Reflections from a Student Street Chaplain:

As a student in Dundee I haven’t long been a member of Street chaplains, and saying that not terribly old in my Christian life either. But since joining in 2011 there has been nothing but spiritual growth in my life. Having only really committed to Christ about two years prior I was thrown immediately into the deep end when a couple of my closest friends dragged me along one evening to take part. Seeing the streets from the perspective of the one “out” for a good time and seeing the streets as the one “looking out” for others having a good time are two very different situations. As a street chaplain I had to learn to observe the folk coming and going about the clubs. Keeping an eye on those who were drunk, those who were vulnerable, those who were injured and ministering Gods word to any and all you would listen. We go out onto the streets with resources like water, flip flops, rape alarms, ponchos, bandages, hot drinks, leaflets and lollies etc, all so we could show the love of God in a practical and visible way to those at night.

However it didn’t take me long out on the streets to realise when we talked with people how hopeless I was at answering peoples questions with a Biblical answer. Quite often I’d normally keep my mouth shut and let the other team members lead the discussion while praying that the person did not turn to me and ask for my opinion (which they normally did). Faced with the contentious issues that many people tend to have with the Bible and God, to continue taking part in this mission that I truly loved to do, I had no other choice than to expand my knowledge on topics and areas of scripture that I may not have fully thought about before. 

Three years on and I no longer hide behind the coats of the other members of the team but rather seeks to be the first to engage with someone when the topic of God and Christ arises. And not even because I feel like I have to, but by having filled myself with more of God’s word I have come to realise just how joyful and powerful it really is and the more you understand that the more you “want” to share. After three years I have helped countless people on the streets of Dundee and shared the Gospel with many many more. A minister once described street chaplains as being the sowers of the vineyard, scattering seed over all kinds of ground. I often ponder what God has done in the lives of the people I have talked to on the street. Being a front line ministry it is very rare to see the fruits of our labour, but we continue to plant God’s word wherever we can in the hope that he will use it for his glory.

David Church. Student Street Chaplain leader.

Dear friends,

“Nice people”!

As we think about Easter and all that goes along with it I was challenged by an article in the Daily Telegraph this past week. The report was talking about Christ, Christianity and the TV show "Rev".  The heading caught my attention. It said:

“Sorry, Rev, but Christianity isn't just about being nice to people”.

This led me to ask myself the question. “Why do we have Street Chaplains”?

My answer was to reach those who don't yet know the love of God and to tell them of a Saviour who died for them.

Since Christmas we have been “nice people” on the streets of Dundee and Broughtyferry.  We have chatted to people, helped people into taxies, broken up fights, and talked to door staff. However our aim has and is always to share the gospel with them.

In February we gave out five hundred pancakes on Pancake Tuesday and we had many great in-depth conversations about the Lord Jesus.

St Patricks day was a big outreach for Street Chaplains as we teamed up with Dundee University Christian Union and gave out green lollies. Once again we had many deep discussions about the true meaning of life and the way of salvation.

Street Chaplains have been on the streets of Dundee city centre weekly since Christmas in all weathers (and thank God for the lack of snow and really cold nights this winter!) sharing the good news of the gospel with people and workers in the night-time economy.

In the middle of January one of our Street Chaplains was going to the church office in Broughtyferry to meet up with other Street Chaplains - on the way they came across a lady who was in the last moments of throwing herself off a railway bridge. Thankfully our Street Chaplain talked with her and persuaded her to come of the bridge. They contacted her family and got the lady to safety. We continue to pray for her that God will touch her troubled life and bring her to Himself.  

We could go on, but what of the future. Over the page is our prayer vision of all we hope to do in Gods will in the coming summer. Please pray for us - thank you once again for supporting us in this ministry.

I finish with another quote for the Daily Telegraph article:

“Helping the poor or the sick is not simply an act of humanity, it’s an act of faith. It’s also an act of witness – a way of showing the world the reality of Christ’s love in the hope that more people will accept him as their Saviour."

Have a blessed Easter...

Yours in Christ.

Andy Burns