There are many types of graduation celebration in life. In Chandler’s Ford last weekend, there was an amazing, unique graduation celebration.
It was a graduation celebration for the new street pastors in Chandler’s Ford. You may even recognise some of them.
The newly commissioned street pastors are Martin Dungey, Jacquie Aubry, David Cardinal, Sally Harfield, and Jane Bennett. Their graduation service was held at St Martin in the Wood church on the 7th of December. Daily Echo also reported that the newly qualified street pastors celebrated graduating in style.
Listening, Caring, Helping
The banner “Listening, Caring, Helping” sums up the spirit of our street pastors. Street pastors are volunteers from local churches who want to serve our local community. There are four teams, with one team out on the streets of Chandler’s Ford for four hours every Friday night. Street Pastors in Chandler’s Ford was launched on the 2nd of July, 2010.
All street pastors are trained. Their training covers many subjects, including listening skills, drugs and alcohol awareness, local policing and first aid. There are four Street Pastor groups in Eastleigh Borough and a joint training course is held every year with new trainees from each of these groups.
What do Street Pastors do in Chandler’s Ford?
To be a street pastor, I think you need to like walking quite a bit. You also need to have a good listening skill. In Chandler’s Ford, street pastors walk on the streets in the residential area to talk to people, listen to them and help them.
Chandler’s Ford street pastors walk in the areas where young people tend to congregate on a Friday night, such as Hiltingbury Recreation Ground, Velmore, Fryern Rec, Freespace Skatepark and Knightwood.
Actually, I also know why our street pastors are very popular. They often give our young people lollies as a treat!
In April, I introduced our street pastors in this post, Street pastors in Chandler’s Ford: Who are they? In the Fryern Funtasia in May, I also saw our Street Pastors meeting and talking to people. Their blue shirt and hat were distinct.
We sometimes reminisce the good old days when community spirit was stronger. People lament that modern people get too busy and stop caring about our own neighbours and the youngsters in our community. However, when I look at the work of the street pastors, I’m grateful that our community spirit in Chandler’s Ford is still strong, and street pastors are caring, listening and supporting our neighbours, especially the young people, in the community.
Thank you Chandler’s Ford Street Pastors – for your wonderful work (and free lollies) for the Chandler’s Ford community.
