Street pastors 'pass out' (From Somerset County Gazette)

Street pastors 'pass out'

8:40pm Tuesday 6th January 2009

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THE graduation ceremony of Taunton’s street pastors on Friday may have been better named a ‘passing out’ event!

The 28 recruits, who are used to dealing with drinkers who are worse for wear on the streets of the county town, were presented with certificates after completing a training course run by the organisation’s parent body, The Ascension Trust.

Each graduate received a certificate signed by the founder and national director, the Rev Les Isaac, who said: “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you all for your dedication and commitment to the people of Taunton in serving them as street pastors.

“I pray that you will all be a source of blessing and encouragement to each other and to each individual you engage with them on a Friday and or Saturday night, as you seek to care, listen and help. Blessings be upon you all.”

Topics included on the course included homelessness, drugs and alcohol awareness, policing, youth culture and mental health issues.

More street pastors will complete their training in the new year but the 28 are the first Christians in the Taunton area to achieve their qualification.

The group now has more than 50 members drawn from 18 local churches.

The graduates are: Marion Allen, Charlie Back, Yvonne Back, Kay Buriani, Vincent Carrington, Kathryn Clarke, Colin Date, Jenny Elgood, Graham Farrell, Margaret Gibbins, Doug Gray, Paul Harper, Andrew Heath-Coleman, Frances Heath-Coleman, Phil Hindle, Caroline Ingram, Amy Murray, Mike Newberry, Ed Norton, Heather Sampson, Richard Sampson, Keith Sanders, Jennifer Sparks, Carol Sweeting, Graham Thompson, Rachel Walker, Nick Webb, Barbara Winterson.

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