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Street Pastoring is a remarkable initiative, a partnership between the churches, local government and the police, working together for the betterment of the community. A Street Pastor is someone from the Christian community who is willing to care, listen and help, particularly young people who have found themselves on the edges of society. Street Pastors focus on meeting people where they are, both in terms of their thinking (their perspective of life) and location (where they hang out – be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties). The Street Pastor is there to get to know people in the community and to build relationships in order to find out their needs and what can be done to help. It is the church going to the community, not asking the community to come to it. The role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of caring, listening and helping …

The plan is that Street Pastors will deploy initially in Ryde and then across the other towns as more people are recruited. The scheme has already achieved significant success on the mainland and I am delighted to see it beginning here.

Street Pastors are volunteers and give generously of their time and energies, often working in the small hours when the rest of us are warm and snug at home. In preparation for this and the situations he will meet, Alistair is undertaking a detailed training course including first aid training, law, competence in negotiation, mental health counselling, misuse of drugs, blood borne virus info etc. Inevitably there are costs involved; if you would like to contribute to this project please send your contributions to Street Pastors c/o Northwood Rectory, Chawton Lane, Cowes PO31 8PR (cheques should be made payable to Northwood PCC).

May I ask you to support Alistair and the other trainee pastors with your prayers as they begin this important outreach work. Please pray too that others will be drawn to this work so that the scheme will soon expand to this part of the Island.

The Rev’d Lyn McRostie

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