Visit of Paul Blakey to Tamworth Street Angels

Paul (and Jean I hope) Blakey will be visiting Tamworth on:
Tuesday 21st July 2015 @ 7:30pm

The venue for  the evening will be:
St Francis’ Church, Masefield Drive, Tamworth B79 8JB

 

Paul will be coming to touch base and update on the work of CNI generally and we will hopefully be joined by members of other groups and hopefully some representation for the council and the local policing unit too. 

We have much to share and much to celebrate so please make a note in your diary about the evening and bring others along so they can get a feel for who we are and what we do and perhaps sign up and join us to. Look forward to seeing you there.

THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING: ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

David Cameron, Jesus and the Big Society

This morning I had the privilege (and pleasure) of talking to the extremely nice Michelle Dawes on BBC WM radio regarding David Cameron and his comments on Jesus and the 'Big Society'.

Here's the broadcast:

Evangelism - it's not about 'converting' people

As our town moves nearer to Street Angels being a reality I was told of a conversation with a 'fellow Christian' (I'm sure you'll understand the inverted comma in a minute) regarding the opportunities it presented 'the Church' to get involved with those who are in town of an evening.

Their first response, having been told a bit about Street Angels, was, 'When do you convert them?' This was met with the observation, 'I don't think that we are there to convert or tell them about Jesus, but that, for that short time, we are there to be Jesus for them; to pick them up and help get them home safely.'

So they asked another question, 'What do you do the following night?' The response to which was, 'We pick them up again, and get them home, again!'

It was at this point that they declined to be involved on the grounds that what we were doing with Street Angels wasn't 'doing enough to grow the Kingdom' - And this is the reason why you will find in some churches see no real fruits because where they want scalps where Jesus wants servants.

The saddest thing is that many of those with attitudes like that displayed above are repositories of everything that is weird and off-putting to those outside and pretty distasteful to those within to as they live in their pathetic little 'holier than thou - avoid the unholy brethren' huddles! (Can you tell I'm frustrated? Problem is I've met it so many times with missioner hat on and yet I'm still shocked and frustrated as if it was the first time :-) )

So, for those of you in our area who have a servant heart for, and of, God - Street Angels is ready, willing and waiting for us to take up the challenge to minister God's grace (alongside those of no faith) because that is what Jesus would have us do. For in doing so we look, smell and act like Him.

We are not called to sit in our pathetic little huddles 'protecting ourselves from the world, the fallen and those whose theology and thinking we disagree with' - that's called being a cult!

(Yes, I am definitely niggled :-)  )

Jesus calls us to be salt, light and balm to the world - to take up our cross and follow Him, denying our sensibilities to cross the road and minister (ever read the 'Good Samaritan'?) to those who are neither of our faith or our friends.

This is how we fulfil the calling we have - not by hunting scalps and sharing the Gospel without first sharing bread, showing love and making Christ real!

Pax

Tamworth Street Angels - Another step further

Three years or so on and Tamworth Street Angels has a bunch of trustees in place and the various elements relating to training and linking in to the town's services are also coming together and so it is with some great pleasure that I can announce a public meeting to inform, recruit and generally enthuse those who would like to become part of Tamworth's Street Angels group.

click to enlarge

Please tell your friends (if you have friends),  acquaintances, fellow church members (if you go to church), colleagues, fellow unbelievers (if you're non-theist) and strangers you meet in the street, on the trains, buses and down the nick!

Anywhere and everywhere - spread the good news that Tamworth is moving up a gear when it comes to being a caring society.

And be warned - there's more good news to come very soon (so have a nap!).

You have the time, the date and the location - so see you very soon I hope (refreshments provided)

What an amazing week that was

Last week was one of those amazing weeks that blesses your socks off yet leaves you wondering where it went (and how come so much is left to do.

Sunday: Ordination of the Revd. David Short at St Alban's Abbey

The sun shone, the choir sang and heaven rejoiced!

Monday: Staff meeting, business meetings, Kid's Club, Home visits and (yeeha) PCC!

4:28 - the quiet before the storm 

Tuesday: Tamworth Street Angels comes into being with various other meetings and engagements on this, a business and paperwork day.

At last - a dream comes true and we're off!

Wednesday: Funeral visits, Bike Ride to the Wall, Chaplaincy work

Standards of the Royal Signals Association as we remember those who have served

Thursday: Early communion service (more chairs needed yet again), drop-in, boat building (see I do take time off), Air Cadets.

Final stage in the lining out complete!

Friday: Dedication of the new names added to the Armed Force's memorial walls - Fifty-two names were added to the wall this year - dona eis requiem.

A salute by the BBMF's Lancaster
We will remember them

Followed by Kid's Club (now that's a sea change :-) )

One of the many blessings that this church gives to the community

Saturday: Provided PA for a church fete and then on to medicals and recruit training before finally ending the day (19:00) with a barbecue (even more time off!)

Of course there's loads of telephone calls, paperwork and ad hoc meetings that act as the filler in the normal daily run but, all in all, an absolutely fantastic and blessed week

And so - on to a great day with early communion, all-age service, Youth Alpha and BCP evensong to challenge, cause to worship and generally bless.

You know? I couldn't pay enough to be a minister and yet I get to do it for free.

How wonderful is that?

Tamworth Street Angels

At eleven O'clock yesterday (2nd July 2013) the town of Tamworth gave birth to a new community project in the shape of Tamworth Street Angels.

For those of you who are asking the question, 'What?' Here's the answer:

The idea of the Street Angels is that they are a group of volunteers who give up their time between 9:30pm in the evening and 2am in the morning to ensure that those who come into our town to enjoy themselves do exactly that in a safe and secure environment. The Street Angels are there to offer support to those who have enjoyed themselves a little too much and offer water, tea and coffee, a listening ear to make sure that the laughter doesn't turn to tears.

When those high heels become a little too high for comfort, the Street Angels are there to offer flip flops and a less fashionable, but safer, choice of footwear and when emotions run high, they are there to defuse the situation and to bring dialogue (or perhaps stop it when it gets to rich) and help restore the conditions that make it all fun again.

In short - Street Angels are there to make sure that all those out on the town are as safe as we'd like to think our own children are!

They're not a group of vigilantes, 'Guardian Angels',  or people looking to get involved as police officers (after all we have a fine bunch of 'Specials' who do that for us) - They're just a bunch of people who want our town to be a safe and enjoyable place to be and what the people partying in it to be as safe as possible too.

Interested?

email: tamworthstreetangels-enquiries@yahoo.co.uk

We need people who willing to get involved and the bottom line is that they have to love people and be able to keep their cool when others aren't. We are not out there on the streets to judge or preach or be authoritarian - we are out there because we care enough to want to make a difference.

For those who are worried about, or think that, this as 'just about ministering to, working with or caring for drunks', you can rest easy for it isn't! This is about much more than alcohol - it's about engagement and being there for others.

For those who think that this might be, 'One of those Christian ghetto things;' again you can rest easy for although this initiative is Christian (that's what CNI is about) it's open to all and it's there for all. It's not about proselytising but about serving - and you don't need to be a person of faith to do good stuff now, do you?

So what are you waiting for?

Street Angels - Something good hits the streets

Last night I was privileged to spend some time with Burton's Street Angels as they went about their Thursday night engagement with the partying population of that place. Going out in teams of four, each one having a role as Team Leader, Mel, briefed the others (who fulfilled roles doing First Aid, Radio Communications and the like) on last week's experiences and provided general intelligence of what was happening in the community (end of term for the college) and what they might expect.

This done the team loaded up and went out to work their patch (with me as gooseberry in two :-)) and what I saw was great. There were the guys who work at getting people into their clubs, the security people (doormen) and the general populace were all in evidence and the team were greeted and engaged with as friends. No wonder as they make life simpler by helping those who have had a little too much to drink, provide flip flops for those who can no longer balance on the amazing hiiiiiigh heels, pass out water, provide tea, coffee and help those who would otherwise get into trouble stay out of it!

As they walked the streets, one of those who passed them asked, "What are Street Angels?' to which the bloke she was with said, 'They look after you if you get drunk.'

Never has a truer word been said!

Street Angels are there to help those enjoying themselves do so in a safe and protected environment and many do it because it's an extension of their Christian ministry of getting out there and serving their communities - want to know more?

Then find one in your area and if you can't - then it's time to talk to CNI and start one where you are :-)