Click to listen or right click to download - Street Pastors Song by David Ouston

Another guy that evening was escorted out of the entrance by 2 massive security guards. He was so drunk he couldn’t walk, so collapsed in a heap on the grass. We immediately took over giving him water and sitting with him. He then said he wanted to meet his friends in town, so off he went. Once again all over the place, once again one person either side of him. We walked him all the way into town, he kept telling us he wasn’t a bad person. When he got into town , he still really was a danger to himself so we called an ambulance, which he agreed to. When the ambulance came he didn’t want to get in, so ran off!!

People were coming out and just collapsing on the grass, some were sick and we helped clean then up and give water, others we gave foil blankets as they lay there on the grass.

Another lady had a diabetic seizure , luckily we were around so could call an ambulance.

One young lady came up to us and spent 45 minutes talking, crying and chain smoking , pleading with us to let her know that God had forgiven her for what she had done earlier in her life. We talked, cried and prayed with her, very humbling.

Two other ladies were so drunk they could barely walk, so we walked one home , the other we walked to the bus station.

One guy had been ejected from the campsite, and was causing a lot of grief between himself, his girlfriend and the security staff. We were on hand to give smiles and chocolates.

So many people couldn’t believe we were giving away water and chocolates and we must have been told that we “are the nicest people ever” about 100 times. And that was just Friday!!!!!!!

We won’t actually be on the festival site, but you’ll probably see us around town and along Fairlee Road, say hello if you see us!

We’ll report back after the event, but you can also follow progress via our Twitter updates - follow us @iowstreetpastor

Happy festivaling!

Festival Fun

Excess alcohol can leave festival goers vulnerable (image courtesy of Ian Boyd)

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.

(from the Jan 2010 newsletter)

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.

When you start something like this it really is a voyage into the unknown. We had excellent training on many varied topics but actually the real training starts on the streets. These are real people with real problems and I have been stunned and completely honoured and humbled by how well received we have been by the general public. No one can really prepare you for the young man who tells you about how his relationship with his father has hit rock bottom since his mother died. About the woman who had her child adopted at birth and has spent 6 years trying to get her back. About the young girl passed out in the street having had too much to drink. About the 14 year old girl telling you how many lads she has slept with. About the homeless man who cries in front of you because he is so hungry. About the young man covered in his own vomit in a shop doorway.

No one can also prepare you for the glow that you feel in your heart when you are of help to someone. The look of true gratitude when someone takes flip flops or water. When they say, “how much do I owe you” and you smile and say “its free, because we care” The sense of satisfaction as you wrap a young girl up in a foil blanket to stop her shivering. The immense sense of God working through you into peoples lives as they talk to you, share their life and then hug you saying “thank you , thank you”. No one can prepare you for the fact that a smile and a warm handshake is what is sorely missing from our society.

I think our biggest hurdle has been gaining peoples trust. Letting people know that we are safe, we are not going to judge them, we are not going to hit them over the head with a bible, knowing that we are not undercover policemen. That all takes time. The door staff have been fantastic. Well over half the venues have actively come up to me saying what a good job we are doing and how they recognise the benefit of our presence on the streets. Some are really amazed at how we can help in diffusing difficult situations with a smile and a lollipop.

The police have told me time and time again how they value our presence. They value the fact that we will look after and talk to the vulnerable, drunk people. Once again the longer this goes on the more trust the police have in us. They will now leave us in certain situations so they can go and deal with more difficult challenging situations. The police have also invited me to be part of the “safer communities “day in Newport on August 22nd.

When I first took this job on I had a vision in my mind about how it would run, the reality has exceeded that on every level. That is down to the most amazing 22 volunteers anyone could hope to work with. Their love and dedication is stunning.

I am now thinking about recruitment for the next wave which will include Ryde and Newport and have had some excellent candidates come forward already wanting to be pastors. Infact our very own Arch Deacon of the Isle of wight has taken this scheme to her heart and has decided to become a Street Pastor.

The next recruitment/information evening will be at Newport Methodist church on September 29th at 7-30pm. The way God has got his hand on this project I expect it to be an amazing, emotional moving evening. I am also so encouraged by other areas of the Island becoming interested in the scheme. I am booked up to do presentations already in Niton, Newport, Wroxall, Brighstone and West Wight.

I’m off on holiday now for 2 weeks to recharge my batteries for the next amazing few months. Watch this space.