From an early age, Missionary, Carol McFarlane, had felt displaced, ultimately leading her down a troubled path.

“I'd been in and out of trouble since a teenager. The judge had had enough of me. He decided I was going to do a prison sentence. As I went into prison, I thought my life was over. But I had no idea that that was where my life was just beginning.”

Whilst in prison, she met an inmate who had become a Christian and shared Christian literature with her. Spending most of the day locked in a cell, Carol spent hours reading the bible.

“As I started to read the Bible, I was convinced that God was a judge. I felt that judgment was looming for me. And as I began to read this Bible and these testimony books, I found that Jesus would prefer to be merciful than to judge you. I was very surprised that God would be like this.”

Gradually the gospel began to heal the damage from years of pain and hurt, transforming Carol’s heart and habits, filling the void she had once filled with drugs and alcohol.

“That was the beginning for me out of addiction and rebellion. The more I read, I started to believe that I mattered to God. That was hard to believe because I had felt I didn't matter to anybody. And when I started to believe I mattered to God, I didn't want to drink anymore, I didn't want to take drugs. I didn't want to do the things I've been doing, causing so much pain and trouble for my family.”

That was the beginning of a turnaround in Carol’s life. Moving from Ireland to London, she joined London City Mission in 1994, now working with people on the margins of society struggling with addictions.

“I've had opportunities to reach out and I'm working with addicts, mostly marginalised people, and I know that Jesus is the answer. People are broken, hearts are broken, minds are broken, bodies are broken. People need the word of God, the truth that sets you free.”

“If I can leave people with a gospel or a Bible, I know God can do the rest.”