Basildon Street Pastors

Churches Together first heard about Street Pastors in January 2016 when Phil Norton came and told us all about them at the Celebration at St Gabriel’s. Street Pastors have been working in Essex for some years and there are established teams in Chelmsford and Southend.

Teams are formed to build relationships with people needing help on the streets late at night. Everything is based on doing what Jesus would do in a similar place and time. Pastors know its  important not to judge the people they meet. And  team members may have many  significant conversations. First a relationship must be built. From there you can point them to any help required or talk to them personally. Opportunities arise when asked why you are there and from here you can tell them why you do it. Pastors meet a variety of people from drunken young people trying to enjoy a night out to lonely people, people with health issues, and  homeless people.  In the course of an evening they may provide flip flops for girls no longer able to manage their high heels, water for those who have become dehydrated. They often find that a pocket full of  lollipops are very useful for angry shouting people.  Pastors may need to call a taxi  or even an ambulance. Teams are made up of three or four pastors who look after one another and provide their colleagues with prayer backing in difficult situations. In addition there will also be people praying back at headquarters and in contact by phone.

Street Pastors can only be recruited in places where the Police, Council and at least 4 local churches are in agreement to a Street Pastor plan. In  Basildon eight churches has given their approval so far.

Please pray for God’s peace and protection for us as we patrol the area and that we will build strong relational bridges with staff at Cosmos and door-staff and management at the various venues in the town centre (as we will have continuous contact with them). Please pray that as we build relationships we will be able to convey the gospel to them. I have been thinking on the woman with the issue of blood who, having heard about Jesus decided to break out of her isolation (confinement of the law) and reach out to Jesus. I believe the Lord is saying that He wants to reach out to those who have been marginalised and Street Pastors will be generating hope and the presence of Jesus onto the streets that will coax the marginalised to reach out to Him.

If you want to become a street pastor contact the Basildon Street Pastors via Ricky Harvey 07702080775 Basildon@Streetpastors.org.uk

Latest news

We have been on patrol since Friday 29th July 2016 and have completed every Friday night. 23 Street Pastors have deployed  supported by 12 people praying from home getting regular updates via whatsapp.

The reception from the community has been amazing. We have met all the door staff at the various clubs and pubs and the majority are very friendly and support what we do. We have already had calls from them to assist with vulnerable people that they spot out and about. Our Whatsapp group means that the team can ask for prayer over situations immediately and also share good stories whilst out. We have also met several Homeless people that need care, prayer, medical treatment and hope. We will continue to do what we can during the night and signpost them to help in the morning. We notify Streetlink if there are any new vulnerable homeless people in order that the St Mungos reps know what’s going on. There are several places open all night for food, amusements or gambling machines.

We link in with the Rail station staff and have stayed with some people who were waiting for Stansted Airport night bus but were very concerned for their safety. We have sung to a homeless lady, laughed with a man who thought we were police and threw his Beer away. We have already listened to some desperate people that have asked us for prayer. We believe that we have begun a very significant Ministry on behalf of the local church and have had requests from local councillors and press to come and patrol to see what we do. Please pray for us as we continue search for Town Centre base and also for Wisdom in what Public events to attend to share what we are doing.

We are an open project always recruiting and enjoy taken visitors out for the night shadowing what we do to gather more information to establish if they want to join. We are also open to financial donations as we have a small amount of costs around consumables and uniform.

We are on Facebook and Twitter so why not follow what we are doing through that.

Thanks for your support email Basildon@Streetpastors.org.uk