Stamps for Evangelism

An Edited version of an article published in "Evangelism Today"  in    

December 1994 

IT WAS TIME FOR PAT TO GO

Pat Bysh was the driving force behind the amazingly successful story of Stamps for Evangelism. She was the one who wrote the prayer letters and spent time speaking to people about the project, sometimes in a public house with half a dozen people, sometimes on a public platform at a church or conference. Thousands will remember her from her days at the Filey Holiday Convention, an unlikely heroine, but an immensely likeable one. It was at "Filey" in 1986 that she shared that she was suffering from an incurable tumour which could take her home at any time. But she lived on another eight years, full of the Joy of the Lord and as determined as ever to serve Him all her days.

Born in Sussex she met Peter at sessions to prepare people for baptism in 1965. She had found the Lord when she was away cooking at a Baptist Summer School. Before she married Peter she worked in a Methodist youth hostel in Muswell Hill before moving to Derby. At the end of 1965 they talked about reclaiming postage stamps and selling them to help missionary work. In November 1965 she started by writing to 500 local companies asking them to cut off the stamps (with not more than a quarter of an inch of paper left around them). Seventy firms gave her the answer she wanted and she wheeled her shopping basket round collecting them. One of those firms still supplies them with stamps.-Scores of Christian missions and organisations have saved and passed on stamps over the years and they reckon that 227,000,000 have been processed through their home. Around £150,000 has passed through their hands to bring help to missions, churches and charities across Britain.

IT WAS TIME

When Pat died last month there was the usual moment of sadness, but few doubted it was time. She had suffered enough, and her reward was waiting. For Peter and their son Paul recent months had been difficult as they watched her grow weaker. At the Thanksgiving service Pat had arranged in Derby, hymns of praise were sung and Pastor Ken Lewis of Davenport Road Evangelical church spoke of her persistence. I have got to say that in some circles things start with a bang and a flash and in six months they've fizzled out. Pat and Peter have gone on since 1966 and many have benefited." He spoke of a visit he made to the 'factory' where Peter and Pat worked amidst hundreds of water logged stamps, cleaning and processing them ready for sale, and how patient Paul had been. "Pat told me they liked commemoratives stamps best". I asked why and she said they raised much more money - because they had a special image. That set the preacher thinking about our special image, marred by sin, but made again as we trust Christ as our Saviour and sin-bearer. And one day, we, like Pat, can look forward to being 'in the image of Christ' when He comes or calls and we shall be like Him. Young people used to call at the Byshes home where they were regaled with some of her famous home-made cakes. She brought sweetness into their lives, the preacher quipped. And not just young people.