In February 2011 Gravesend was pleased to commission a further 16 trained Street Pastors to join the original 20 trained in 2010, a total now of 36. As a result we have been able to extend our programme to cover Saturday as well as Friday nights every week, with a team of 4 out each evening from about 10 p.m – 2.00 a.m. Many of the public and those at work welcome us on the streets and good relationships are developing.
Over the past 18 months we have made contact with over 1500 members of the public, offering a listening ear, caring presence and practical and other support. This includes giving away 142 pairs of flip-flops and many bottles of water, escorting people to taxis, staying with someone who is ill and intervening to prevent arguments turning into something worse. Over 700 glass bottles have been removed from the town centre streets and our volunteers have given over 4000 hours of service.
We have been very grateful for the support of Gravesham Council for providing a venue for the training, for the Community Safety unit, who provide us with the use of a G-safe radio each week and a representative on our management committee and to Kent Police for their support and help, as well as those who have provided funding.
We are grateful too for the support of our 31 Prayer Pastors, 32 home pray-ers and for the 25 churches involved in the ministry and this project. It has been the most powerful Christian witness our town has seen and engaged the churches working ecumenically together. We praise God for his goodness and provision for this ministry.
Please contact us for more information, or about becoming a Street Pastor or Prayer Pastor.
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