The Bishop of Lichfield has hailed the introduction of street pastor schemes across the Midlands as part of his Lent Appeal.
The Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhillalso revealed that Lichfield was expected to adopt the scheme in the coming months.
The Lent Appeal urges Christians in the 577 churches in the Diocese – together with schools and community organisations – to donate money raised by giving up luxuries.
Bishop Jonathan said:
“Christians have believed in the Big Society for two millennia. But rather than Big Society we know it better by the phrase ‘the Kingdom of God’. In God’s Kingdom the Good Samaritan is the model for all Christians, doing acts of mercy across all the usual barriers.
“One new and exciting way this care for others is being provided right here in the streets of our diocese is through the Street Pastors scheme which is rapidly growing. Ordinary Christians are putting denominational differences aside to work together from late at night to the early hours of the morning to provide a caring presence on the streets of our towns and cities. Street Pastors are operating or being planned in areas as diverse as Walsall, Stoke on Trent, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Leek and Lichfield.
“Street Pastors are a visible and accessible Christian pastoral presence, ministering mainly to young people who are vulnerable, lonely and, quite often, frightened.”
The theme of this year’s Lent Appeal is transforming communities and the Bishop hopes the initiative will raise around £50,000.
Money raised is usually split between home projects working in the diocese and projects overseas.
This year the overseas projects are all initiatives being carried out by the Diocese of Lichfield’s overseas partners in the worldwide Anglican Communion, including the Diocese of Matlosane in South Africa, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in Canada, and the Dioceses of Singapore, West Malaysia and Kuching in the Province of South East Asia.
Bishop Jonathan added:
“Our companion diocese of Matlosane in South Africa trained three young people as peer educators to teach young people about sexual behaviour and how to minimise the spread of HIV/Aids. The initiative, Siyafundisa, was a very powerful and meaningful ministry to the young people of Matlosane. Bishop Steve Diseko told me recently that a lack of funds forced the initiative to close.
“Through this year’s Lent Appeal I hope we can raise the necessary funds to restart this exciting work. Just £5,000 would be enough to re-start the programme for one year and if we could raise double that amount we could keep it running for a second year too.
“Our partners in the Province of South East Asia are committed to ‘Growing the Kingdom’ in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. Our companion diocese of Singapore has already planted mission deaneries to serve these countries and their work continues to develop six new dioceses. Archbishop John Chew tells me the Province needs teachers of English who can use their skills to play a key role in helping to fulfil their vision and be engaged in this deeply transformative programme.”
Speaking about the initivite with First Nations people in Canada, Bishop Jonathan added:
“The relationship between Western Canadians and the indigenous First Nations people [Cree Indians] hasn’t always been good – and the church has played its part in this darker side of Canada’s history. In Saskatchewan, the residential schools set up by the Anglican Church caused huge heartache as children as young as eight were taken from families in order to ‘Westernise them’.
“Those dark days are now past and the elders of the Daystar First Nation Reserve have invited the Revd Vicky Young of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle to run a full time Christian ministry and programme of reconciliation. Her work is limited by a lack of financial resources to repair the existing church building and provide teaching materials for young and old alike.
“All around the world Christians are working to transform communities and I pray that people will give generously this Lent to help this vitally important work.”
For more information about the Lent Appeal and to donate online, visit lichfield.anglican.org/lentappeal.
