Rugby Street Pastors from Global Horizons on Vimeo.

Throughout the UK, a unique and deeply appreciated group of Christians from various churches patrol the streets from 10pm-4am on weekends. Their purpose is to bring help and peace in a time of the night when often there is danger for people coming out of the clubs in the town centers.

New Life Church, Rugby, participates in this vital ministry along with the other churches which are part of Revive a cooperative group of churches in Rugby which seeks to meet practical needs in the community (such as a food shelves, help for the homeless, etc.).

A presence of Street Pastors at 3.30 in the morning around the clock tower in Rugby Town Centre, where intoxicated clubbers congregate whilst waiting for a taxi, brings a calming, reassuring influence. Many people have said they feel much safer when they see Street pastors are watching out for them. The role is not about preaching heaven and hell, but one of listening, caring and helping – working in an unconditional way. 

People in Rugby are now getting to know that the Church is there for them in a practical way. Whether Street Pastors are pointing people in the right direction, persuading someone not to do something, providing emergency first aid, giving out flip-flops and lollies, or just being a shoulder to cry on, they are practically demonstrating the Christian ethos of caring for one another…..not just to one another in their respective church congregations, but to the wider community – the Cities, Towns and villages where they live and work.

Watch the video where the people on the streets coming out of the clubs share what Street Pastors means to them. Listen to club owners, the police, town officials have to say. In recognition of the work undertaken by volunteer Street Pastors, they were presented with an award by Rugby’s Community Safety Partnerships Board.

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. There are now some 9000 trained volunteers in around 250 teams around the United Kingdom.

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, in partnership with Police, Council and other statutory agencies.

For more information on Street Pastors, you can visit the web site by clicking HERE