Malcolm

I am a member of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. I have a legal background. I became a street pastor after my wife became one. She was so enthused about her experience of late night culture and helping others late at night and early in the morning that I wanted to do the same. I am similarly enthused. Each night I have gone out we have really helped people worse for wear to be safe, to be warm when it is cold, to get back on their feet when they have been ill and to be comfortable e.g. providing sweets, water and flip flops to those with sore feet. We are welcomed and thanked every time we go out. I hope we reflect God’s love for all.

Graham

Have you ever stayed out in Oxford city centre until 4am ? It’s a whole other world. The city comes alive in a very different way. We meet people having fun as they visit the pubs and clubs, people who need practical support and help, people who are in danger or at risk and we meet real loneliness and despair. Street Pastors are there to help.

I became a Street Pastor in 2010 when a few Oxford churches got together to join in with this growing national movement of Christians who went out on the streets at night. We knew this was something God was calling us to do. I belong to The Salvation Army where I do my best to be a disciple of Jesus and engage in mission and evangelism and so along with several of my fellow Salvationsists we did the required training and I became a Street Pastor. The training covered things like how the night time economy works, how the city is policed, how CCTV works, how to deal with aggression, and how to support people who have had a bit too much alcohol, drug and knife crime awareness, mental health and so much more.

What motivates me to go out on the streets of Oxford from 10pm until 4am? Having children myself is highly motivating. Every young person we help is someone’s son or daughter. I’m also motivated by Jesus calling us to be light in the darkness and to be a light in this often dark place then I need to go out. It’s 2am in the morning, a young man’s girlfriend has just dumped him, he’s had a lot to drink and he’s feeling sad and is in despair. I can’t encourage and affirm that young man from home, I need to be outside. I need to be outside to help the vulnerable girl who’s asleep on the pavement and her friends don’t know what to do or how to get home.

But I don’t go alone. There’s always at least 3 Street Pastors in a team, we have a radio link to CCTV who can watch us, we have an amazing coordinator who makes sure everything is organised for our shift and we have other Street Pastors and supporters who pray for us and intercede for the city. But, most of all Jesus is with us. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, gives us words to say, leads us down streets and alleyways, ministers to hearts in ways that we cannot and stays in the city when we go home.

Freda

So many people make up the Oxford night scene and being a part of it as a Street Pastor, gives me new insights into a very different city. We meet the taxi marshalls, club staff, kebab sellers, and police as well as everyone there to enjoy themselves or with no home to go to.  I joined Street Pastors about eight years ago, after many years  working with students and young people, when it seemed an ideal way to stay in contact with them, even if I was swapping a daytime role for a weekend night shift! I really value this practical opportunity to share God’s love and am always learning from my team and the situations we encounter.