by Simon Cayzer
Anthony is involved with the Navigators Settlers’ work. I recently met with him to find out how he helps men coming out of prison and others who are getting free of addiction.
“One way I help,” he told me, “is to invite the men God brings into my life to live with me.”
Sharing space isn’t easy. He lives in a modest one-bedroom townhouse. The men share the bedroom, and he sleeps on the couch. Why does he do this? He told me that when men come out of prison, they usually have few relationships and need a lot of support to stay clean.
Anthony’s selflessness is truly remarkable. Despite his struggles, he willingly sacrifices his interests, time, and resources to love and serve these men. Those who accept his invitation often stay with him for months and, in some cases, for many years. The way Anthony lives out Jesus’ words in John 12:24—”I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”—is an inspiration.
Anthony told me that when people come out of prison, those in the community judge them, something they’ve said has happened all their lives. “I leave judgement up to God and instead seek to reveal Jesus to the men through kindness and patience.” He tells the men, “If I judge you, I will need to judge myself, and only the Lord can do that.” The men love this.
“Another thing, listening to them is a gift they have rarely received from others.” Anthony takes a genuine interest in how the men are doing and in what they are feeling. When Anthony reflects on what the men say to him, they respond by telling him, “You really are listening to me!”
From the beginning of their friendship, he shares his life story. “You understand us,” they say. “You’re one of us.”
“Yes, I am,” is Anthony’s response, “but with the Lord.”
Anthony tells me you can’t push people towards Jesus; you can only show Jesus through kindness and love. Every morning, Anthony reminds himself, “I am with God, and God is with me.” He leans on Jesus and is always interacting with the Lord, asking God for the right words to use when talking with the men. Anthony said that the Holy Spirit leads him to where he should sow seeds.
Anthony is not alone in his actions. Others in Settlers personally support him, and he also gets help from others. “For example,” he says, “one woman helps men with their CVs and job applications and finds them work, and Julie Baker provides valuable counselling when the men are ready for her help. Friends run regular meetings, and we watched the “The Chosen” movies. We have weekly get-togethers, and we do fun things together like going to the rugby and the City-to-Surf walk.”
“I love feeding people.” He says that people in addiction often don’t eat well. Anthony loves to give them healthy food. It’s not just food Anthony provides these men. I can see that Anthony is feeding people in the many ways he loves, serves, listens, sows seeds, and reveals Jesus to people. He is living out the commission Jesus gave to Peter, “Feed my sheep.”