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Christians walk the walk to keep city centre night owls safe
New street pastors were joined by police at a special service held at the High Court Chambers before going out on the streets to help and advise people at night
Volunteers with a difference are hitting the streets of Sheffield on Friday nights.
As well as looking out for trouble and keeping an eye on drunk revellers, they’ll also be dispensing Christian goodwill and, if required, prayer.
Meet the Street Pastors - helpers patrolling Sheffield in distinctive blue jackets, on a mission to make the church more visible on the streets.
The pastors will be handing out water and lollies to pub-goers, blankets to the homeless, basic first aid to the injured and flip flops to girls struggling in high heels.
The launch follows similar schemes in cities around the UK and a trial has been running for a year in Burngreave. Street Pastors co-ordinator Tricia Watts said that trial has been very well-received.
Tricia said 14 pastors went out on the first night and four will be out every Friday.
“We’ll be walking around, making sure vulnerable people are okay, and chatting to people,” said Tricia.
“We’ve done training in street safety, drugs and alcohol abuse and listening skills.”
The project is a partnership between local churches, police and Sheffield Council and the pastors will be able to communicate via two-way radios overseen by CCTV cameras.
“If a dangerous situation develops we’ll back out and call the police,” said Tricia.
“We’re not there to be the police, we’re there to listen, care and help. Recruitment is ongoing and we have a rolling training programme.”
Chf Insp Simon Verrall said: “It’s really supportive to have volunteers who want to assist the police and engage with young people.”
Tricia, aged 50, is a part-time teacher at Bradfield and Dungworth Primary School and became a Christian at 16. Her husband Jon Watts is pastor of the Rock Christian Centre, Burngreave.
“We always pray before going out, and when we come back as well. We believe God will protect us, but not if we’re being stupid and going into dangerous situations.
“We’ve had very good conversations and built up a lot of relationships with shopkeepers, local pubs and the like. The city centre will be very different, though, because it’s 100 times busier.
“We don’t want to preach to people, but if people ask why we’re doing it we tell them we’re Christians. In a lot of other cities street pastors have got a very good response - hopefully we’ll see the same.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Reaper
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 12:47 AMswfc. If you have been bombarded by these freaks, as I have several times previously, then you'd realise they don't understand the words; "No!" or "Go Away!" etc. I've had to raise my voice & snarl at one, who INSISTED I should take his pamphlet, "as you may need it sometime". At the time, I was patiently waiting in a double queue around The City Hall to purchase concert tickets. The above prat & his colleagues had a captive audience to peddle their beliefs to; others waiting like myself were also hassled. Groups of them are even worse: I was harassed & surrounded by a selection of the jesus army's pasty-faced teen 'followers' after telling the one who appeared in my face, that I wasn't interested in their god or beliefs, & considered myself as Agnostic. The reaction from these poor brainwashed kids; you would have thought I'd hammered the nails in personally! It took a threat from myself to re-arrange the face of the most verbal 'christian' in the mob, before I was able to walk away, & rejoin the normality of the general public. Believe me; the jail time would be worth it..
serendipity
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 10:33 PMIt's comforting to know that if I get attacked by a gang of crackheads on Saturday night, an army of middle-aged, flip-flop wielding christians will come racing to my rescue and give them a good flip-flopping.
swfc
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 09:54 PMReaper, come on be serious how many times have you had this sort of brain washing as i dont anybody who has? they are helping people they are not walking around preaching they hope that people will see the good they do and will then seek to ask how they can be so good! and i think you give them a slap you will spend a bit of time in jail!
Reaper
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 08:29 PMYet again, the god-botherers find a 'captive audience' to spew their mumbo-jumbo to. What's easier than a person who's had a few bevy's? (makes a change from brainwashing young kids..) I'm afraid if they approached me, they'd get a slap for invading my personal space.
citygirl
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 05:59 PMGiving up Friday night to offer care to those on the streets is not for everyone so well done Street Pastors.
Jamesowl
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 12:46 PMIt sounds as though these people are doing a very good job for the community and I say well done to them.
swfc
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 08:57 AMHorsemen , I would class the drunks as the loony ones! they are not only doing it for drunks they are doing it for people who are sleeping on the streets, I'm sure they will not come up to you and start preaching , they are just giving out some very basic care , and they are going to be of great value some basic first aid and a call for an ambulance might help so many people. a warm blanket or some dry clothes is the world to others, this is fantastic they are giving up there own free time to help others . a big well done ,
horseman of the apocalypse
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 08:34 AMThe last thing I would want if I was out on the town is some religious loony offering me lollies and flip flops!
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