Page 14 - PT-Spring-2021

Sandie Shirley

We all need

encouragement

S Coralita Martin

ncouragement can revive weary travellers. It dictated a change of diet for a serious gall
can renew desolate hearts with expectancy. bladder problem. Her health challenge
EIt can bring hope after loss, disappointment changed her life. She became a Christian,
and hardship. We all need encouragement to be launched a health and fitness franchise and Photo Credit: supplied by author
was presented with a CBE some years later.
courageous during the turns and seasons of life. She has blazed a trail for thousands of
Barnabas in the Bible was known as a ‘Son of men, women and children including cancer
Encouragement’. He was an advocate to esteem sufferers, an ex-heroin addict who lost five
and redeem the fallen and forsaken. He was stone and a pensioner who realised her modelling ambition.
generous, selling land to give to an exploding And her ‘Kids 2’ classes were the first of their kind in the
church while supporting the helpless and the UK and aimed at building eating and exercise strategies for
long-term help to combat obesity.
poor. Like a bridge over troubled water he When I met Rosemary, she was visiting a deprived area
brought much needed resources, comfort, and in East Anglia to present achievement awards to a dozen
encouragement to refresh and re-activate others struggling teenage schoolgirls who had completed an extra
to run their race for life. curriculum course to stoke their interest and learning.
The topics included diet, exercise, beauty, well-being
As a reporter I have written about many encouragers. and spirituality to heighten their self-image and future
Often, they have overcome tragedy and despair, making the prospects and to promote classroom learning.
‘valley of weeping’ a watering hole for drought souls. They Beforehand, Rosemary made every girl the focus of her
have learnt and excelled, having walked through darkened attention, speaking, listening, caring while raising their
difficult corridors. Their personal stories highlight their morale. During the packed award ceremony, she spoke
brave and determined stand against the ‘giants’ of soul, about her own life to illustrate that although she did not
body and mind. Their testimonies are a showcase for have a university degree the ‘university of life’ helped her
hope, proving that the toughest stories can release the succeed. It was an encouraging statement, especially for
greatest treasures. those who found school life difficult.
Some have made the headlines; others have worked For nearly 50 years she has won the
steadily and unannounced away from the limelight. respect of the nation and beyond as her
Encounters and challenges have been severe, but they franchise business ran 2,000 weekly
are now channels of mercy, empathy and inspiration, classes with over 70,000 UK members.
energising our spirits with fresh motivation. Over the years her books and DVDs
have sold more than nine million
Challenged through health copies worldwide. Now her business
Rosemary Conley launched a health and fitness business has taken a new path with an online
five decades ago after a gruelling stay in hospital that weight loss club and this year, aged

14 The Plain Truth Spring 2021 Find us online at www.plain-truth.org.uk