What do your Friday/Saturday nights look like? Do you unwind at home? Head out with friends or family for a night out? Hang out at Everyday Youth?

For volunteer street pastors, Friday or Saturday nights are spent walking the streets, listening to, caring for, and helping the community. Sean Hammond, husband/dad, full time worker, an elder at Everyday Church Wimbledon and leader of the Colliers Wood pastorate, has been a street pastor for about 5 years, and started helping when street pastors first began patrols in Wimbledon.

As Sean explained, the aim is to get out and speak to people where they’re at, not in judgment but to bless them and to bring the kingdom of God into the streets.  “People often ask what street pastors are and why we are volunteering our time, and it’s great to share with them that we are from local churches, care about our community and what happens here, and are helping to make sure that people are safe and having a good time.”

Sean’s stories of what can happen are varied. They might have friendly, open chats with people outside pubs and clubs that can lead to discussing spiritual issues, but their purpose is to show people they care, not to preach at them. They’ve prayed with people who’ve lost their way, or who need healing, invited people to church, or simply helped them find a bus stop or taxi. Sean recalls a time when someone took a swing at them (no one was hurt!), and an instance where he rolled/pushed/carried (all of the above!) a large foreign student up three flights of stairs to get him home.

They sometimes come across people at the crossroads of death and life – his team has had to call emergency services, and once rescued a man with suicidal thoughts who was on the phone to the Samaritans.

Volunteers head out in groups of 4 or more, and undergo extensive training. It’s open to anyone over the age of 18 and age or gender are no barrier – the Merton team has a few female volunteers in their 80s! In Wimbledon, the patrols currently go out twice a month and teams are usually rostered once a month. The evening begins with prayer at 10 pm, and the team heads out at about 10.30 pm until 2 am (though this can stretch to 3-4 am, depending on what’s happening). If you’re interested, you can attend as an observer without any training.

Want to know more? Check out their website and the amazing history of an initiative that has spread across London, the UK and worldwide, chat to Sean when you next see him, or contact John Goddard, Merton Street Pastors coordinator for more information.

Sean described people in blue uniforms walking the streets late into the night. As I write this, the pictures that come to mind are of faithful farmers sowing and reaping as God leads, of beacons of light pointing to life, and of the greater body of Christ working in unison to fulfil the Great Commission – what an awesome way to be part of God’s plan to change humanity!