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Friday, April 30, 2004

STREET PASTORS PREPARE TO TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

By Patrick Reilly
Special to ASSIST News Service

MANCHESTER, UK  (ANS) -- A crime-busting missionary outreach whose roots can be found in Kingston Jamaica and then spread to London, has made its way north to Birmingham and has now as reached far as Manchester. (Pictured: Street Pastors in action).
Churches in the city came together for a special commissioning service held on Wednesday April 28th to pray for a team of “Street Pastors”, an interdenominational movement of Christians who are willing to take the “Good News” of Jesus Christ out of the four walls of their churches to where the need is the greatest, despite the risks to themselves on the front line in the fight against crime.

A team 17 people are about to undergo training in conflict resolution, drug awareness and counselling skills with support from the police (GMP), Manchester University and social services. They want to respond to the urban problems of crime in some of the most deprived areas of the city to make a positive difference in the lives of young people.

A MUCH NEEDED FORCE FOR GOOD

Manchester like any other major city in the UK is plagued by the drugs, guns and the gang culture. A weapons amnesty last year saw hundreds of lethal weapons handed in to police stations across Manchester and included hand guns as well as semi automatic weapons. Chief Superintendent Neil Wain of the Greater Manchester Police force told the congregation at the holy Trinity church meeting in Rusholme of “the desperate need for this work in our communities”. He went onto speak of the previous weekend that police officers of the GMP had to respond to. Emergency calls included several shootings and a gang fight at a local hospital. (Pictured: Rev Les Isaacs and Neil Wain).

In a press statement Neil said “real change occurs where the community mobilise themselves and get involved. I not only believe this (project) will assist the police in tackling the problems but will demonstrate real Christian concern and practical support for those people who find themselves involved in gangs”.

Paul Keeble from CARISMA (Community Alliance for Renewal, Inner South Manchester Area), a community group formed 18 months ago in the city, said “I have always had a passion as a Christian for seeing Christians to get out of their church buildings and out into the world to be salt and light, street pastors is just that.”

A PROVEN POSITIVE IMPACT

Street Pastors was pioneered in London by Pastor Les Isaac of the Ascension Trust in response to the capital’s rising drug and gun related crimes. With just 18 volunteers who patrolled the streets between 10.00pm and 4.am.visiting pubs, clubs and parties they befriend and counselled vulnerable youngsters who were marginalised from main stream society. Wearing their very visible uniforms boldly displaying “Street Pastor” they have gained a reputation of being “cool” by those they seek to reach and have gained the trust and respect with “street cred”.

Just 12 months after the launch of the first UK “street pastors” initiative volunteers now number 100 and is spreading to other boroughs. Volunteers come from all walks of life and lifestyles and include student doctors, youth workers, grandmas and grandpas. They all share the desire to make a difference in their communities. Pastor Les said “For every one male street pastors in London there are six female pastors who have demonstrated an amazing ability to diffuse potentially aggressive situations.”

A 30%in crime has been recorded since the Launch of the Street Pastors project.

Pastor Les went onto say, “The success is due to what I call the urban the trinity. In London we have to work with the local authorities and with the police.” The police have trained the pastors and local authorities accept our referrals for social care help. He also spoke of a church service where gang members were invited. In the collection offering were a variety of drugs, knives and a hand gun!

MOSSIDE, A PLACE WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE WARY

Even a drive or walk through Mosside in Manchester during daylights hours is a harrowing experience. Many of the residents live behind bars on their front doors and windows for fear and wouldn’t dare venture out after dark. High unemployment and social depravation make it an ideal breeding ground for crime where drug gang’s fight for control of the trade and streets. The area is the first to targeted by the Street Pastors’ teams. (Pictured: Chief Constable Mike Todd with weapons handed into police).

Marca Swen who works in the area with the youth service has enthusiastically volunteered to train a pastor. When Marca was asked about going into such into an inhospitable and dangerous environment she replied, “I am not going; I am being sent in by God. Since I became a Christian I have known that God was calling me to be a witness for him so as long as I am going to go out and do his work he is going to look after me because he promised to do that.” 18 volunteers have signed up to become street pastors but more are expected to join before the programme begins in the early part of the summer.

POLICE PRAISE INITIATIVE

Senior police officers of the GMP have wholeheartedly embraced the ministry of the Street Pastors and will be involved in the training procedures. Chief Inspector John Graves said “we are obviously keen to support any initiative from the community, especially when those initiatives that divert young people away from crime and gang related violence.”

Superintendent Val Binsted who is also a member of the Christian Police Association joined the church congregation for the special service told ANS, “This is the sort of thing that you pray about for years, that God would address some of the things that are really wrong in our community. Crime is just a technical word for sin and we all know that the only answer to sin is the Lord Jesus Christ. I think it’s fantastic!”

The streets pastors will patrol the streets of Manchester starting this June.

For more information on the Street Pastors project go to www.carisma.me.uk
Patrick Reilly is a freelance Christian journalist based in the UK. He can be contacted by e-mail at patrickr@fish
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