| Street Pastors walk the walk and talk the talk |
|
It’s 4am, the club has closed and you’ve had one too many drinks. In three inch heels you are struggling to make your  way to the taxi rank. The night has taken a turn for the worst, you are on your own and feeling evermore vulnerable. You are approached by a man and a woman offering you a pair of flip flops and company to the taxi rank. This can’t be right, what’s the catch? How much money do they want? Why would they be so caring? This is a typical Friday night for Street Pastors operating across the UK. Their role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping – working in an unconditional way. It’s 4am, the club has closed and you’ve had one too many drinks. In three inch heels you are struggling to make your way to the taxi rank. The night has taken a turn for the worst, you are on your own and feeling evermore vulnerable. You are approached by a man and a woman offering you a pair of flip flops and company to the taxi rank. This can’t be right, what’s the catch? How much money do they want? Why would they be so caring? This is a typical Friday night for Street Pastors operating across the UK. Their role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping – working in an unconditional way. Street Pastors is a combined Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and talk to those who are in need. Pioneered by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, Street Pastors has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working. What began in Brixton, South London in 2003, has grown to 125 teams working around the UK, and one in the West Indies. 3000 trained, checked and uniformed Christian volunteers are out on the street each week. A Street Pastor is a Church leader, minister or member with a concern for society, particularly young people who find themselves to be excluded and marginalised. A Street Pastor aims to engage local people, in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out – be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties etc). Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local co-ordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups, in partnership with Police, Home Office, councils and other statutory agencies. The work of the Street Pastors has earned the group credibility in the community. People are now more aware that the Church is working in a practical way to help those in need. Rev Les Isaac, speaking recently on BBC Radio 4, said; ‘We have knife bins around London and we have been able to collect nearly 200 knives per month.’ Far from putting off young people, Les said that the Street Pastor uniform often makes young people open up. ‘We find they begin to talk to us. More often that not, young people unpack (their troubles) with someone who will listen and not judge them. If someone says they don’t want help, we draw back and watch.’ It’s not just one off conversations either, Les mentors young people. ‘What we desperately need is a support for young people then they don’t have to become a victim of their own circumstances. I believe human beings can respond to love.’  Prayer and action go hand in hand. ‘I keep praying. I see my role as to always be pragmatic – that’s what drives me on and the Street Pastors.’ Seized criminal assets to fund Street Pastors A government scheme which turns the profits of criminals to funding for good causes is backing Street Pastor teams in five areas. Community Cashback gives local people a say in how £4 million of confiscated criminal assets are used. And among the first successful projects announced were Street Pastors schemes in Derby, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Cheltenham and Bedford. Source: Baptist Times (22/10/2009) Les Isaac’s book, ‘Street Pastors’ published by Survivor Book (www.survivor.co.uk) tells the compelling story of this initiative that is making such an impact on our streets. See www.streetpastors.co.uk for more details. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
