Games Pastors - Get Set....

Street Angels - Christian Nightlife Initiatives, Street Pastors, London City Mission and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association are joining with More Than Gold to facilitate people who can help out over the Olympics (27th July - 12th August 2012) and Para-Olympics (29th August - 9th September 2012) as Games Pastors. 

Each day up to 800,000 extra people will travel into London just to be part of the 2012 Games experience.  They will swarm alongside the usual passengers around the transport system and be on the streets around Games venues, official big screen Live Sites and other venues.

St Pancras International Station, billed as the ‘Gateway to the Games’, is expecting around 100,000additional travellers to pass through the station every day during the Games.  Heathrow Airport will be heaving and is planning for its busiest day of all time after the Olympic Closing Ceremony and its second busiest day immediately following the Paralympics as everyone goes home.

Games Pastors are part of the More than Gold initiative providing practical and spiritual care for all during the 2012 Games. They are part of specialised group of trained volunteers sharing compassion and love of Christ to others. They may be the first line response serving as part of a team to everyone attending the Games.

Games Pastors will be working at transport hubs, near games venues, as a presence on the streets and possibility supporting community events throughout the period of the Games. The primary task of Games Pastors is to ensure safety for all. Games Pastors will be available to offer help and support, especially to the vulnerable and provide whatever appropriate assistance and support is necessary, as well as other appropriate duties as required. 

All Games Pastors must be a Christian and prayer is a vital part of our preparation and activity. It is important that all Games Pastors during the time of the Games have the spiritual back-up of their own church and home groups, as this role is one of witness. Games Pastors should also be able to identify individuals who will need spiritual support during the games as well as practical assistance. 

Being a Games Pastor will bring you into a wide variety of challenging situations and may be quite arduous at times, with lots of walking and standing during a typical four hour shift.  It will bring great satisfaction.  Once accepted and deployed you will be allocated to a small team, so there will be lots of day to day support and normally you will not be expected to work alone.

All in all it will be a great experience, playing an important role that will put you at the very heart of the greatest sporting event in living memory! 

Games Pastors are responsible for their own funding in respect of (a) their application, (b) training and travel, and (c) accommodation and meals. 

We are also looking between CNI, Street Pastors, London City Mission and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to have a number of team leaders across the UK coordinating the recruitment and appointment of Games Pastors. Each organisation is looking at appoint to each of these strategic roles. You will be expected to have a proven track record of leading a team in your area and the ability to pick up new skills.  

There are half day recruitment and information days currently taking place in central London for those who could take up these leadership roles. There is a formal invite for those wishing to attend which you must apply for. Names for those wishing to attend this event will be required but if you are unable to attend, this does not stop you from taking one of these roles on. We will need to approach project leads to confirm their recommendation for this role. If your interested in this specific role, please let Paul know directly. 

All volunteers will need to go through Games Pastors application process and training which is now available from the More than Gold Website. You will also need to attend a Get Set training day - information here.

CNI is also committed in praying for More Than Gold and the Olympics. The 2012 Olympics present a great opportunity not only for the UK but also the church in the UK and all we do needs to be grounded in prayer.