January - Cheltenham Street Pastors

Cheltenham Street Pastors launched on the town’s streets on Saturday 5th December 2009 after a Commissioning Service for volunteers on 1st December.

The project came about as a result of God’s call on four lay people in Gloucestershire a little more than eighteen months ago. It was clear to these individuals God was calling them to bring new and effective Christian work to the streets of our County. Church leaders in Cheltenham were working towards ecumenical cohesion and outreach too, and God pulled everyone together in prayerful action.

Cheltenham Street Pastors are based on the work of the Ascension Trust which began in London in 2003 as an inter-denominational church response to urban problems. They aim to engage with people on the streets to care, listen and enter into dialogue.

A Street Pastor needs to be over 18, a church member and able to commit to a twelve session training course. The course includes subjects such as counseling skills, drugs awareness, sociology, knowing your community, role and responsibility, and street safety.

Each Street Pastor will have a concern for society, in particular with young people, and will be wiling to engage with people where they are in terms of their thinking and location. They will be working with other agencies and projects to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting young people and building trust. The role is not about preaching but is one of listening, caring and helping in an unconditional way.

We have supported the vision of forming a team of Street Pastors with our prayers since it was first brought up at Church Meeting for our consideration. Now is the appropriate time to offer our financial help as our chosen charity.

Recruitment and training of a second team is under way and funding is needed to help with training expenses and necessary equipment for the volunteers.

If you would like to apply to become a Street Pastor in Cheltenham or to support the teams through prayer or other practical help please contact Howard Bartlett on 01242 231644 or cheltenham@streetpastors.org.uk

For more information on Cheltenham Street Pastors go to the Cheltenham Page on The Street Pastors Web Page