March 2011
Dear Friends
Last Friday night I had my second night out as a Street Pastor, walking round the centre of Dunfermline from around 10.30pm to 3.30am (the busiest time of the night) with three folks from other churches, handing out flip flops to girls who couldn’t take their high heels any more (many of the guys wanted them too!), picking up bottles and broken glass, chatting to the clubbers, the door men and the police, and being there to help out those who were a little lost or under the influence. Being someone who is usually sound asleep at 3.00am it is quite a culture shock to see so many people out at night. Some of them are sober, some very drunk, some are very drunk and trying to appear very sober. Occasionally someone will stop and talk about themselves, their life. Some may ask questions about God or why we do what we do and how much we get paid. A couple of girls who spoke to us on Friday night just came over to say thank you for what we were doing, having received flip flops and space blankets back at Christmas time. They commented that Street Pastors were the best thing about Dunfermline and I think they even said that we looked “cute”!!
As I think of all these people we meet I am again reminded of their need of a Saviour. So many people with so many things going on in their lives. It would be easy to look at some people and to condemn their behaviour, their dress, their language, their lifestyles. It would be easy to pass judgement without really knowing anything about them or their lives. As you speak to them you are reminded that each one has a story, each one is unique, and each one is dearly loved by God.
Ephesians 2:8,9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no-one can boast.” We are saved by God’s grace alone. We have hope and strength and comfort and refuge in God simply because of his grace. This same God, who died on a cross for our sins, died also for all the people we meet every day. Let me encourage you again to seek to bring the message of the gospel to those you meet. Bring it with acts of kindness, with words of life, with demonstrations of power. Bring it by your example. Bring it with love and mercy and acceptance. I believe that God wants to add many into his kingdom even this year, and many into Liberty Church. He simply asks that we would be faithful ambassadors for his kingdom.
“Father, let your kingdom come, let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Much love and blessings
JonJon Farrimond, 05/03/2011