Almost 18 months ago, I arrived at one of Hope into Action’s houses in Norwich to meet some of our tenants. A woman called Susie opened the door, welcomed me in and made me a cup of tea.
Susie had not been in the Hope into Action house for long but she was very open with me about the harrowing journey she had been through, which included domestic violence, rough sleeping, addictions and prison. But despite these realities, Susie was full of hope, energy and good humour. We spoke seriously – but we also had a good laugh too.
Susie was keen to share her story with a wider audience and we made a short film about what homelessness had been like and what her hopes were for the future:
So much has happened to Susie since then.
She has got deeply involved in St Catherine’s, the local C of E church which partners with Hope into Action, and has found sharing her story has helped many others whose family or friends have had similar issues to her.
She also ran a 10k race to fundraise for us and in doing so gave up a 56 year smoking habit!
‘Thank God’
She also spoken at conferences – including a high-powered event at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London on churches, their buildings and their role in society. During that event, a friend who leads a charity and was there texted me:
“Thank God – literally thank God – that Susie Mayhew from Hope into Action is here…she is the only person so far (including at least one archbishop) to talk about God and faith, communion and community…”
And last year Susie also took the step to get baptised and publicly committed herself to God within her local church community.
Wonderful news
Over the months I have received a few calls from Susie and Rach, her Empowerment Worker, to share these items of news. And a few months ago, Susie rang again with some wonderful news.
She had got engaged to Frank, another Hope into Action tenant. Frank was also someone I had met on the same day I first met Susie, but I never imagined how their stories would end up connecting.
And what made the phone call even more unforgettable for me was when Susie asked me to walk her down the aisle on her big day. I was a bit speechless – it was not something I ever expected to be asked to do and it was an incredible honour.
No bigger honour
Over the last 30 years in my work I’ve met many politicians, celebrities and royalty. Back in 1997, I showed the late Queen around a hostel for young homeless people that I managed.
But genuinely nothing has given me more honour than walking Susie down the aisle in her local church on her wedding day.
It was a truly beautiful moment. And as we began our walk, Susie whispered to me:
‘None of this could have happened without Hope into Action and St Catherine’s’.
Susie’s words capture what our work is all about. Everything we do is dependent on the compassion, love and community of local churches. Without them, we simply couldn’t do what we do.
A picture
Susie and Frank’s wedding was a picture of how homelessness can end in community – and how faith and love can be right at the very heart of it.
Frank, who has also been through an incredibly tough time, spoke so powerfully in his reception speech about how love had transformed his life. It had healed and restored him and turned him outward to connect with God, with others and of course with Susie.
A huge thank you to Martin, the vicar of St Catherine’s and the whole church for the difference they have made.
New chapter
And a deep thanks to Rach, the Empowerment Worker for Frank and Susie (or ‘Frusie’ as she calls them), who has done incredible work. In her talk at the wedding, she told everyone about the moment she first introduced them to each other at a church event. Susie didn’t know who Frank was and asked ‘Are you a vicar?’ And Frank replied:
‘Well…I can be whoever you want me to me…’
It was a great line and the start of a great new chapter in both their lives.
‘Faith expressed through love’
It says something about the tragedy of homelessness that I have been to countless funerals of people I have worked with, but never a wedding. And to have played a role in Susie and Frank’s wedding was an incredible privilege and the most memorable ‘work’ day I have ever had.
Their whole story embodies what I most want to see through our work: the deep joy and transforming power of a ‘faith expressed through love’ (Galatians 5:6).
This is Hope into Action.
Could you support Hope into Action’s work to empower people like Susie and Frank in their journey out of homelessness? Please consider joining the 260 people who are Restorers of Hope who give regular vital support to our work. Thanks!
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