What an exciting night! I was commissioned along with around a dozen other Oxford Street Pastors yesterday evening and New Road Baptist Church. We were addressed by DCI Colin Paine of Thames Valley Police and by Revd Paul Rush of the Ascension Trust, that sets up each Street Pastors Scheme. I’m pictured here with Ruth Wilson, a member of St. Columba’s United Reformed Church, like me. There were people from many local churches and denominations being inducted as Street Pastors. Rob and Gemma Winn from Wesley Memorial Church have worked very hard in setting up the scheme and we are very honoured to have Pearl Lewis from the Salvation Army as our coordinator.
We started at 10pm and walked around Cornmarket Street, George Street, Park End Street, Hythe Bridge Street, Frideswide Square and St. Ebbes. We met and spoke to lots of people. Many were just interested in what we were doing, some wanted to know where to find a cab, a few women had tired feet and had taken their shoes off and so were grateful for the Street Pastors flip-flops that we were handing out. One group of us got into a really deep conversation with someone about problems at home and were the first people this person had felt able to talk to about it. We picked up quite a few glass bottles off the street and put them in bins thereby reducing the likelihood of their causing injury or being used as weapons. We spoke to quite a few homeless people who seemed genuinely pleased of the conversation and attention. There were some humbling stories.
I think we successfully stopped a fight from happening by going up and chatting to a group of young men who I think had had one to many drinks. Street Pastors is not about breaking up fights – that the Police’s job – but it is amazing the effect seeing a person wearing a clear Street Pastors uniform has on people. They want to chat and their aggression just seems to evaporate. Quite the opposite reaction that people unfortunately sometimes have to the Police.
Towards the end of our session we met a very drunk young man who couldn’t stand up and was rather ill. We helped him, giving him water, and making sure his friends knew how to look after him and were not going to leave him. We finished around 3.45am after an incredibly rewarding evening. I can’t wait to go out again!
We were really grateful for the support of Karen Crossan, Oxford City Council’s nightsafe manager; and of Thames Valley Police for being so friendly and supportive. You may ask why I am writing about this in my council blog. Well apart from the fact that most of our pastoring happens in my ward, Carfax, I think doing things in the community, whether they be as a response to faith or not, is very important for councillors if we are to stay in touch with our constituents.
On a theological note, I think that doing things together with other denominations of Christians is extremely important and is absolutely the way we grow together in common understanding of our calling. Sure – we have differences of opinion on some things but I think we are all agreed that we are called to share God’s love, care and listening with all those we meet on the streets in our 10pm-4am sessions.