A Spring update on just some of the work going on at Church on the Street, bringing hope into peoples lives.

Meet Bea, a Chaplain with Church on the Street

Hello, I am Bea Wilkinson, your ordained Chaplain within COTS.

My role as a Chaplain is to go out into the community and share the Gospel with all those, who need it. I visit people in hospital, at home or in their place of need and provide a listening ear and practical help based on my interpretation of ‘ministry’ as “an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith.”

I have a calling to share God’s word and his love through helping others.

For me that is an active commitment to love others in a practical and meaningful way, whenever and wherever God puts it on my heart to do so, or places me to be, whether I am prepared for it or not and in all circumstances, without judgment and with a pure heart. In other words, to serve God and other people, just like Jesus did.

I have personal experience of physical and mental abuse, depression, loneliness, loss and grief, anxiety, addiction etc. Equally I have tried a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms to make myself feel better (alcohol at one point, trying to commit suicide, exerting control and manipulation, unhealthy eating, addiction to status/work). This is the path I walked on because I thought I could do life on my own… but I discovered that without God I cannot…

In my role as chaplain I feel I can share my experiences and set them in context with the Gospel, to give people hope, to help them discover their faith and to support them to live their best lives or die a peaceful and serene death, to expose social injustice and speak out for those who do not have a voice in our society.

My guiding scripture in this is Matthew 25, Verse 37-40:

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Following a government announcement to ban a new group of synthetic opioids, called nitazenes, Pastor Mick of Church on the Street was invited on to BBC Breakfast. This gave him the opportunity to discuss Harm Reduction and promote awareness of naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, and that could save many lives. Staff and volunteers at Church on the Street have been trained in the use of naloxone.

Mick also talked about the human impact of new and more dangerous nitazene opioid drugs coming to the UK: “It’s horrendous, it’s taking hope away from people. I believe addiction is an illness, I believe these people suffer with a genuine illness, that can be tackled if they can be helped to stay alive long enough.”

Watch clip on Facebook

Meet Chris, on a Journey of Redemption and Transformation

Meet Chris Brooks, a 46-year-old individual on a remarkable journey of redemption and transformation. Emerging from a challenging past where he spent 18 years entangled within the confines of prison due to struggles with substance abuse and the repercussions of his actions, Chris has now embarked on a profound quest for change.

Today, Chris is deeply engaged in his role at COTS and passionately contributing to initiatives aimed at uplifting others and fostering positive change. He dedicates his time to COTS after completing The Exodus Project.

At the heart of his endeavours lies Chris’s involvement with Church on the Street, where his role in supporting Pastor Emma in the delivery of The Exodus Project—a transformative recovery program. Alongside this, he extends his support to the homeless and the most vulnerable segments of our community, embodying the spirit of compassion and empathy.

Chris’s narrative is not one of despair but of resilience and hope. His voice has resonated with audiences nationwide, having addressed over 80,000 individuals through National Prison Radio alongside Pastor Emma.

In addition to his advocacy efforts, Chris actively contributes to initiatives like “From Harm to Hope” drug strategy and PRET, leveraging his first-hand experiences as an ex-prisoner to advocate for meaningful change within the prison system.

Chris Brooks’s story is a testament to the power of redemption, purpose, and the unwavering human spirit. His journey from adversity to empowerment serves as a beacon of hope for those navigating similar paths. With gratitude for the opportunities bestowed upon him, Chris stands poised to continue making a profound impact, driven by a profound sense of purpose and the desire to transform lives, through the power of God.

To find out more about The Exodus Project, contact Pastor Emma or Bishop Mick at Church on the Street.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for your sacrifice on the Cross, and rejoice at your resurrection and victory over sin and death. In your name we seek out those who are lost, and who are suffering, so that they may be brought out of the darkness and into the light, and share in your everlasting glory.

Amen.