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 Hilary.

Hi Hilary! Tell us a bit about yourself:

I am a retired Speech and Language Therapist, my husband Neil is also a Street Pastor, we have 3 grown up children. We enjoy the outdoors particularly walking in the hills.

How long have you been involved with Chester Street Pastors?

I have been a Street Pastor for nearly 2 years.

What made you decide to become a Street Pastor?

I liked the idea of sharing my faith in a practical way, showing God’s love by helping people in difficult situations.

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

I like to think I have good listening skills and am able to see people as individuals and not as problems.

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

I really enjoy talking to people and hearing about their problems.

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:

I felt I had made an impact when one of the homeless asked another Street Pastor after me by name and sent her greetings.

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

There have been several occasions when we have supported someone who is very worse for wear with a friend who is upset and doesn’t know what to do, to be able to help, stay with them and see a safe successful outcome is always a comfort, particularly the young women can be so vulnerable. There have also been times when we have supported young women on their own and made sure that they are safe.

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

Come and see! It is not for everyone but it is a great privilege to be able to help people when they are in distress at night in Chester.

Thanks Hilary!

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!