kirkby
10 September 2008 at 12:24pm

What an exciting time we are having at CAP. As always I am busy meeting people, sorting out international work and of course taking time out to spend with my family.

The 30 August 2008 was a very special day - I watched my beautiful daughter Jasmine get married. What an incredible day! She looked absolutely gorgeous and was just so happy. I could barely hide my tears! This was followed by taking my second daughter Jess to Liverpool to study Midwifery. Two daughters moving on to new challenges – I feel their loss but I'm excited about their potential. I am just so proud them.

On the 1 September we saw 20 new staff and interns start work here at our Head Office. What an incredible group of people. They are so passionate and excited about being part of our CAP family and seeing lives transformed across this country.

If that wasn't enough, next week we have 21 people coming on our centre training. That's 21 people who are passionate about reaching into their communities with the love and hope of Christ! Eleven of these are brand new centre managers for new centres opening throughout the UK, some are extra staff for existing centres and others are replacements for centres. This is our largest training session ever in CAP's history, and I am sure it's just a sign of things to come.

So life is as hectic as ever, but I am so blown away by what God is doing. In the month of August 50 clients became Christians, and yesterday we rang the bell four times! We are truly living in amazing times.

With our Trustee Meeting on Monday focusing on plans for 2009, I am expectant and fully anticipate an incredible 2009 that will truly outshine even this exceptional year.

Catch you later, John.