Welcome to the Isle of Wight Street Pastors Co-ordinator’s blog. This area of the website will feature David’s random musings on life the universe and everything – mostly with a Street Pastor flavour but you never know what might turn up here! For updates on the scheme see the news and events sections. You can also keep right up to date by following us on Twitter.
22 Street Pastors Commisioned
On Friday 22nd May 2009, the first 22 Street Pastors on the Isle of Wight were commissioned and sent out onto the Streets of Ryde. The Street Pastors were blessed by Caroline Baston, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight in front of a packed congregation at Ryde Methodist Church. David Ouston, Isle of Wight Street Pastors Co-ordinator; David Pugh, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council; Chief Superintendent David Thomas and Gay Edwards, High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight also addressed the congregation.
Straight after the service the Street Pastors headed out onto the streets of Ryde to meet people and introduce themselves. The Street Pastors will become a regular part of Ryde’s Friday night scene from the end of June.
Presentation in Gurnard
Friday 5th June – 7pm – All Saint’s Church, Gurnard
Come and listen to a short presentation to be given by Alistair Bridle, a recently appointed Street Pastor, and David Ouston, Isle of Wight Street Pastor coordinator, about the training and work of the Street Pastors.
Also be entertained by contemporary worship music. This will be followed by refreshments.
All donations given will go to supporting the Street Pastors on the Isle of Wight.
First recruitment event
On Tuesday 3rd February 2009 Isle of Wight Street Pastors held its first Recruitment evening in Newport and, despite the snow and cold, over 90 people attended. There was representation from the Police, County Council, Environment & Neighbourhoods Officers, Community Safety Services and Christians from a wide range of denominations. It was a very successful evening with strong statements of endorsement from Chief Superintendent Thomas, Councillor Alan Wells and Archdeacon Caroline Baston.
Many people volunteered to be Street Pastors or Prayer Pastors and others expressed support for the scheme in different ways. David Ouston the SP Co-ordinator, who led the evening said that he was delighted with the response and everything is now in place to continue with, interviews, training and a launch onto the streets by May of this year.
