Stourbridge Street Pastors
The Story So far!
When I look back to that late night walk through Stourbridge High Street back in late 2006, when God challenged me on what I witnessed on the streets, and heard that inner voice saying “This is where the Church should beâ€, I am bowled over by what’s happened and what God has done.
• the encouragement of the Churches Together in Stourbridge meetings
• the subsequent pivotal moment when around 30 people put their name down as pray-ers and as Street Pastors at that Information Evening in September 2008.
• This amazing act of God also delivered a truly wonderful team of people to serve on our Management Team too,
• For those of us who were there, the launch and commissioning back on 5th June 2009 was I’m sure very significant to us all –I will forever be indebted to the first 14 Street Pastors who trod the streets last year and of course to the tremendous prayer support that we have had from the wonderfully committed team back at base. I have said to various people over the past months that if you’d have asked me 3 years ago that I would be doing this on a Friday & Saturday night – I’d have said you were mad! Perhaps we are!?
• In February 2010 we commissioned another 14 Street Pastors wanting to be mad with us (!), and we were able to expand our service from just Saturday nights to (roughly) alternate Fridays as well. In 2011 we changed our weeknight to Thursdays and 3 more street pastors were commissioned.
• In March 2012 we now have another 9 going through training and praying for more to come on board to expand to regular park and estate patrols!
What a journey we have been on! To me one of the best features of this journey has been travelling with people just focussed on their belief in Jesus and not on the traditions we represent. The team dynamics have been tremendous and I believe a real foundation on which we can build. Unity commands a blessing, so the Bible teaches us, and we are without doubt true witnesses to that!
We love what we do – being Jesus on the streets.
• Caring, listening, loving, praying
• Giving out blankets
• Picking ands sweeping glass
• Giving out Flip flops
• Giving out water
If you want to join us or be part of our prayer team – get in touch. Come with us on this journey of adventure!!
Clive Dudbridge
Chair – Management Team
March 2012