Railway Mission News Issue 20.1

RMNews Issue 1 2020

Support on life’s journey Railway Mission

RMNews Support on life’s journey

www.railwaymission.org

Railway Mission Rugby Railway Station Rugby • CV21 3LA

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From the Top

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Special award ceremony

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To the ends of the earth

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A chaplain’s ongoing support

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Dylis’ London Bridge response

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The Peterborough chaplains

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Chaplains’ prayer & info

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Join the ‘pray for your train’ initiative

info@railwaymission.org

07718 971919

Front cover : Edinburgh Waverley Station, grateful thanks for aerial photo by Network Rail Air Operations

Call our office for calendars, brochures, RM News & Gideon New Testaments Railway Mission is a registered charity in England and Wales (1128024) and in Scotland SC045897).

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From the Top Trust in the midst of trouble

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o do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) When their brother Lazarus was sick, Mary and Martha knew Jesus had the power to heal him. They sent a message: ‘Come quickly! Lazarus, whom you love, is sick” (John 11:3); but Jesus failed to arrive and Lazarus died.

Have you ever felt let down by God or confused because He hasn’t answered cries for help? This is how Mary must have felt; when Jesus finally arrived, Mary fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died’ (John 11:32).

Whatever the reason, Jesus arrived late.

It wasn’t because He didn’t love Lazarus.

In response to Mary’s confusion and grief, ‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35). Likewise, whatever the reason God hasn’t answered your prayers or removed your suffering, it’s not because He doesn’t love you. To show God’s compassion, Psalm 56:8 uses the illustration of God holding all your tears in a bottle. You’re so precious that every one of your tears matters.

Support on life’s journey

If God is good, why does life hurt so often? Why doesn’t He answer our prayers or take away our disappointments? There isn’t a simple answer, but most of the hurt in our lives is either caused by ourselves or by other people, not God. God never promised a pain-free life, even warning us that, ‘in this world you will have trouble’ (John 16:33), but He did promise that He’d be with us in our pain and suffering. ‘Fear not, for I will be with you’ says the Lord (see Isaiah 41:10).

Jesus walked to the tomb of Lazarus and cried out, ‘Lazarus, come out’ (John 11:43), Lazarus, rose from death and came out of the tomb. In the same way, whatever your pain in this life, one day the pain of suffering will be removed: death will be overcome, sadness will turn to joy and all that’s wrong will be put right. In the meantime, Jesus asks us to trust Him, even in the midst of disappointments and pain so terrible all we can do is cry out to God in frustration and in tears.

Liam Johnston is the Executive Director of Railway Mission

From the left: Chaplains John Roe, Andrea Smyth, Steve Rowe, Dylis George, Christopher Henley, Michele Ashton, with Executive Director Liam Johnston

Special award ceremony

F

rom 1881 the aim of the Railway Mission was to evangelise railwaymen in the UK; but this was soon broadened to include the whole world. The pattern of activity was much as in the UK with missioners touring the network gathering groups as they went. Some would go on to form fellowships with their own mission hall.

The spread of these missions extended from Switzerland to Japan. Some were based in the British Empire, others in the ‘informal empire’; including Argentina and Chile where Britain had strong economic interests. Japan also had economic ties with the UK which provided opportunities for missionary work. Mission work in the ‘informal empire’ was different. Rather than

sending missionaries, Christian railwaymen working abroad were encouraged to ‘carry on Christian work’. For example in 1890 the General Committee resolved that Mr Ridings of Walthamstow, who was about to go to ‘Chili’ [sic] as a Railway engineer, ‘receive every assistance … in carrying on Christian work’.

The earliest overseas work referred to in Committee minutes was from 1889 when a missionary was proposed for Cape Colony, South Africa. The annual report for the same year refers to a branch of the Railway Mission in Geneva. South Africa was unusual in having three sizeable railway missions. The most extensive was the South African Church Railway Mission (Anglican). The second largest, the South African Railway Christian Union (SARCU), had its origins with the UK Railway Mission and was the principal evangelical outreach to railwaymen.

To the ends of the earth Finally there was the separate mission of the Dutch Reformed Church.

The detailed accounts given below are taken from Japan and South Africa respectively. One thing both missions had in common was the important role of women. That in Japan was led by Miss E Gillett from 1900 to 1941 and Miss M Cleghorn founded the Cape Province mission in 1892 and continued to support the work of SARCU. In 1930 Miss Gillett wrote “…Since the summer the railway office has made no plan for our going round to visit the stations. For the last two or three years both Mr. Ishii and I have felt that their plans kept us too busy and they had restricted us,…

However, working independently and just going to stations where the masters welcome us, we feel much more free.”

[Sounds familiar?]

Using the mission coaches provided by the railway in South Africa could be hazardous as illustrated by this story from the 1920s recounted by a missionary: “At Butterworth…I left to see the Station

Master for a few moments. I noticed when returning that the engine driver had miscalculated the distance and came in to the train with a bang! Wondering how my... wife was faring I hurried along to the coach, there I found her sitting on the floor, tea cups scattered, table cover and all that had been so nicely set, spread all over the floor. Tea was dripping from her hair,…”.

Today the Mission has links across the world through membership of the International Railway Mission, now known as RailHope International.

Dudley Clark February 2020 Illustrations : Above: South African Mission Hall on Rails in 1896 (SARM Mission Coach 422v2.jpg) Left: Miss Gillett and members outside the Tokyo Mission Hall c1930 (Japan Miss Gillett & Tokyo v1.jpg)

A chaplain’s ongoing support On a Saturday evening just before Christmas an accident occurred at Tyseley Depot, Birmingham, resulting in the tragic death of a well respected and liked driver for West Midlands Trains (WMT).

Ralph Coleman (above), one of our chaplains, visited the depot on the following Monday to offer support and comfort to the depot staff.

Andrew Hall our Senior Chaplain for the West Midlands visited staff at the company’s offices at New Street Station and their headquarters offices.

Ralph continued to visit the staff at the depot following the Christmas break where the atmosphere continued to be subdued.

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At the instigation of the depot management, four days, over a two week period, were set aside for Ralph, together with Samaritans and West Midlands Trains Human Resources department, to be available on site to continue to support staff. This allowed the opportunity for the four different depot shifts to talk about their emotions and feelings in a confidential one to one environment.

Ongoing support will continue to be offered to any staff that still feel the need.

These incidents are extremely rare but have a profound effect on all the staff who know those involved and work on site.

Dylis’ London Bridge response Dylis George (above) is one of a number of chaplains working out of London. Her patch includes Southeastern and parts of the London Underground.

One of Dylis’ stations is London Bridge, where a recent terror attack took place.

Chaplain Steve Rowe, Dylis’ line manager, was requested by Liam Johnston, Railway Mission Executive Director, to attend the incident with Dylis. Liam had been contacted by Chief Inspector Tara Doyle asking for chaplaincy support for British Transport Police [BTP] officers who formed part of the response.

As BTP Chaplains, we have access inside the cordon in these incidents to support officers in any way requested. Being late in the evening, Dylis had to make a significant journey to London Bridge,

Support on life’s journey

where transport services had been disrupted, and most people were being ushered out rather than in.

CI Doyle also requested that we check on the wellbeing of some of the other responders, including firearms and canine units. Officers are often required to work long shifts following serious incidents, so our chaplains were out and about for the next few days seeing how they were holding up.

We were also called into the Govia Thameslink Railway offices, where staff overlooked the bridge and many witnessed the incident as it happened, some feeling quite vulnerable as shots were fired.

As Dylis says, “I consider it a massive privilege to be the ears and shoulders on which staff members have found comfort and respite in these situations.”

The Pete chaplain Originally known as the Railwayman’s church, St. Pauls in Peterborough celebrated 150 years in 2019. In line with this history, I was invited in the summer to preach and to share about the work of the Railway Mission.

This led to an invitation a few months later to participate in a meeting run by “HOPE 4 Peterborough” (churches across Peterborough working together). The theme of the evening was the work of chaplaincy in the Peterborough area.

East Midlands Chaplain Colin Fraser was invited to talk about chaplaincy at Peterborough Cathedral on New Year’s Eve following 150 year celebrations for St Pauls Church, also in Peterborough.

Here’s Colin’s story…

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When invited, I thought, “Great! What an opportunity to share about the work of the Mission and the ways I have seen God use chaplaincy to sow seeds of truth in people’s lives.”

As I was thinking that, I learned that the service would be at Peterborough Cathedral on New Year’s Eve. That bit, I wasn’t expecting. I knew working with the mission, would require a few

erborough ns speaking engagements to promote the work but, I guess, I had never envisioned just how varied those opportunities would be.

Each chaplain shared about the natural opportunities to account for their faith and its impact on our daily lives. In turn, I encouraged the congregants to see encounters with others as an opportunity to impart some element of godly wisdom or care even when we do not have the space in encounters to directly share scripture or the gospel.

One of the stories I shared, though, was about one of those precious times when I felt led by the Holy Spirit to jump on a train in the middle of the afternoon to travel over an hour to another location on my patch with no idea of what I would encounter. Upon arrival, I was asked directly about my faith by a member of staff and had the opportunity to share the gospel with them.

Support on life’s journey

As I spoke during the service, though struck by the grandeur and beauty of Peterborough Cathedral, I was aware of how, together with my fellow chaplain speakers and the congregation present, I was part of something much more beautiful. The words of the prophet Isaiah ‘How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news’ (Isa 52:7) rung through my mind.

So, as we move as ordinary folk through ordinary days, lets challenge ourselves to not lose sight of being part of something much bigger, something extraordinary. ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?’ 1 Corinthians 3:16

Pictured above: Part of the ceiling of Peterborough Cathedral (Creative Commons).

Chaplains’ Prayer & info Derek Grant North Scotland

It is so encouraging as a Railway Chaplain to know that other people are praying for us – because lives are been touched by prayer.

In November we were able to conduct an Armistice Day service at Aberdeen Station. I have also been supporting a signaller who has been diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease [HD].

We have been praying that he would be able to gain a place on the HD trials with the hope of slowing the disease down.

And then in early January I got a text from him to say he was going to be interviewed on BBC Scotland TV about the trials.

Angela Harwood York to Kings Cross Northern

Reorganisation and change are almost constant in one form or another for people in the railway industry.

Whether it is the taking back or end of a franchise, restructuring of job roles or a change in management, there always seems to be something on the horizon.

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Change affects people in different ways – for some it is unsettling and causes worry and a concern for the future whilst others see it as an opportunity.

There are many railway workers in my area who are facing these challenges and talk to me about both their hopes and fears.

My role is to listen and to support them.

My prayer is for the best possible outcome and that somehow, they will know the peace and hope that can only be found through our Lord and Saviour.

Ralph Coleman West Midlands

Christmas was a difficult time for many of the staff from I support in the West Midlands.

As mentioned on page 8, an incident at Tyseley Depot took the life of a wellrespected WMT driver. The impact on the family, friends and work colleagues has been hard.

Meanwhile, industrial action around the issue of driver operated doors left the public feeling annoyed about cancelled and crowded trains. Coinciding with the run up to Christmas and the German Market in Birmingham, this caused many

to make their frustrations known to front line staff.

Another Train Operating Company made a number of staff redundant prior to Christmas, outsourcing the work. This left staff feeling frustrated, angry, upset and unable to enjoy the festival period.

Please pray that ongoing chaplaincy support will help the staff concerned find resolution to the situations they face.

Mike Roberts Manchester & North West

The railway is a rapidly changing environment. Please pray for the chaplains as we seek to balance our everpresent role on the railway since 1881, with a challenge to stay relevant and up to date with changes on the network.

In the North West there is much uncertainty about the future of some operators and the end of 2019 saw a change as Avanti West Coast took over the operation of the West Coast Mainline from Virgin Trains.

Give thanks for ever increasing opportunities to be involved and engage across the network, but also to be involved in shaping the future as changes are made.

Support on life’s journey

Ruth Gledhill • Unsplash

Chaplains’ Prayer & info

There is much good will and good favour towards our work across the region and we pray this continues.

Alan Thorpe Bristol Area

The start of a New Year is a good time to look back with gratitude, and then, spurred on and energised, look forward to the future. On reflection, we see staff contacts, often made over several years, progressing in their rail careers.

Thank God that Railway Mission treats all staff members equally, because those climbing the employment ladder often remember the help of chaplaincy afforded to all levels of staff.

We also look forward and thank God for our good name and reputation, and for the open doors of new opportunities to be salt and light in the workplace.

Andrea Smyth London North & Chiltern

I am always struck by how the Lord constantly provides just enough for us to carry out his purposes. I have been amazed by how, when certain areas of my work have increased, He has temporarily

Chaplains’ Prayer & info quietened others. When I worked in temperatures of 38 degrees in the summer, He provided me with water. And now we are in the depths of winter, there is still warmth to be found.

And as some lives have sadly been lost to us, yet babies have been born, giving us hope and a reminder of our own new birth in Christ.

David Hardy Gloucester Area

We pray for all those who have the responsibility of caring for the staff on the railway. For those Directors and Managers who are involved in looking after their needs. We pray that they will have compassion as they deal with the issues they face and wisdom to help and support those who have problems and difficulties.

We remember those who face illness, family problems or the loss of loved ones.

We thank God that, at its best, the railway is like a caring family and for all those who work hard to help their fellow workers or retired colleagues when they are in need. Please pray for all the Railway Mission chaplains as they seek to show God’s saving love to those of any faith or none in the railway community.

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Helen Bartlett Newcastle Area

I’m fortunate to have had few serious incidents recently. My latest involvement was with a driver and Edinburgh crew who were not on my patch, although I still covered Network Rail and BTP staff who were present.

Just before the turn of the year, a London North Eastern Railway gentleman died, sadly, sooner than expected. His family faced the blow of Christmas without dad.

Colleagues were devastated. I was there to offer support.

A few days ago, I met a colleague who needed to tell me that he’d had a heart attack in September. The close shave with death put him right on the spot. God meets us in death and in life when we respond to His call. God is Love. Seek Him while He can be found. He’ll never fail you.

John Roe Paddington and South West

In my travels around the Railway Network, I have been struck by the number of Railway workers who say they weren’t aware of the chaplaincy service available to them.

In almost all cases, the response has been positive, and they have willingly taken contact details and spread the message to colleagues.

I'm thankful too for opportunities to speak at Team Briefings, Corporate Welcome & Induction Staff Training Sessions and Railway Welfare Conferences.

We also have increased opportunity to spread the message digitally through relevant social networks.

Please pray that everyone will be able to easily access welfare support and spiritual hope through our presence and witness.

Stephen Rowe Area Manager South & Southern

The first week of my year commenced with two different visits to staff grieving the loss of colleagues.

At these times I find it best to get around the staff where they are rather than being set up in a room. This way I am able to meet most of the staff involved and gauge their needs, because everyone responds or reacts differently.

Support on life’s journey

Ruth Gledhill • Unsplash

Chaplains’ Prayer & info

The opportunity to pray for some of them illustrates the value of chaplaincy at these times.

I also participated in a mental health event, where I met several people who wanted to discuss their own situation or refer a colleague.

It’s vital that we promote every opportunity to encourage people to open up and discuss these issues.

Andrew Hall Area Manager North & Midlands

This year will bring changes. Changes in our own lives, changes in the Industry and changes in the Mission.

In the Industry, franchises will change, staff will come and go and will experience a full spectrum of situations in their lives.

In the Mission we will be joined by new colleagues who will experience the ‘learning curve’ to share in the work we do.

There will be difficult situations to work through but there will be incredible opportunities for the Gospel.

Chaplains’ Prayer & info Christopher Henley Waterloo and South West

"Delighted", "Great to see you", "You made a difference", "I had no idea l would actually feel better seeing you", "Glad you're here", "You turned her life around."

These are some of the many encouraging comments recently passed to me in my work as a South Western Railway, Network Rail and BTP Chaplain across the Wessex area network.

Whilst, without a doubt, it is often challenging when meeting someone for the first time, comments such as these are rewarding and, dare l say, transforming, for both of us.

May l encourage all our sponsors to pray for us chaplains and continue recommending us to your various teams.

Dylis George Southeastern

My ongoing support to families and individuals on Southeastern, BTP and parts of London Underground has been yielding good fruits.

I consider it a massive privilege to be the ears and shoulders on which staff members have found comfort and respite Railway Mission

during the following situations: Deaths in service - it is such a joy to support staff members who have had to go through the grief of losing a colleague; the terrorist attack at London Bridge - officers were particularly pleased to have support from chaplaincy as they stood in the cold weather to ensure the public were safe; supporting terminally ill staff and their colleagues - standing alongside them during times of difficulty is very therapeutic.

I continue to solicit earnest prayers for divine grace wisdom and strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with humanity through all the changing scenes of life.

Michele Ashton Liverpool Street & Anglia

Wow! What a few months I have had.

Offering a Railway Mission New Testament to railway staff who show interest, creates different reactions from, ‘no thank you, I have one of those from school’ to ‘thank you I will always carry it with me, I didn't know the railway had bibles like the armed forces’.

I visited a man who I had given a New Testament to two years ago and he told me how he remembered his mother

Ruth Gledhill • Unsplash

Chaplains’ Prayer & info quoting from the bible. He asked many questions – one about John 3:16.

Graham Whitehead Glasgow and Southern Scotland

It is so important to listen, not only to what a person is saying, but also for what is not being said, and for the promptings of the spirit to keep the conversation going until you reach the heart of the matter.

In discussing issues related to such things as broken relationships, I have found that occasionally there is another underlying problem that needs to surface.

Often people are more sensitive to difficult situations than usual not because of the immediate dilemma being faced, but because another problem is causing tension.

One example would be a parlous financial position that causes a person to be irritable about other things. When we can unravel these conundrums, we can apply the salve that brings healing.

Trustee Jim MacPhie retires After many years of faithful service as a Trustee of Railway Mission, Jim MacPhie has decided that it is time to step down from the Board.

Based in Scotland, Jim has always had a heart for the chaplaincy team in the North and over the years he has represented the work of the chaplains at Christian events and gatherings, encouraging people to pray for the work of the chaplains.

Jim says "I will continue to support Railway Mission and will always be interested in the work being done... and pray God's richest blessing on you all and your work for Him, through Railway Mission, in the future.”

The Chair of the Trustee Board, Keith Rose said, "Jim has been a faithful servant of Railway Mission for many years and we will miss him.”

Support our chaplains…

Mitchell Bryson on Unsplash

www.railwaymission.org/donate Support on life’s journey

Join the ‘pray for your train’ initiative The Railway Mission Chaplains’ Conference in Northampton in March this year will welcome a delegation from RailHope International who will join us in the UK as guests, and as part of their regular Board meetings.

Whilst they are with us at the conference, RailHope International will introduce an initiative to pray for our train as we travel.

The idea is to start praying for commuters, staff, rail facilities, rolling stock, and security as rail chaplains travel by allotting four minutes to pray as we board.

James 5:16 tells us that ‘The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.” When we pray according to God’s will, which can be known through His written Word, we know that He hears us and we can have confidence that our prayer will be answered (1 John 5:14-15).

We look forward to hearing more from RailHope International colleagues at our conference.

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Six ways to help us support rail staff…

Cheque or Postal Order

A one-off or regular donation by cheque or postal order sent to: Railway Mission, Rugby Railway Station, Rugby, CV21 3LA.

Standing Order

A one-off or regular donation through your bank. Email our Administrator for more information… office@railwaymission.org

Web Donation

A one-off or regular donation through our website. Visit www.railwaymission.org, and click on the Donate page, where you will find easy to follow directions.

Wills & Legacy

To include us in your will, our charity name is Railway Mission, our charity number in England & Wales is 1128024, and in Scotland is SCO45897.

Gift Aid as an extra

UK taxpayers can claim an extra 25% on donations via HMRC, as long as you meet their conditions and complete, sign and return a Gift Aid form to us.

Payroll Giving*

Because every donation is taken from your gross pay, every pound you give will only cost you 80p, or only 60p if you are a higher rate tax payer.

*For more information on Payroll Giving, go to:

www.railwaymission.org/donate

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They were there when I needed someone to talk to

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