Today I was privileged to have a short conversation with a couple of street pastors. What they said encouraged me.
They told me that where street pastors had been introduced, crime had decreased significantly. So much so that in some areas the police have approached churches with a request to start up a street pastor scheme.Of course, it's nothing remarkable to a Christian to hear that introducing Christ to a society would have such an effect. However, what is encouraging is that officialdom is starting to realise this. Is this the same officialdom that disgracefully suspends people from their job or sacks them because they wear a cross, mention God or offer to pray for someone whilst at work?
I'd like to believe that this is the work of the Holy Spirit fighting back? It's not how I would have imagined it, but that's par for the course! God will never be defeated! Could street pastors be the seeds of Christian renewal in our nation? Please pray for the work that hey do among ordinary folk.
The concept of caring for people outside of a church environment is not new. Many churches (especially The Salvation Army, dare I say) have been doing it for years. But Street Pastors is a reasonably new project, but with enough track record to establish credibility. The churches in Southend have a "Love Southend" movement to help bring God's love to people in a practical way, and Southend's street pastors are part of this. Premier Radio is behind the establishment of "Love London" on similar lines. The Bible Society is promoting "lyfe" - a project to take Christianity out of the Church. It's not quite the same a Street Pastors, yet it has the simialrity of Christians moving away from the comfort zone of Christ in the church, to Chirst in the world. These projects are the seeds of renewal and need to be watered.
One of the pastors told me that they meet the peoples' needs of the moment "It is not about going out onto the streets with a 4x4 Bible," he explained."It's about giving to people the help and support they need at that time. If they engage in conversation and build trust, then you can start to introduce Christ."
More information:
www.streetpastors.co.uk/
www.premier.org.uk/features/lovelondon.aspx
www.lyfe.org.uk
