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Last Friday saw the commissioning of the second wave of Street Pastors on the Isle of Wight in Newport Minster, followed by the first night on the streets of Newport.  In front of a large congregation in the Minster new Street Pastors were prayed for and commissioned with Street Pastors each handed their cap, ready to hit the streets.  Existing Street Pastors who completed the training programme last year and have been out on the streets of Ryde for a year now received a graduation certificate.

After the service a mixture of new and existing Street Pastors took to the streets, introducing themselves and the scheme to people around the town centre.  As well as receiving an enthusiastic welcome from people the Street Pastors managed to have a positive impact straight away.  While the new team finish the final few training sessions they will be out each Friday for the early part of the evening getting to know people, then will be on the streets until late every Friday from July 2nd.  Street Pastors will also be out on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Isle of Wight Festival.

Our first Isle of Wight Street Pastors newsletter is now available.

You can download a version for on screen reading from here, or obtain a printed copy or high resolution version to print at home by contacting David, SP co-ordinator.

The newsletter is the first in a series of biannual publications which will help keep you up to date with what’s going on with Street Pastors on the Island.   If you want to stay up to date throughout the year you can subscribe to our website feed using a feed reader or by email, or follow us on Twitter.

Since May 22nd 2009 until 31st December 2009 we have done 38 nights out on the streets of Ryde, Cowes and Newport. This equates to 970 man/ woman hours . We have had 134 meaningful conversations and been involved in 33 tense or challenging situations. We have given away hundreds of pairs of flip flops and bottles of water. We have got through almost 100 boxes of chocolates, and given out over 100 foil blankets. We have also picked up around 100 glass bottles. Between June 1st and December 31st the number of violent incidents in Ryde, on a Friday night decreased by 43%. Chief Superintendent Dave Thomas says that he regards this reduction in offenses as truly outstanding and would like to thank the team of Street Pastors for their hard work and contribution to these results.

(from the Jan 2010 newsletter)

OK, I’m really only posting this because I like alliteration.   That aside I thought you should know the lengths that our SP co-ordinator will go to to prove he has no fear.  David and I were part of a trip to Germany with 19 teenagers (scary enough already if you ask me) travelling to Dresden for a range of outdoor activities and to film a documentary.

Among the activities organised was rock climbing.  I took the sensible approach to this activity.  I didn’t book a place.  David however, was under strict instructions not to wuss out on anything.  First he had a bash at climbing with ropes (you basically haul yourself up a rope using a special harness – very hard work!) after which he was convinced he had scared himself enough.

Then a few minutes later he was spotted donning a climbing harness and shoes to attempt the rock climb.

I watched the whole thing, and until that point I never realised you could climb with zero skill, just pure adrenaline!   The ascent was rapid, and appeared to involve precious little use of hand or foot holds.  The technique appeared akin to spider man’s, I think sheer velocity ensured adherence to the cliff.  Our interpid co-ordinator then had to sit on top off the rather small flat top of the rock, eventually joined by 13 more people – a record number apparently.  Having had time to contemplate life, death and how on earth he was going to get down, David abseiled down the cliff face yelling at the top of his voice “Face the Fear” repeatedly.  When he got to the bottom he told me that he would have done anything to be back on the streets of Ryde facing angry drunks rather than hauling himself up and down a cliff.

I think the chant of “Face the Fear” is quite apt for a Street Pastor.  Every Friday night they go out not knowing what they are going to face.  They could come up against dangerous situations, or possibly have to face people’s  loneliness and despair.  So, if you’re sat comfortably at home on a Friday night, spare a thought or prayer for the team on the streets.

Title: Sunday Buzz
Location: Parish Hall, Victoria Road, Freshwater
Description: Dave Ouston, the organiser of the Street Pastors in the Isle of Wight, will be leading a worship time, and will talk about the work of the Street Pastors.

Details from Ros and Robin 755515 or Doreen 754946
Start Time: 20:00
Date: 2009-09-06