Why Did I Become a Street Pastor

It’s all Bob Goode’s fault really!

Firstly, he organised a conference to discuss what we could do to with regard to the coming new millennium. It was here that I heard all about this idea of cancelling the debt owed by the third world – this was called The Jubilee Debt campaign. To be fair, I had heard about this a couple of years earlier from my wife, Alison. When she told me about it, I sneered at the idea – it was a great idea, but it would never work – we could never interest enough people to actually make a difference.

However, at this conference, where a number of ideas were broached, I could not shake off a range of thoughts about this idea. As I said some time later, I really felt that God had grabbed me by the scruff of my neck with the idea. That was over ten years ago now. Since then, The Jubilee Debt Campaign had led on to the “Make Poverty History” campaign, the “Trade Justice Campaign” and others. And now, over 10 years later, with God’s help, I feel more strongly than ever, that we can eradicate this unjust poverty.

The next thing that Bob did was to get us all to consider our mission statement. The result of that is shown on the wall-hanging on the left-hand side at the front of our church building. It states that our purpose is to Serve God, to Serve Each Other, to Serve The Community and to Serve The Wider Church. I have lost count of the number of times that I have looked at that hanging and thought to myself: yes, we serve God (Worship), we serve each other (pastorally) and we serve the wider church to some extent (through our giving, e.g. Falconer Trust, Olga & Isaias Calle),…..but how can we serve our community? This bothered me.

We have talked for years about using our buildings to serve the community. I even spent a time on the Buildings Committee, trying to decide what we could do alter our existing buildings or knock down and rebuild them to serve our community.

However, I felt that we had no clear idea what God wanted us to do with the buildings. Perhaps we were approaching it from the wrong angle. Perhaps we should actually be engaging with our local community first, and as start to serve this community, it should become clearer what changes we need to make to our buildings. This idea of moving into our community first, was reinforced at a meeting where we all stood in a circle (facing the middle) praying for our community. It was then suggested that we all turn around and face outwards from the circle. That is where our community is. That is where we should be looking and praying. That is the direction we should actually start moving towards, not just talking about doing it. But still, I was asking myself – how?…HOW?…HOW?

Then, during our last interregnum, Martin Seymour came to lead our service one Sunday morning, and he told us about this new initiative, called Street Pastors. What a fantastic idea. Small groups of Christians simply walking the streets of our local community, talking with people, showing that they care, staying with them if they are fearful, helping them if they can. Isn’t that what Jesus would do? Not only that, but we would actually be getting off our back-sides and starting to serve our community. What a brilliant first step.

However, there was just one problem. It’s not me; I can’t just go up to a stranger and start talking to them! I struggled with this problem for several weeks. But I also thought that if this was God’s will, then even though I have problems talking to strangers, God could change me.

Well, that was over two years ago now, and after training, I have been patrolling twice a month on a Friday night….and do you know something? Yes, God has been changing me. Although I still don’t always find it easy, I can walk up to someone, or even a group of people and start to talk to them. As time goes by, I am finding that this is not only when I am “on duty” on a Friday night. Wherever I am, I am now beginning to find that I am becoming more aware of the people around me and can “connect” with them. Yes, this is how I can start to serve the community.

Well, I started by saying that it was all Bob Goode’s fault. But was it, or did God use Bob to move me out of my comfort zone, and do something for Him?
Derek Fraser

The Lake District

STILL WATERS
Colin and I went on a walk in Grasmere in the Lake District. We were heading for a tarn at the top of the fells and on the way we stopped to look in one of the many streams that ran past us. Colin said, “It’s true what they say, still waters run deep.” I repeated what he said a couple of times and looked into the deep still waters. It made me think that, the deeper you go with Christ, the more calm you feel, but the shallow waters were rushing past, frothing and bubbling, in such a hurry. Perhaps that can happen to us, I thought, if we’re not focusing on Jesus and rushing around not spending time with him.
(Psalm 23: He leads me beside still water and restores my soul.)

THE PATH
We carried on up the rocky path. Colin said, “Watch your footing, make sure that your foot is firmly on the rock, or you could sprain your ankle.” That made me think “Check your footing in the Christian way.” Then we noticed how the path had been laid already. People had been up here and had laid a path for us walkers. I thought of the words “I knew you before you were born.” It is like the path that God has already laid out before us. Then the path became two, and you would wonder which one to take. So you would choose one, only to find yourself back on the main path. That reminded me that we have a choice in life, but will always find the path that we’re meant to be on. Jesus said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Proverbs 4:25-27; Psalm 17:5)

NO LIMITS
Then we saw a fell walker. He was in his late 60’s, a very friendly man full of energy and enthusiasm, saying “hello” to everyone he met. After saying good morning and passing the time of day, he rushed off ahead and started a very risky climb, hanging off the rocks that ran along the side of the waterfall. It must have been very wet and slippery. We carried on along the safe path and it wasn’t long before he caught up with us. Colin said to him “That was a bit risky,” and he said, “Well, Clint Eastwood said a man knows his limits.” It made me think that a man might know his limits, but God knows our limits and our full potential, better than we do. The man said he was going up to the very top and would be there for the whole day. We weren’t going to the top – we felt we had done quite a lot for our first day. Maybe if we did this every day, you never know, we might be fit enough to go to the next peak and then the next. That made me think the closer we draw to Christ he will give us our next goal. When we reached the top we found the tarn. It is a massive lake that has been fed from the rain running down the fells. We had found the source of these lovely waterfalls. It was like God’s endless love for us, there is always more.

LOST IN THE WOODS
The next day we set out on another walk. This was totally different scenery, all woods and a mossy path, which reminded me of how our lives can change from one path to another. This was a pleasant walk so I thought that as it was a hot day it would be lovely to get into the shade and cool from the trees. Well, as we started to head up the path, it was getting steeper and we were heading for a wood full of pine trees. The trees were fine on the top but underneath on the bottom they were all dried. We noticed that the path had run out, but couldn’t help thinking that others had been this way so it must be all right! We had already gone this far and didn’t want to give up. Didn’t want to be defeatist and not finish the walk. The hill got steeper and we were scrambling and crawling between these dry trees, breaking off twigs and getting scratched. We finally got to the top, only to find a stone wall that we couldn’t climb over. But a little path ran along the side of it and we crawled along, still having to break off twigs as we went. We couldn’t stand up and had to stay low. It made me feel claustrophobic. I was beginning to panic now and wondered if we would ever get out. Then finally we reached a low part of the wall and looked over. Colin said, “There’s the path we should have been on.” Well, we scrambled over the wire fence and brushed the pine needles off each other, feeling a bit silly and shaky. We continued up the right path towards the top, where it had turned very windy and chilly, with another large tarn. Heading back down the path we passed Dove Cottage, where the famous poet, William Wordsworth, had lived. If we had read the map we might not have got lost. God’s Word and His Holy Spirit is our guide.
(Psalm 119:105)

WATERFALL
Another day we went to visit a place called “Aira Force”. It is where there is a really high steep cliff that has a massive waterfall where the water pours down at a great speed. I looked up and said “let your living waters pour over my soul.” I thought back over the day that we had gone out with John and Anita. We were all in the car and John was driving and Anita was looking out the window giving us a running commentary on where we were. She was full of excitement, like she had never seen colour before. Then she said, “Oh, look at those cows down there drinking out of the river.” John said “Where?” Then he said, “Oh, I took my eyes off the road; I’m normally quite good at ignoring you!” But now looking up at these waters, I felt I wanted God to fill me with an excitement and enthusiasm for him, and I prayed that I wouldn’t ignore him.
(John 7:37)

FAIRTRADE

Derek Fraser sent me the Fairtrade Churches E-Newsletter for June 2009 and I was interested to read that “there are now 5,300 Fairtrade churches across the UK. Your continued support is directly helping over 1.5 million farmers and workers, giving them stability and hope for the future. Keep spreading the Fairtrade message to the wider community and help us to tip the balance for trade justice.” This is the message:-

“Fairtrade is one of the most successful social change stories of recent times. From being the preserve of a committed few, the FAIRTRADE Mark is now recognised by three out of five people, and appears on thousands of food, drink and clothing items as well as other goods. In this decade alone, the value of Fairtrade sales has grown more than tenfold reaching nearly £500 million in 2007.

Through Fairtrade, millions of people working in certified producer organisations feel more secure and in control of their lives. In the UK, the potential of Fairtrade to make a difference to global poverty has enthused people in their roles as both consumers and citizens. And by working together in their communities, both ends of the Fairtrade movement have secured changes at national and international level from major businesses and governments.

But for all this remarkable progress, we still have a long way to go to make trade fair. Two billion people – a third of humanity – work hard to support themselves yet still struggle to survive on $2 per day or less. Fairtrade is a response to this failure of conventional trade to deliver a better deal to people in the poorer countries of the world. It has shown trade can be a powerful driver to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development if only it is clearly directed to those ends. It is by working together in a united movement for change that we have come this far.

The challenge now is to take this successful model and scale up the reach and impact of Fairtrade so that it can begin to truly transform trade in favour of the poor and disadvantaged. Over the past year we have been listening to our many partners, in order to set out our vision for achieving this transformation over the next five years. With your continued support, we can take Fairtrade to new levels – to tip the balance, if you will – in the years to come.”

Mike Gidney,
Chair of the Fairtrade Foundation’s Board of Trustees

Testimonies - Holman and Edith Ford-Hunt

Holman Ford-Hunt writes:
“My grandparents and my parents were of English descent, served in the British Army and worked in India, where I was born. Whilst in India and after we came to England in 1952 my parents and I worshipped at a Church of England church every Sunday in the mornings and the evenings and I went to Sunday School, until we lived in Southampton, when we went to The Salvation Army. So that is where I learned of all the stories in the Bible. To me Jesus Christ was a myth or a legend, a mere character of history.

MY TESTIMONY
A Christian without Christ. A young Christian, in a Church of England Church, taking Sunday School and Bible classes, also taking Confirmation classes, and helping the Minister to serve Holy Communion at the altar. But my body, this living soul, (Genesis 2:7), the Temple of God (1 Cor.3:16-17) defiled with Smoking, Drinking, Old Time and Modern Dancing, Theatres and Movies, Teenage Gangs and Rockers.

My life was without God and not realising a Death without Christ or even a Resurrection to Judgment and a Lost Eternity. (Matthew 6:24 and Proverbs 14:12)

Seeking Jesus and the Prompting of the Holy Spirit
One Sunday in August, 1965, I visited my Aunt Esther in London, from Southampton. After a Selwyn Hughes church service at Denison House, Victoria, a young Christian lady took me to Victoria Station. On the way she was talking about the Bible and, before I got on the train, she asked, “What is your ambition?” I said, “to live for the world, self and pleasure;” she said ‘her life was to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.’

That night at home, I opened my Bible and read Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 7:51-60. When I closed my eyes to pray, this is what came to me – Jesus our King crowned with thorns. The Resurrection appearances and the Ascension. Jesus near Stephen and near Saul, Jesus near all of us. Jesus is right by my side now! (Acts 9:4-5)

From Sunday, 13th February, 1966, I spent a week with my Aunt Esther and Uncle Roy in London, during which time they talked about the Bible to me and helped to lead me to Jesus and prayed right through for me.

On the Sunday I arrived in London at about 5 pm and went to a late night Sunday Service, held by Vic Ramsey, at the Orange Street Church basement, in London’s Soho. I was confronted by a teenage gangster; when I gave him a Gospel Tract, “The Way to Jesus,” he said, “If you show me Jesus, then I will believe.” I became very fearful and trembled. My Aunt was singing with the Gospel Singers at this service, where drug addicts, alcoholics, beatnicks and members of teenage gangs often came and heard about the Bible and the way Jesus could change their lives. Most people believe in Jesus, but continue in sinful ways. Some say, show me Jesus and we will believe. (James 2:19)

On the Monday I went with my aunt to High Leigh, Hoddesden, for three days, to a Crusade for World Revival Conference by Selwyn Hughes. Bible readings were – Joel 2:1-32 and Acts 2:1-47. The Holy Spirit was upon people and the presence of Jesus was felt. I kept asking Jesus to show Himself to me, repeatedly.
At the late night prayer meeting a young Evangelist started to interpret the tongues; ‘Jesus says “a person is asking me to show Myself to him.” Jesus wants him to praise Him.’ I became very fearful and trembled! There was Prayer and Praise that night.

On the Tuesday after breakfast my aunt and I went to the morning Prayer and Communion service. Bible readings were Joel 2:26-32 and Acts 2:16-24. During the service I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and come into my life; also seeking Jesus by praising Him.

Suddenly Jesus revealed Himself to me in a vision: “Jesus on the cross.” I was in tears and fell on my knees. I told my aunt and she said “she was praying for me.”

A second vision of Jesus: Jesus took five loaves and two fishes, gave thanks, feeds five thousand people. There I was in the crowd, moving forward, to receive His miraculous blessings.

Then a third vision of Jesus walking down a stony path with lots of children around Him. Jesus stopped by the way and sat on a large rock and started to talk to the children for a while, then He got up and walked on, with the children following him.

At this meeting with Jesus I was a “Born Again” Christian.

During the late night prayer meeting a young Christian girl was dancing in the Spirit and other people were full to overflowing in the Holy Spirit. Read Acts 2:12-17.

To many Jesus Christ is a myth or a legend, to others a mere character of history. Few people know and experience His living power in their lives today. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Edith Ford-Hunt writes:
“I was born in Ramsgate, Kent, in 1937 and after the outbreak of war was evacuated in the early 1940’s to the north of Scotland, to a place called Nairn, near Inverness, where I went to the Salvation Army Sunday School and heard the gospel of Jesus. In 1948 we returned to England, arriving back to Waterloo Station, then on to Farnborough, Hampshire, to Air Force Family Quarters for about a year, after which we moved to St. John’s Vale, Deptford in 1949.

MY TESTIMONY
I attended the Church of England Sunday School and in 1950, when I was 13, I went to Lowestoft, near Great Yarmouth for about a week, and I gave my heart to Jesus.

In 1952 I attended the Girls’ Pathfinder Class, on Sunday afternoons, and also went to the London City Mission Hall in Deptford. In the early 1960’s I went to a Pentecostal Meeting where, for the first time, I heard about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and heard about healing; that God does heal today and confirmed in the Holy Bible about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and healing and deliverance.

Reference to Matthew 3:11, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 1:5 2:1-4 and also Acts 10:43-48 – after reading the scriptures, I began seeking for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then in early 1964 I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, which I still do even to this day. A few months later I received healing for my eyes and have not worn glasses for over 20 years. I also began seeking for water baptism, which I did eventually in August 1964, to follow Jesus.

In 1965 I went to High Leigh Hoddesdon Conference Centre for the Crusade for World Revival; we were all blessed in the Lord, through the meetings that we attended, including the Prayer Meetings.

In 1968 I went to Dennison House in Victoria, London, where I attended some meetings, and where I met Holman, who turned out to be my future husband. We went out together and in February 1969 got engaged, and then married in September of the same year.


God has been with us throughout our lives,
He undertook and guided us in all our journeys.
Also God does answer prayers
Hallelujah “Praise the Lord.”

Cafe Church... Sunday, 26th July

“I just came to the bank to get some money and my children saw the bouncy castle and we spent the rest of the morning here, it’s been great, thanks”

“We really enjoy being here; it feels like one big family”

“I work with children and God has called me to work in Belvedere with children”

The last Sunday in July saw us in our car park again for Cafe Church. It was a great start following a successful Children’s Holiday Club week. A bouncy castle was a new addition this year, a great hit with the children. Our Street Pastors were again out meeting people on the Nuxley Road, and we had many guests joining us. When Jesus called His disciples He said two things, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. In other words He said “Come to me and go to people.” Cafe Church is our going to people, it’s not for us first but for our friends and neighbours in Belvedere. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to make the event go so well.

As one lady said “I never realised that church could be so much fun!” – and it was – singing, dancing, testimonies, children enjoying themselves, and then a beautiful cake was delivered to us by our friends at Peacehaven, to be shared, like the love of God, amongst all of us! Thank you to our brothers and sisters who meet in our building on a Sunday afternoon because they, like us, know and love Jesus and want to share the Good News. The words on the cake are: Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”