Eleven thousand volunteers, 11 years and one global church in action from Inverness to Exeter.
Street Pastors (SPs) is transforming the face of UK towns and cities at nighttime by taking faith onto the streets and engaging with people to care, listen and help.
Writer and editor Rosalind Davies, 43, from Exeter, has co-written 'Faith on the Streets' about the Christian ministry helping to keep tens of thousands of people safe in 280 centres on Friday and Saturday nights.
Five years after the church volunteers first took to the streets of Exeter, the book explores how SPs strive to take the love of Jesus Christ onto the streets and engage with people in a practical and personal way.
"What you see in SPs is the power of simple human connection. There is such a lot of value in knowing somebody has time for you," said Rosalind who lives in Whipton.
The new 204-page volume – exploring the growth and impact of the national outreach project – was launched at the national SPs conference in Manchester on May 29.
It marked the end of a three-year project on the book – from the idea being pitched to the completed paperback with its striking cover.
Through its pages are interviews and testimonies from police officers, councillors, head teachers and members of the public.
"We hope it's an inspirational book to Christians especially to those who are looking to express their faith in a practical way. And we hope it'll be a door-opener to many other people," said Rosalind.
SPs was founded in 2003 by the co-author, Reverend Les Isaacs, a former Rastafarian who had a troubled childhood before becoming involved in London's gang scene.
After becoming a Christian he went on to work as a church leader for over twenty years, and launched SPs as an outreach project to 'hard-to-reach' communities in Brixton and Hackney.
"A big focus of the book is on Les' story and how he was inspired to respond to the problems and not isolate them," said Rosalind who met Rev Isaacs in 2003 at Ichthus Christian Fellowship in Crystal Palace, South East London.
Over the past 11 years, SPs have been present on the night-time high street: defusing tension and helping people to get home safely.
Rosalind said: "The key words for SPs are caring, listening and helping. They walk slowly, are very approachable and they are able to interact with many people.
"Often people are carrying so much emotional baggage and feeling pressured about many things. Talking to a stranger, perhaps surprisingly, can be helpful because they have a neutrality."
The first SP team went out in Exeter in June 2009 battling initial suspicion and scepticism to win the trust and respect of the community.
Rosalind said: "In Exeter they a forming a link that was missing with people who, for example, are thrown out of clubs or lose their friends. They help people get out difficult situations where they are vulnerable. Sometimes they find people unconscious in the cold who could otherwise get hyperthermia."
Groups patrol the streets at weekends between 10pm and 4am as guardians offering a safe presence and assistance to those in need.
Rosalind added: "A vital part of the journey has been the acceptance for the practical role they play. They bring a distinctiveness in what they do because their motivation is the love of Jesus."
They have become a 'frontline' example of the church-in-action in Exeter, across the country and overseas, she said.
"People ask a lot questions about Christianity. For example, why did my mum die? Or why did my friend die in a car accident but I survived? Through SPs we are seeing informal spiritual engagement going on in lots of surprising places."
Over a time of economic austerity, the SPs initiative has been regarded as invaluable to the authorities. It has been able to itself as a resource, a structure and a way of mobilising people.
A testament to their value in the community is the fact that there has never been a report of an attack on a street pastor anywhere in the UK.
That's partly down to the so-called 'Granny Factor' of the Street Pastors, according to Rosalind.
"The more senior volunteers have such a gentle, non-judgemental presence. People are surprised that older people are prepared to put themselves in situations of aggression and tension. They have a wonderful ability to diffuse it."
As well as being highly valued by the public and authorities, it can given many Christians the opportunity to realise a 'calling' in their lives and join together with fellow believers.
Rosalind said: "SPs has brought about a new level of unity between churches as well as encouraging social action that is different to preaching. It has prompted the church to think about its place in the local community, and challenged Christians to think about going to where people are rather than expecting them to come to us."
Members of many churches have responded positively to the movement by being willing and eager to commit themselves to the unsociable hours over a substantial period of time.
Rosalind said: "Many people have been ready to express their faith in such a long-term and consistent way. They have responded positively to the 'brand' including the logo and uniform. We know of one street pastor who wanted to be buried in this uniform and have his coffin accompanied by street pastors."
It is known as a 'Parachurch' working alongside and across denominations to engage in social action outside a church building.
The SPs brand is being taken round the world, with teams in continents including America, Africa and Australasia and enquiries Jamaica and remote South Atlantic islands.
After a phenomenal 10 years of growth nationally, it is expected more growth will be seen internationally over the next decade.
Rosalind added: "People often ask the SPs 'who are you?' or 'what are you doing here?' And they respond 'we are the church' They then say 'which one?' And they say 'All of them.'"
'Faith on the Streets' was published in paperback by Hodder and Stoughton, and is priced £13.99.
