In-depth
Why are you here? What difference do you make? Are two questions we are often asked...
Street Angels was launched as a simple idea - we wanted to see if encouraging volunteers, initially people from the town's church, could be of help in reducing problems connected to the night time economy.
As is the case in many of the UK's towns and cities binge-drinking, under age clubbing and violence left some people vulnerable and open to abuse. By opening up the Fairtrade Cafe as a safe place and having people in yellow flourescent jackets wander the streets then maybe some of those who find themselves vulnerable would be saved from dangers. And it worked - so much so that after the initial month where we had 50 volunteers and helped 69 people - the decision was made to commit to Street Angels long term.
So why on earth do these volunteers want to stay in Halifax centre until 3am twice a week, week in week out? It's because we care and want to make a difference. The steering group and many of the Street Angels are Christians who believe that our faith needs to be worked out within serving our community. Other people volunteer simply because they see that Street Angels works and want to be part of a difference making project. Whatever the reason we believe that when good people do good then change will follow - Street Angels does just that!
So why is the church interested in the nightlife of towns and cities? Simple - God is far too big to be kept in a church building - as Christians we have chosen to live a life that seeks to make a difference - for the better. And that difference needs to be made in the places where people are. The Lord's Prayer says "your Kingdom, your will be done, on earth as in heaven" - every time that prayer is said we are asking God to bring his kingdom of love, peace, safety, hope, crime reduction, life, joy - in fact everything that is good - to earth, to our communities. The way this is done is through us - through people committed to making a difference!
And so, like thousands of others in communities across this nation and world, we are looking for ways to make our town a safer and better place. One of the ways is Street Angels! Part of the project is also to pray - for clubbers, safety, the police, nightclubs, door-staff and for peace.
We are not pushing God, or church or the Christian faith - we are simply here to serve our town. We do it because God loves you - he cares about you! And he wants to make a difference in your life - for the better.
So we are here because we care and God cares! The difference we make is beyond what we hoped or believed for. Street Angels are here to stay and may well be coming to a town near you very soon....