Editions:
UK: Canterbury Press, 2007:
ISBN: 978-1-85311-850-0
Juliet says: "I first came across Caring For Life, a
Christian charity based in Leeds, in 2004 when I was one of the party in
attendance on a royal visit. Having done my swotting up on the way there and
read some of the stories about the people in its care, I was absolutely dreading
going there: I could not imagine it to be anything other than a sombre and
depressing place. How wrong I was! Despite everything that has happened –
and sometimes continues to happen – to these people, the atmosphere at
Caring For Life can only be described as one of joy and laughter. Lives are
literally transformed simply be being offered (and learning to accept)
unconditional love. Imagine achieving an 85% success rate in preventing
re-offending and a 95% success rate in preventing a return to homelessness! In
a country where 75% of prisoners re-offend after release, mental health care is
simply inadequate and drug and alcohol abuse is soaring, such dreams are beyond
most government agencies. Yet Caring For Life has done this annually for over
twenty years, even though it works with people for whom Social Services can do
nothing more. I was drawn in on that very first visit and remain an
enthusiastic and committed supporter of this wonderful charity. This little book, which I wrote to celebrate
the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of Caring For Life, explains how
and why it has succeeded where so many others have failed. As my contribution
to its work all my proceeds from the book are donated directly to Caring For
Life – and if you buy it directly from Caring For Life you get a signed
copy. So please buy one (or more) now!"
What the cover
says: The Deafening Sound
of Silent Tears tells for the first time the story of a remarkable group of
people who, through their commitment to follow the example of Jesus Christ in
embracing those whom society rejects, have made a dramatic difference to the
lives of thousands of young people. Many of them have learning difficulties or
mental health problems. Many had experienced years of unimaginable abuse
– physical, sexual and mental. Some had drifted into crime, others into
homelessness or addiction. By treating them all as made in God’s image,
transformation has occurred in countless lives.
Twenty
years ago, the pastor and children’s worker in a Leeds Baptist Church founded
Caring For Life to offer homes for the homeless, meaningful and therapeutic
employment for those unable to find paid work and unconditional love to people
who had never been loved or were difficult to love. Most importantly, they
promised that their support would last for life.
Today
over three thousand people have benefited from that promise. In contrast to the
widespread belief in punishment as the fashionable answer to soaring rates of
addiction and crime, Caring For Life has achieved an outstanding success rate
of over 90% in preventing a return to homelessness or re-offending. The story
of how this has been achieved
– the tragedies and triumphs, the tears and the laughter – is the
subject of this dramatic and touching book.
Reviews of The
Deafening Sound of Silent Tears:
‘Reading it made me
angry, humbled, encouraged and amazed all in one go. Juliet Barker and
Canterbury Press are to be applauded for telling this story and getting it into
the public domain. It deserves to sell a million – that it probably won’t
is a travesty. Buy it, sell it and promote it, because the charity gets the
royalties from this book.’
Clem
Jackson, Christian Marketplace
‘a book that will
provoke a reaction in the reader … Easily read and suitable both for Christians
and non-Christians, this book will move you to compassion as you ask yourself,
“How can I make a difference?” I strongly recommend that everyone reads this
book.’
Gail
Curry, Evangelicals Now
‘a most remarkable
book about an even more remarkable work … To say the story is quite amazing is
by no means an understatement. Juliet Barker writes with total honesty, empathy
and understanding. I was moved to tears as I read this book.’
David
Searle, www.arbroathstandrews.org.uk
‘Well written, moves
with pace, and catches some of the personal stories which touch the reader’s
heart’
Glyn
Williams, Evangelical Times
‘I did not find
reading this book was a pleasant or comfortable experience, and yet I was drawn
onwards by the sheer pathos of the unfolding story … A worthwhile, though
disturbing, read.’
Jackie
Rowe, The Good Book Stall
Links: Caring For Life: www.caringforlife.co.uk
www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk
