Be a light at night! Train to become a city Pastor

City Pastors have been working in the city for over nine years with the team of around 50 volunteers who serve the night-time economy every Friday & Saturday night to provide a calming, caring presence in the city. Working alongside Street Wardens, paramedics, Police and door staff, they offer support to clubbers, diners, concert go-ers, homeless people, tourists and anyone else out on the streets who might become vulnerable.

The project involve volunteers from local churches across Birmingham and works in partnership with the city’s Westside & Southside Business Improvement Districts to ensure that the city is a safe, vibrant environment for everyone who visits.

Each volunteer is on duty approximately once-a-month on a Friday or Saturday evening, from 10:00pm to around 2.30am. Teams work as two mixed pairs patrolling the areas where the night-life is most active.

The role of City Pastors is five-fold:

• Pastoring the streets
• Protecting the vulnerable
• Partnering with statutory bodies
• Preventing crime
• Planting seeds of hope

A recipient of the care of City Pastors wrote to us following an incident in which she was helped: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the City Pastors who helped me last night. If it wasn’t for their help I wouldn’t have made it home. They both looked after me and made sure that I was able to get home and for that I can’t thank them enough. It’s also taught me to be more responsible when I go out and to think before I act. I can’t thank you all enough.”

It was Mike Olley, Westside BID Manager who opened the door for City Pastors to work in the Westside/Broad Street area of the city. He appreciates the way in which City Pastors adds value to the night-time economy offering.

‘We just couldn’t do without the pastors nowadays. They’ve become an integral part of our built infrastructure; they’re a key part of the management structure which keeps Westside the happy, vibrant place it is.’

We give God the glory for this and we don’t take for granted the privilege of being able to serve the city in this way as Christians with complete freedom.

Are you up for becoming a City Pastor?

City Pastors are now recruiting for training on 21st March. Sadly this training has been CANCELLED, but register your interest for future training events.

If you are up for a challenge and want to be a light at night in Birmingham,

email us on info@citypastors.co.uk or enquire via our website www.citypastors.co.uk .

Jo Jowett, City Pastors Leadership Team