We’ve been interviewing some of our volunteer Street Pastors to hear about what being a Street Pastor is really like. This week, we spoke to Steve.

Hi Steve! Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m Steve, a retired Site Manager who used to work in the chemical industry. I’m married to Julie – we’ve been married for over 3 decades and we have three grown up offspring. We moved to Chester in 2011 having previously lived in Bristol, Paris, Norwich and Kingsley. I am quite handy at DIY and decorating. I also enjoy baking and cooking and have recently got into craft brewing!

How long have you been involved with Chester Street Pastors?

I applied in April 2012 and did my first patrol in October of that year.

What made you decide to become a Street Pastor?

I heard a talk by Les Issacs, the founder of Street Pastors, at Spring Harvest (a Christian conference) which inspired me.

What skills or abilities do you have that help you as a Street Pastor?

I suppose I am a good listener and I am not abashed at talking with strangers.

What’s your favourite thing about being a Street Pastor?

Being a conduit for the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ out on the streets is wonderful.

Tell us about one of your best experiences as a Street Pastor, for example a night where you feel like you really made an impact on someone’s life, or helped someone:

There have been countless occasions when it has been obvious that I have had the privilege of walking alongside someone, if only for a couple of steps, in their walk towards faith.

Tell us about an experience you have been involved with or seen, where without Chester Street Pastors, the outcome could have been very different:

Being in a conversation with a street sleeper and realising that they have turned a corner and started to think about how things could be better. Finding a lone drunk female, deserted by her friends, home from university for the holidays, and giving her water, time, an exposure blanket and then seeing her off safely in a black cab – safe on her way home, no longer vulnerable.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about becoming a Street Pastor?

It is fun, not hard and very worthwhile, it is a great way to use your faith in the public space without preaching or being judgemental. Come and join us, or at least give us a try!

Thanks Steve!

If you’d like to find out more about getting involved with Chester Street Pastors, or if you’d like to try it out and join us for a shift as an observer, get in touch with us here!