The 2008 financial crisis, which caused many churches and individuals to put the budgetary brakes on, merely underlined the difficulties already impacting the recruitment efforts of mission agencies.
The CLC trend was clear: personal financial support for our existing staff was falling, there were no fresh faces on the horizon and we were faced with having to close shops due to lack of staff. At that time we had no employees, only supported workers.
In view of this, consultation before and during the May 2009 staff conference culminated in the Trustees approving an amendment to the Constitution which would enable CLC to become an employer, if need be. When bankruptcy hit the UK’s #1 supplier of Christian resources that very same year, it was our culture-changing decision to keep six of the Wesley Owen bookshops open — with employees! — that catapulted the mission forward sooner and faster than anyone had expected. God’s timing was perfect!
Forever Grateful, CLC 75
Based on material first published in a 75th anniversary magazine, you will find stories from the 75 years of CLC. There are stories of God’s faithfulness and miracles, of people coming to faith and special ‘forever grateful’ moments.