Halloween night (11/31/14) I was commissioned as a Hastings Street and Prayer Pastor.

The service was at Holy Trinity Church as was attended by over a hundred people. 12 street pastors and 6 prayer pastors were commissioned and after the service went out on their first official duties.

I was the first person to be commissioned for both in the same night, this did confuse martin who was calling out the names as I had already been presented with my street pastors cap and when he called me to accept my prayer pastors bible I was on the wrong side of the stage *Chuckles*.

The service was opened by Revd. Simon Larkin (Reverend of Holy Trinity) and then Emceed by John Lyttle.

Martin West (Hastings Street Pastor Coordinator) told of how far Hastings street pastor has come since they had begun.

He was followed by Anwar Bourazza (Ascension Trust Rep) who told about how Street and Prayers pastors have now gone international. There are now street pastors in Australia and the USA and other countries where they are helping, listening and caring for people who need them.

Testimonies were heard from one new street pastor and one prayer pastor. They told about why they decided to join and what they thought was so important about the work that is done.

Paul Wenham (Director of Ashburnham Trust) gave a short message and this lead into the commissioning of the new street and prayer pastors.

All the new pastors repeated promises about upholding the words of God and the code of the Street and Prayer pastors.

Street pastors were then presented with a cap and Prayer pastors were presented with a Gideon’s bible.

After a few songs we all had tea and cake before heading to Wellington Square Baptist Church to begin our first official duty.

If you would like to find out more about street or prayer pastors or you would like to help support their work please see the links below.

Hastings Street Pastors Facebook

Street Pastors UK

Ascension Trust (Site for all street and prayer pastors worldwide)

Alternatively Hastings Street Pastors have recently set up a Just Giving page, courtesy of Vodafone. Text HSPG40 £2/£5/£10 to 70070, and the donation of any amount will be credited to the street pastors’ bank account.

If, for example, £10 is the amount you wish to donate then text to 70070 HSPG40 £10, making sure there is a space before the £ sign.