A 12 year-old named Helen was not famous when she was converted in the 1800s in Birgmingham, England, but her family remains well-known today, especially during Easter, because her last name was Cadbury. Her father was the president of Cadbury chocolates — known today for Cadbury Easter Eggs. Helen was also instrumental in starting a ministry that continues to exist today called The Pocket Testament League. Let’s consider her pleasant story, and then think about how it should inspire us.
Conversion
Helen Cadbury’s father, Richard, was a “well-known Christian philanthropist, a member of the Society of Friends, and one of Birmingham’s foremost benefactors, who was like a father to his employees and to the poor people of the city.”[1] Both of Helen’s parents were committed believers. At the age of twelve, she began to experience deep conviction of sin and even longed to be a Christian like her parents, but remained in an unconverted state.
Even though Richard was a very successful businessman, “(H)is chief aim in life both in his business and outside it was to work for the Lord Jesus Christ in bringing others to know Him.” One of the avenues in which he sought to do this was in a “Mission Hall” in a poor part of the city. It was there during a special gathering that Helen recalls a sermon: “I heard the voice of God speaking straight to my heart.” She especially remembered these words from a hymn sung that night.
Free from the law, O happy condition
Jesus has bled and there is remission;
Cursed by the law, and bruised by the fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Helen reflected on what she was experiencing in her soul:
I looked at the faces of the people as we sang. Many were there amongst our workers, whose lives in the past had been as bruised and wretched as some of those whom they had brought from the public-houses that night. But Christ had redeemed them, and as I saw the light on their faces while they sang ‘Free from the law,’ I knew it was more than mere words to them. They were free, and they knew it. A hunger came into my own heart. If only I could sing it as they were singing it.
After the message, those interested in following the Lord were invited to a room to receive further counsel and prayer. Helen made her way there and saw her father praying with a young man.
I sat and waited, and in a few moments my father rose from his knees, and looked across the room. Never shall I forget the light in his eyes as he saw his own little girl sitting there . . . He came to me at once, and knelt and prayed with me. For years that dear voice has been silent on earth, but its tender tones are still fresh in my memory as he prayed that God would take and keep my life.
Helen was now a follower of Jesus. What happened next?
From that day a new impulse for living began for me. The joy and peace which God had given me was too good to be kept to myself, and I longed for others with whom to share it. I was too young to do much, but amongst my schoolmates were girls representing all phases of belief and unbelief. Here was a great field for work ready to my hand, and I asked God to help me to win some of these girls to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Right away, she and a friend began sharing the gospel.
We each kept a Bible in our desks, and always made use of it when we could . . . One difficulty that we met with at school was how to get at our Bibles just when we wanted them, and (we) decided to carry a small pocket Testament always about with us . . . Finding this habit of carrying God’s Word of great help to ourselves, both for our own reading at odd minutes, and especially in doing personal work, the thought came to us to organize amongst the girls a little Society which we named the ‘Pocket Testament League.’
These girls sewed pockets onto their dresses in order to carry their small New Testaments.
The Pocket Testament League still exists today, with the motto, “Mobilizing and Equipping Christians to Read, Carry, and Share the Word of God since 1893” (www.ptl.org). To date, they have distributed approximately 130 million copies of Scripture (mostly John’s gospel) all around the world!
Inspiration
There are at least three ways that Helen Cadbury’s story should inspire us to get the truth to the lost.
First, her father is a great example of a successful businessman who used his platform for Christ. Here, again, is how he is remembered: “(H)is chief aim in life both in his business and outside it was to work for the Lord Jesus Christ in bringing others to know Him.” Just thinking about your work environment, what are you aiming for, ultimately?
Second, some believers who are younger may say with Helen, “I (am) too young to do much.” True, opportunities for service are somewhat limited until you finish school or are no longer under the constant oversight of parents. However, you can also say with Helen, “but amongst my schoolmates [or siblings, or relatives, or neighborhood friends] were girls [or boys] representing all phases of belief and unbelief. Here was a great field for work ready to my hand.” Helen had such confidence in the Bible, she said, “If only we could get people to read the Book for themselves, it will surely lead them to Christ” (quoted at www.ptl.org). One way to stand out for the Lord, particularly if you are a student in a public school, is to keep your Bible with you, and don’t be afraid to read it “at odd minutes” (as Helen did). This will be good for your soul, and it just might open up opportunities to talk to others about Jesus if they see you. You might even organize a Bible reading club and invite classmates (or siblings, or neighborhood friends). Why not?
Third, we have a treasure — the Scriptures — that we can give to people, and it doesn’t even cost much. In fact, The Pocket Testament League has a sponsorship program that provides a way for believers to get a certain number of gospels of John at no charge if you cannot make a donation. I’m also sure the leaders of your church would happily provide you with Bibles or New Testaments or one of the Gospels for distribution.
And then what?
Here’s what I’ve experienced: If I have Scripture with me to disperse, and I ask God for an opportunity to give it away, he always answers that prayer — maybe not that same day, but usually very quickly.
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[1] All quotes and this story are found in The Pocket Testament League Around the World, (Philadelphia: The Pocket Testament League, 1910), 1-8.