Open Meeting 22nd July
Prayer Update from
Derek Baker (July 2010)
Greetings to you all in the name of
Jesus,
Let me start by thanking each of you for continued support
in praying for Arun Angels and all that happens in order for
our teams to be out on the streets regularly each Saturday.
I often hear about churches, groups and individuals who
report back that they prayed for us in their last service or
meeting or that they regularly remember us in prayer. This
is so encouraging and by God’s grace we have seen his
protection over us and continued to experience good favour
in what we are doing. I am grateful to God for those whom I
know to be praying for us and also for those I don’t know
about. I pray that God will honour them in their
faithfulness.
Some of you have asked for a copy of
the team rota each time I send it out. If this is something
that you would like and you don’t currently receive it then
please let me know and I will add your email to the list.
There are several areas for which I
would ask you to pray:-
Recruitment and Training Program 2010. We are just getting
under way with recruitment ready for the 2010 Training
program which starts in September. I’m aware of several
people keen to know more.
-
Pray that the recruitment process
goes well and that God brings new volunteers to get
involved who understand the purpose of Arun Angels
-
Pray that the practicalities of
interviews, dates, venues and material are all ready and
available at the right time.
Since the start of Arun Angels, we have existed as a
separate project under the wing of Peaceworks. Arun Angels
has just received formal notification that we are now a
separate charity. This will mean some changes behind the
scenes with Trustees, Management Group and administration.
-
Please be thankful to God for all
that colleagues from Peaceworks have brought and
continue to bring into the work of Arun Angels.
-
Pray for the Trustees and
Management Group that they will be able to carry the
vision of Arun Angels in their respective roles and that
God will bless them as they bring their expertise to the
work.
-
Lt Peter Clark from the Hub
(Salvation Army) has been involved in the management
group from the very early days and has been an
encouragement to me personally on many occasions. Please
pray for him and Suzanne as they take up their new roles
in Salisbury.
-
In the summer months, the town centre
is busier with more visitors and people spending time out in
the open (including on the beach) late at night.
-
Please pray that the teams will be
sensitive to what is happening and aware of individuals
who are distressed or vulnerable in that environment
-
Pray that our volunteers will have
the wisdom to respond to challenging situations
-
Pray for continued protection and
energy for all our volunteers and those close to them.
We have had several really significant contacts in recent
weeks some were distressing incidents and others were
encouraging and very positive. It’s not appropriate to
include detail here except to ask you to pray that our teams
will continue to be in the right place at the right time and
that we might be his hands, his feet and his heart in all
that we do.
Links:
open meeting next Thursday (22nd July)
for people to come and find out more about Arun Angels (pdf)
Recruitment Programme A4 poster(pdf)
Kind regards and appreciation
Derek Baker
Link: Arun Angels Commissioning
Service 5th December 2009
Arun Angels project
Derek Baker was appointed the
new Arun Angel’s Project Coordinator on 22nd June, 2009. He
will bring to the role his experience of working on the
Portsmouth Street Pastors project.
Derek
Baker spent most of his working career in various IT related
roles across such diverse sectors as the Oil industry,
freelancing and charity/not for profit. Having grown up in
Plymouth, he moved to Surrey and later to South London to be
involved in church initiatives. In 2004 Derek moved to
Westbourne in West Sussex where he is involved in a local
Baptist church. He has been a volunteer with Portsmouth
Street Pastors since the start of the project in early 2007
and as well as being on the streets once a month is also
involved in training and mentoring new volunteers. He is
married and has a grown up daughter and son. He brings to
Arun Angels an excitement about Christian based social
action. Derek follows AFC Wimbledon football club when he
can but he also enjoys motorcycling, walking and has
recently taken under his wing four chickens!
Contact details:
Mr Derek Baker , The Arun Angels Project Coordinator, Town
Hall, Clarence Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1LD
01243 820604
Derek will be
available to speak to churches
who are interested to learn more about the project.
Background:
The Arun Crime and
Disorder Partnership (or CDRP as it known) have approached
the churches of Bognor Regis and district with a view to
setting up with them a 'Good Samaritan' scheme to work
alongside the local police on the streets of the town. After
much consultation, it has been agreed that this is be a
Churches Together in Bognor Regis and District initiative.
Inspired by schemes variously known as 'street pastors' or
street angels' around the country, the aim is to have
trained volunteers from the churches initially working
around the pubs and clubs on a Saturday night. It is hoped
that this project will begin at Christmas 2009, with
training
This project is being
funded by the CDRP, Butlins and other local businesses
amounts to £20,000. However, the full funding plan of
£35,000 is still to be gained. The CDRP are currently
working with a group of the town's Christian leaders, with
representation from the Roman Catholics, Church of England
and Salvation Army to put the project together.
