Stoke-on-Trent Street Pastors

Over the summer Barbara and I have been working hard on Street Pastors. A meeting with church leaders was held and the agreement was signed shortly after. So I therefore am delighted to say that Stoke-on-Trent has now official Street Pastors status.

We now aim to get the training program up and running by February. So if you are interested in training as a Street Pastor or would like to know more please e-mail us at stokeontrent@streetpastors.org.uk to register your interest. You can also register you interest by writing to us at Stoke-on-Trent Street Pastors, Office 11, First Floor, Wellington House, St. Marks Street, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4LN. Also please spread the word in your church that Street Pastors are now in Stoke.

We are looking for:
Christians to train as Street Pastors and for team members who would like to help as background staff.

More information about dates, times, posters, DVD’s ect will be sent out to local churches in due course. Lastly Barbara and I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support over the past 18 months that has helped bring Street Pastors to Stoke-on-Trent.

Please note: for all Street Pastors inquiries please use the Street Pastors e-mail stokeontrent@streetpastors.org.uk from now on and not Barbara and I own e-mail addresses, thank you.

Night Church

as of todays date 21/07/09 i have steped down as a leader of night church and also a helper of night church. i wish all the team the very best on there re-opening night on friday.

all the best guys

Street Pastors Stoke On Trent

if you are interested in becoming a Street Pastor or would like to find out some information on Street Pastors the please feel free to contact us at our office that we will be operating Street Pastors Stoke-On-Trent from at

Office 11, First Floor, Wellington House, St. Marks Street, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4LN

We will advise of our telephone number in due course just as soon as we get a phone line installed.

View Larger Map

We have now got an office from where we will operate in Stoke On Trent.

Watch this space for more details.

Night Church

Night Church has now been closed for some weeks for the building works to be completed. We were due to re open on the 15th of May however the building works have over run and we are now looking at early June before we can re open those doors on a Friday night.

If you are interested in joining the night church team then please drop me an e-mail or visit www.nightchurch.net

Christian Video's

The March of the Unqualified



The March of the Unqualified. . . . .
It doesn’t matter who we are. We all have a part to play.

Christian Video's

That's my King



That's my King. . . . .
I don’t think there are any other words to use to describe my Lord and saviour.

Christian Video's

Team Hoyt




Team Hoyt - The Journey of life together. . . . .
A video that is so amazing.

Worship Music

Everyday



Everyday was on my first every Christian worship CD.

Worship Music

Everlasting God



Everlasting God is an all time favourite worship song of mine.

Worship Music

cry out to Jesus



This worship song cry out to Jesus really touches me.

Christian Video's

99 Balloons



99 Balloons. . . . .
This video will bring a tear to your eye.

Street Pastors

Be 1 of the 12

Adoration 09

This year, rather than locking Adoration away in a stadium, or basking in the beautiful surroundings of Trentham Gardens, Adoration is coming to the streets of Burslem, to showcase artists in the heart of the city. Burslem is situated on the A50 to the north of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, within easy reach of the A34 and M6 motorway.


Leave the M6 at junction 16 and follow the A500 towards Newcastle-under-Lyme. Bear left onto the A50, and you will pass through the centre of Burslem.


Leave the M6 at junction 16 and follow the A500 towards Newcastle-under-Lyme. Turn right onto the A50, and you will pass through the

Adoration 09

Street Pastors Stoke-On-Trent

TheStreet Pastors meeting went very well and i am pleased to say that we are now able to start working towards a launch date for Street Pastors Stoke-On-Trent. We now have enough people for one team and we are well on the way to having two teams.

We hope to be launching latter on this year. If you are interested in becoming a Street Pastor or would like more information then please feel free to contact me.

Watch this space for more details.

Street Pastors

Night Church

Last Fridays night church was a pleasant one. We started the evening with some good prayer for night church, the City, people who are affected by the credit crunch, the two British soldiers and the police officer killed in Northern Ireland. There was a great sense of charm and peace.

We were joined by a couple of new faces and we had around ten on the team not that I was given the chance to count this time. I was given the choice to chat with a guy and a girl that came in and latter we were joined by two more people.

We had some good chats about many things; these were four people whom where probably in their late teens or early twenties but were four people who really had an interest in life after death. The fact was that none of them was Christians however; they believed that there was something out there and it was their belief that there was a life after death despite not knowing what that was.

We talked about many things including a Muslim couple that were to become married but because it was not a prepared marriage and it was he’s thought that his family would disown him. We had a good chat about times of services and how youngsters do not always want to get up for church. We said that most churches have different times for their services and made them aware that they were at church now.

Without doubt they were amazed and felt very charm and at peace at being there. Overall, we must have spoken for around an hour or so and they left hopefully with a greater understanding to their questions.

Shortly after they left, I noticed the guy who comes from Turkey sitting drinking a coffee. I went over towards him and as he saw me, he face lit up. The strange thing is that he spoke very broken English and I had seemed to be the only one who could understand him. I sat down next to him and we had a good chat.

He showed me this letter from some solicitor. I did not feel it was right to read it as I noticed the words immigration refusal as the reference. He was telling me how happy he was in this country and how he missed his mum, dad and his two brothers back home in Turkey. He was telling me how he was a collage not that I could understand the subjects they he was taking but at a guess I think English was one.

Latter he said that it was his birthday today (Saturday) and he showed me his date of birth (age 17) I found it amazing how someone who was just 16 the day before was able to get into all the pubs and clubs but at the same time he seemed to be quite shy probably because he didn’t speak much English.

We finished our chat by praying for him. I prayed for him and his family and for the time he had in this country. When I finished the prayer, he said Jesus. At first I did not understand what he was trying to say but then I soon realised he was asking me if I was talking to Jesus. When I said yes, he was amazed that someone would to talk to Jesus for him. I left him in the prayer room for a while where he was in prayer to Jesus after re assuring him that it was ok.

A short while later he left and thanked me and said he will come back next week as he liked it here (night church)

After having to close up early last week, I now believe it was a blessing from God because it gave me a chance to refresh. Praise God

Street Pastors

Coming very soon I will be launching a date for Christians to come to an open meeting where Christians who are interested in becoming a street pastor or would like to find out more about street pastors. The meeting will be held in Stoke On Trent and the speakers will be from street pastors Manchester.

Watch this space for more information.

Street Pastors

I am currently on a street pastors training course. For me to continue on this course I need to raise £250 in sponsorship towards the cost of the training and for my uniform. If you are able to help by sponsoring me to help cover these costs then please let me know the details below by e-mailing me at mybestfriendisjesus@gmail.com

STREET
PASTORS

Sponsorship

Name: ______________________
Amount: _________
How do I contact you? _______________

I would be very grateful if you could contribute some money in these hard times no matter how little it is.

If you would like to know more about street pastors or would like to train to become a street pastor then once again you can contact me at mybestfriendisjesus@gmail.com

Night Church

Tonight’s Night Church must have made history. Not for the best reasons I might add. Up until 10.45pm, we only had two of us on the team when at 10.45pm we were joined by a third. We had to decide to close or not.

The City was very quiet tonight and without doubt, the credit crunch has hit Stoke On Trent for sure. There was hardly a person around. In fact, the first person to come in was a police officer who came in to use the toilet.

Therefore, as it was so quiet we decided to stay open for an hour and monitor the night as we went. Around 11.50pm, we had our first group of people come in and we had a good time having a chat for around 30 minutes. After they left we closed at 12.20am and called it a night.

Some good did come from the night by sorting all the books and free bees out and we had a general tidy. We had new mugs to drink from and had plenty of time to pray. A woman came in wanting to come and join the team for a couple of weeks starting from next week and this is great news as it proves that the word of Night Church is getting about to folk.

We have a fun day coming up after Easter and maybe this will be a good time to encourage team members to come either weekly or to form a couple of teams so we are not low in numbers alternate weeks.

At the end of the day, God did bless us tonight by giving us a well-earned rest. Thanks be to God.

Night Church

It was a strange night at night church on Friday. A radio 1 DJ was to arrive at the Touch nightclub opposite and crowds were queuing up the street waiting to get in. In addition, as the crowds grew an atmosphere that surrounded the area became present.

We had a team of 12 and we all had a chance to share some stories. Not expecting to I ended up sharing some of my testimony. This is always something i am happy to share to folk.

There were a few good chats on the night. One person from Turkey came in and we had a good chat with him. He told us how he was a Christian and how good England is. He said us English do not lie however I think that must have been a language breakdown.

It was very much a night of cry out to Jesus.

Night Church

Tonight’s night church was very quiet to start but ended up very busy. For the first couple of hours it was quite quiet so this gave the team another opportunity to catch up with one another’s stories and this time was interesting.

For the last couple of hours I was speaking with a group of guys that were very negative and looked for opportunities to test the team on believe or non believe, true or false. This time was very challenging for us all and there was no way it was easy talking to them. All we can hope is that we done enough to sow some goods seeds and pray that they grow.

At the end of the day, we need to pray for Jesus to take control of their lives and bring then to a place of charm and peace. Unexpectedly no sooner these guys went after about one 1/2hrs two more guys came in very challenging to.

Thankfully one of the guys was actually interested to find answers to the why this and why that’s. During our hour or so chatting, we shared many stories and when the time to go came around it felt the night went well overall. Do not get me wrong, at times, it was hard but I think God without doubt had his way tonight.

Once again, it was good going out to serve Jesus. I am glad Jesus was able to use me tonight. The team was low on numbers tonight having just four of us for most of the night so we all need to pray that we get more help for next time.

Street Pastors

This weekend I am attending an introduction into street pastors held in Manchester. Tonight was a very interesting evening with a talk form the director of street pastors. Street pastors is more than just preaching the bible at people, it is much more than that.

On one occasion, we found that street pastors went round picking up litter in a community and the amazing thing was people came out of their houses to help yet before the street pastors started to clear up the area, locals never even thought about it.

Street pastors are bridge builders in the community, they earn the right to share the gospel and act and be like Jesus. People do not like to be preached to but they do like seeing the street pastors on the streets to help.

There are so many story’s to share about how street pastors work and where they work. There are many skills a street pastor needs to have, and not everyone can be a street pastor for a number of reasons. I will be sharing some of these stories over the coming weeks.

Over the coming weeks I will be updating this blog with a progress on how near Stoke On Trent are to getting street pastors. At this stage, I am in the process of organizing a meeting for church leaders to attend a talk by street pastors Manchester. If all goes to plan, we hope to have a solid date booked and held sometime before the end of March.

The Alpha Course

I will be running an Alpha course in Hanley City centre shortly after Easter. The dates for the course have yet to be confirmed but I will publicise them as soon as they are available.

If in the meantime you would like to take part in an Alpha course then there is one being held at Swan Bank Church in Burslem on Thursday nights. The course started two weeks ago but I am sure if you contact the church office on 01782 575129 you will still be able to come along.

If you ask yourself questions like:

What is the point of life?
Why do people suffer?
What happens when we die?
Is forgiveness possible?

Then the Alpha course is for you. It is also a very good course for people who are already Christians to find their path and relationship with Jesus again.

ECG 09 Conference

This Easter, come and be a part of a dynamic, innovative new conference that will inspire and empower you to transform your community and build God’s Kingdom. Packed with top-class teaching and a variety of worship encounters as well as opportunities to experience and contribute to local mission projects, ECG will challenge, envision and equip you to be a relevant and radical disciple of Jesus.

With... worship led by Y-Friday and Philippa Hanna in two very different main venues and with Martyn Atkins as Key Bible Teacher (General Secretary of the Methodist Church of Great Britain), a whole host of world-class speakers, Bible-teachers and specialist experts, prayer spaces, outstanding children’s, youth and sports programmes, fringe brimming with the best of Christian music, theatre and comedy talent and even more community-based mission activities on offer, ...ECG 09 is set to be better than ever! ECG is held within Llandudno Conference Centre (Venue Cymru).

Prices:

ECG09-Week TicketSite pass for the entire week at ECG09.£85.00

ECG09-Day TicketSite pass for the day at ECG09. (You need to specify which day)£20.00

ECG09-Weekend TicketSite pass for the weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) at ECG09.£30.00

for more information visit www.ecgevent.org.uk

The Ultimate Event 2009

Acts lined up for The Ultimate Event are:

Kutless www.kutless.com

Superchick www.superchickonline.com

YFriday www.yfriday.co.uk

Bluetree www.myspace.com/bluetreeonline

The Band With no Name www.thebandwithnoname.com

Top Dog Promotions www.topdogpromotions.co.uk

Hoolio & Ad-Apt www.profile.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=58009383

Prices:

Child Ticket (age 10 and under) This ticket is for children aged 10 and under...(Park & Concert). Available until 8th May. At the gate price £27.
£26.00

Concert Only (excludes park) Access to concert only, no access to theme park rides. Available until 8th May. At the gate price £19.
£18.00

Adult Early Bird Ticket (to 3rd April) Early Bird Tickets Including a full day at the park and the evening concert. Price afterwards £33.
£31.00

Disabled Visitor (Park & Concert) Those who are able to provide a blue/orange badge (or similar) as documentary proof of disability will be eligible for discounted admission for themselves and a helper.
£23.00

Group Ticket Package 16 or more tickets (to 3rd April) Special discounted tickets available for groups of 16 or more for Park & Concert combined.
£29.50

Group Tickets Concert only 16 or more people. Special discounted concert only tickets available for groups of 16 or more. (No entry to theme park rides - concert entry only). Available until 8th May. At the gate price £19.
£17.50

Adult Ticket with Fast Track Pass Early Bird Tickets available until 3rd April - Including a full day at the park and the evening concert. Also an Alton Towers Fast Track Pass giving quick access to 3 top rides. Air, Nemesis and Oblivion
£39.00

Group Discount Tickets for 16 or more people including Fast Track Pass Special discounted tickets avaialable for groups of 16 or more for Park & Concert combined. Also an Alton Towers Fast Track Pass giving quick access to 3 top rides. Air, Nemesis and Oblivion
£37.50

Child Ticket & Fast Track Pass (10 and under) This ticket is for children aged 10 and under...(Park & Concert). Also an Alton Towers Fast Track Pass giving quick access to 3 top rides. Air, Nemesis and Oblivion
£34.00

Coach Ticket Package 45 or more tickets (to 3rd April) Special discounted tickets available for groups of 45 or more for Park & Concert combined.
£28.50

Water Park Ticket Water Park Tickets Include a full day in the Alton Towers Water Park and the evening concert.
£27.00

To Book Tickets and to find out more information visit http://www.ultimateevents.org.uk/booktickets.aspx

Night Church

Tonight was a very special night in many ways. Night Church tonight led into my birthday and it was great to be out serving God again. It was good to grow older doing something good and being at Night Church was a big blessing for me.

Tonight we were so blessed with the team we had. There were thirteen people of, ten men and three women. It was quite a quiet night in Hanley tonight. However, it gave the team an opportunity for the team to talk and catch up with one another. A few groups of us went out on prayer walks throughout the night and the prayer room had some good use to.

William and Marg led communion for the team and this was the first time since I joined the Night Church team that we have had communion and it was a real blessing. It was good to share communion with the team and I feel we were encouraged by sharing this together.
As always, the team pulled together well tonight and it was a real peaceful night. The folk that came in were great. There were some good chats going on and it was good to see one of the girls from the women’s project come in for coffee and a chat again. It was the third week running that she has been in and it is good to see folk come back repeatedly.

Throughout the night, we even had time for a little singsong with the worship music I put up on the projector screen. It is amazing how each week is different and how God works among us. Without doubt, God has some good plans for the City and the connections we are making with the police and door staff. The word is spreading about Night Church and I am encouraged that Night Church as well and truly established its place in the City.

Addictions

So many people have additions these days. Drink and drugs are becoming more and more part of people lives. Addictions do not just affect the addict but their families and friends too. One of the biggest problems with addictions is that once you start it is much harder to stop. It becomes a habit and no matter how much you want to stop the drug just keeps pulling you back.

Addicts to some appear to be scum to some folk. With some people, addicts are looked at as if they are thefts, are violent, or people that you should not hang out with when often this is not the case. Why? Are they asking you to join them in their addictions? I think you will find that they are very descent people deep down but you cannot see this from face value. My attempting to try to help them you will find this out for yourself.

I was once an alcoholic and a drug addict but many years ago. Therefore, I know very well how easy it is to fall into the trap. I know how hard it is to get out of it and I know how easy it is to fall back on it if you do not have the right support and help. So anyone who knows me we know that I am a descent person. I go out of my way to help those in need and I decided to do something about it.
I decided that I was going to train to become a counsellor so I could help addicts more and on the 22nd of October 2007, I completed and passed a Foundational Drugs Counselling Course. This course gave me more of an insight to drugs but I needed more so in April 2008, I completed and on the 2nd of October 2008, I passed level two of the Christian Counselling course. I am waiting a start date for the final level three course.

While I was undertaking these two courses, I spent my time on a voluntary basis walking the streets finding addicts. I talked with them and I listened to them. I use to get them into either counselling or into a hospital depending on the situation at the time and give as much support and guidance that I could give. I would visit them before or after their counselling sessions and I would visit them in hospital on a daily basis. I would also go with them to help sort out accommodation, paying bills and getting food and clothing for them. I found by caring for them in this way it helped them during their recovery process.

Habits start because of many reasons. Sometimes there is a problem a person has not dealt with or is struggling to come to terms with. Sometimes it is because they feel alone. People do not wake up and say I want to be an addict. Addictions start because of brokenness and emptiness. Breaking the addiction leads to fulfilment.

Addiction is not self-afflicted.

Street Pastors

Jesus went to the people.

STREET
PASTORS
Making a positive difference in the lives of young people

The Church in action . . .on the streets

Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working. Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local coordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups. To be a Street Pastor you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member and able to commit to a 12 session training course in three groups of four Saturdays over a year. The course includes subjects such as counselling skills, drugs awareness, sociology,
knowing your community, role and responsibility, and street safety. Each Street Pastor team consists of at least three groups of four, each of which will work
a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 4am.

WHAT IS A STREET PASTOR?
A Street Pastor is a Church leader/minister or member with a concern for society - in particular young people who feel themselves to be excluded and marginalised - and who is willing to engage people where they are, in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out - be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties etc). Street Pastors will also be willing to work with fellow activists, church and community leaders, and with agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary, to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting youth, and initiatives that will build trust between them and the Street Pastors. As the Street Pastor gets to know people in the community he/she will find out their needs are and what can be done to help. A presence of Street Pastors will earn credibility in the community, so that people know that the Church is there for them in a practical way. The role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping - working in an unconditional way.

“As a member of the Christian Police Association and a serving officer I not only believe this will assist the police in tackling this problem but will demonstrate real Christian concern and practical support for those who find themselves involved in gangs and gun crime.”

Chief Supt. Neil Wain, Greater Manchester Police

“The Council of Black Led Churches (“CBLC”) supports the Street Pastors Initiative. It is engaging the Church in a practical way to serve their community where a number of issues are.”

Bishop Derek Webley, CBLC

“To believe in change asks of us to embody what we hope for. Street Pastors rise to that challenge”.

Marijke Hoek, Network

“There are many young people who feel excluded by society. Street Pastors takes practical hope to the pavement for these individuals.”

Joel Edwards, General Director, Evangelical Alliance UK

Night Church

I have such a passion for Night Church.

There are far too many people in this country who have problems that they are fighting to deal with, understand or are trying to find the strength to let go. Just to name a few there are folk who are struggling with Addictions, a Relationships breakdown, or even a bereavements they are struggling to come to terms with. Every week i go to night church to serve the lord and i guarantee during my time there i will speak to at least one person who is struggling with one of these.

“Why” is a word that is said to me so many times throughout the evening and night. Why this and why that. Why can’t i? Why does it happen to me? There are so many stories i listen to that all involve the word why. In my opinion the word “why” is said so much because people want answers. I ask myself can i give the answers to their questions and the real answer has to be and is NO. But God can. All i can do is listen and comfort but more than this, i must let God use me and work in me though the power of the Holy Spirit to help these folk.

But do i really need to have the answers? NO “Why?” because i don’t need to know them all. I don’t have all the answers and i will never have all the answers. I would be foolish to think otherwise. Yet at night church i am called to serve God. Serving God isn’t about knowing all the answers or even having solutions to folk in their time of need. But we need to be Christians and have wisdom and knowledge.

Just take a look at Galatians 5:22-23 NIV. The Fruit of the Spirit are visible growth in our saviour Jesus. We are called to act and follow these words of wisdom. See the “Fruit of the Spirit” is a biblical term that sums up the attributes of true Christian life. "Fruit of the Spirit" is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. These attributes are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I believe by applying these Fruits in to my life i will truly walk in the Spirit. And this then gives me the ability to sow good seeds rather than just give answers. After all God is greater than I. By sowing a good seed in the long run is better than words in the short term. In Matthew 13:23 NIV Jesus tells us that the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

So i believe to serve God in this mission we must live as Christians first. We must be in touch with the spirit. Our God is the greatest counsellor there is and he is there for each of us and therefore we are never alone.