ANGELS OF UXBRIDGE
Peter Lillystone is the Pastor of Waterloo Road Church in Uxbridge but by night, particularly Fridays and Saturdays, he is also a Hillingdon Street Angel. He and his Christian colleagues are on a mission to make the town a safer and better place. Like many of the UK’s towns and cities, Uxbridge suffers from the effects of binge-drinking, under-age clubbing and violence, which can leave people vulnerable and open to abuse.
At a recent well-attended Men’s Breakfast, Peter told his listeners just what ‘Being an Angel’ entails. In the Bible, said Peter, Hebrews teaches us, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hillingdon Street Angels came about after a number of residents felt challenged by what was going on in the town centre, especially at night. The group – including Peter - met the chaplain who heads up the Watford Street Angels, one of many Street Angels groups linked to ministries up and down the country. They liked what they heard and saw, and soon set up the Hillingdon equivalent, where they work as part of an ‘Urban Trinity’ - local churches, the Metropolitan Police and Hillingdon Borough.
Hillingdon Street Angels presently consists of 16 Christians, with an age range from the twenties to the seventies, from a variety of churches, who have been trained and commissioned for the role – which is, “not to push God or the Christian faith”. In the picture, Peter is wearing the Street Angel’s special uniform. On a typical Friday night a team will meet with the local police at 10pm, check their equipment and pray together. Their equipment includes a radio linked with other team members, the police and CCTV controllers. Angels patrol in pairs, and only in streets covered by CCTV. They are looking out for potential dangers: broken bottles, needles, knives, etc. They talk to bouncers on the doors of clubs and chat to people in general, particularly those in or possibly heading for trouble.
The range of equipment in their rucksacks is enlightening. Various pairs of flip flops, for instance, for young girls too drunk to balance on their high heels. “And our most strategic weapons are lollipops”, said Peter. “People in a state often need a supply of sugar and lollipops are a quick way to administer it. And often an effective way to break up a fight is to ask, ‘Who wants a lollipop?’ The attention then swings to us and not the opposing group”. Also carried are bottles of water, blankets to comfort the cold and abandoned, mobile phones and a small amount of cash to help people who’ve lost bags or wallets to get home.
Being a Street Angel is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea but it’s good to know that there are people prepared to take on the challenge and we can pray for their success. If you’d like to know more, or help in any way, including perhaps making a contribution towards their costs, phone 01895 812194 or email streetangels@oasisuxbridge.org.uk
AFN
