Reading Street Pastors was launched in February 2009, employing me in mid-June. We started training in September, had our commissioning service on 10th October and hit the streets straight after, on a Friday night. At present we don’t have any team leaders or seniors pastors.
Street Pastors has been made possible in our area mainly through the Chairman of the management committee, Alan Magness, who bought together the committee consisting of various church leaders from different backgrounds, and other Christian social action project managers. Since the launch, Reading churches across the town, the Reading Safer Forum under Reading Borough Council, the local Pubwatch group and Local town centre specialist Police have been fully committed to the project. We have a team of about 20 committed volunteers from around 10 different churches who began their initial training in September, with more people in the pipeline who are interested. We are excited for where God is leading us and how the project will grow, develop and impact Reading town centre for the sake of his Kingdom.
Reading town centre is a popular destination for party goers at the weekend attracting thousands from all over the area. With many bars, pubs and late night venues, Reading becomes a very busy tow,n especially during term time with its big university and influx of students. The need for Street Pastors to be out and about the town centre late at night is big.
Please do contact me, Matt Hearn, if you are interested in finding out more.
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