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"I give them a week. Tops."

Street Pastors have arrived in Manchester: 14 of them, clad in distinctive blue jackets and baseball caps. With evangelical Christian fervour, they believe they can play a vital role in building bridges between the young and disenfranchised and so rebuild communities and reduce crime.

Pastors will work at weekends from 10pm to 4am and, according to the press release, "are trained in many areas including conflict resolution, counselling skills, drug awareness, and social historic development".

(What is social historic development and how do you discuss it with someone who has just fallen out of a club on Whitworth Street at 2am on a Saturday night/Sunday morning?)

The team comes from very different backgrounds and includes a business manager, a receptionist and a chef.

Candace James, street pastor and single mother, said: "I live on what many people would describe as a dangerous estate. I've had first hand experience of the fear gangs instill into communities.

"Yes, I am aware of the dangers and I don't relish being out on the streets late at night, but the opportunity to reach the marginalised in our society with the love of God makes the risks worthwhile. I believe every gang member that I've met has within them a heart of gold. I want to build relationships of trust with them and show them love and respect."

Oh, for f**ks sake FF, do shut up, you preposterous ninny. So these people are going to take drunks, bums and low-lifes, wash, feed and clothe them, and then suddenly proclaim them to have found the light? Sounds like a statistics drive to me. Not saying they're not doing a good thing, but if you can only be at the receiving end of their charity if you accept your Lord and Master Jesus God, then it sounds like a brainwashing, fascist cult...oh hang on, it already is.

Didn't you ever read about the Good Samaritan? He helped a stranger and asked for nothing in return. Sounds like these pushy-preachers can't follow their own book, how are they expected to teach it?

Forest Fan wrote:
>
>
> Yeah, he got that from a man called Nicky Cruz.


I remeber reading about this guy in RE lessons when I was about 12.

Anyway, I think what these people are doing is good but the're going about it in a strange way. Dressing up in blue baseball-capped uniforms and patroling the streets at a time when pretty much everyone is off their face on booze is a bad idea to me. There is no way I would take them seriously.

mikelar wrote:
> sounds like this David Wilkerson guy needs a slap

Yeah, he got that from a man called Nicky Cruz. But David Wilkerson percieved and this is what has become of Nicky Cruz:

[URL]http://www.nickycruz.org/[/URL]

From drug addict and occultist to preacher and missionary.

I think most people will back me up on this, that whether you believe in Jesus or not, the help Teen Challenge UK is offering is wonderful. Near where I live (in Ilford to be precise), they have a drop-in like centre where kids and adults can go through a program to help them give up their drug addiction.

But above all, these addicts the greatest help of all and tell them about Jesus.

sounds like this David Wilkerson guy needs a slap

Paradox: wrote:
> Good for them, I admire what they're doing, it takes some guts.

There are some of these brave people where I live. Teen Challenge UK is the orginazation and they visit Whitechapel, Ealing Broadway and King's Cross from 9:30 until 12pm. Now that is brave.

My reference to David Wilkerson, is that he is the founder of Teen Challenge UK and he used to visit New York back in the '40's when it was even more dangerous place and went to some of the roughest places there to spread the Gospel.

i think they should be issued with handguns, just to mix it up a bit more.

Never said it was, but I still find this topic very interesting indeed...

Good for them, I admire what they're doing, it takes some guts.

Forest Fan wrote:
> Yes I do Rickoss, which is what I just said.

*Rolls eyes* As sharp as usual...