Street Pastors has touched many lives in the ten years since its launch in the UK. This book collects together some of those people and tells the stories of their connection to Street Pastors:
Pioneered in London in 2003 by Rev. Les Isaac, Street Pastors is an interdenominational church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen, and dialogue. There are now 9,000 trained volunteers in around 250 teams around the United Kingdom.
This book brings together the stories of some of the many people whose lives have been touched by this exciting initiative over the last decade. People like:
James, who tells of the night he met street pastors in a Bedfordshire market town, and local government executives.
Like Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, who supports the work of Street Pastors in south London.
Like Sam, a street pastor in Newcastle with his story about the costs and privileges of serving his community.
Like the solicitor who resolves the legal and policy questions that arise when street pastors are in challenging situations on the streets.
From the launch of the initiative in Gibraltar to the after-school patrol of a school pastor in Plymouth, this book provides a panoramic view of the work of Street Pastors.
Big visions thrive on small details; this book captures some of the individual stories that make the big vision for Street Pastors real in towns and cities in the UK and beyond.
9,000 trained volunteers
11 years
250 towns
7 countries
xxx pairs of flip-flops handed out
- these are the numbers that are bringing about change, town by town, to the face of the UK... and more and more countries around the world. Since 2003, Street Pastors have been a feature of the night-time high street: friendly faces and listening ears, defusing tension and helping people get home.
These are the Street Pastors: caring; listening; helping.
And this is the church in action - taking its faith on the streets.