UK: a glass of water on the streets of Bournemouth - 20 Jul 2005
"So it's 6:19 am here in England - I can see daylight outside and I haven't been to sleep yet at all," Shannon Byous writes. "I got in 2 hours ago from hanging out on the streets in Bournemouth city center with my friend Jon, the nightclub chaplain guy.
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Before heading out at 10:30 pm a few of us prayed. Then Jon and I walked around the city for a few hours along a route that took us past most of the clubs in town...from bars to dance clubs to strip clubs.... |
"Let's keep asking for more of God and what He's got to give and for His compassion for the people who need to know His love so desperately...." |
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We chat as we go along and keep our eyes open for people who look like
they could use a hand. Around 1:15 am we took a little break and met up with some friends in a club. After about 1/2 an hour we hit the streets again. All the clubs close at 2am - this is when things get interesting.
they could use a hand. Around 1:15 am we took a little break and met up with some friends in a club. After about 1/2 an hour we hit the streets again. All the clubs close at 2am - this is when things get interesting.
We were the first on the scene of a big fight between several girls and a couple of guys. One girl was pregnant and had been hit. One girl's forehead was bleeding because she'd fallen flat on her face just as we walked up. Another girl was having an asthma attack.
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One guy was so angry at the girl who started it that he was telling Jon if he saw her he was literally going to throttle her because he wanted her dead. |
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I went and gave a tissue to the girl having the panic/asthma attack and speak
with she and her friend just to make sure they were alright.
with she and her friend just to make sure they were alright.
Then a ton of police and an ambulance arrived. We were actually told by a friend who was also nearby that when the police first arrived and saw us chatting with the group of girls they said that as we had them under control, they could go and take care of the others first. Good to know that they are seeing us as helpful!
Jon and I hung around and chatted to a policeman.
He asked us why we were there - if we were religious and trying to convert people (because we've got jackets on that say "Club Chaplain" on them - which funnily enough make a lot of people ask us where Club Chaplain is!).
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Jon said no, not trying to convert. Then he asked if we were out to tell everyone that their lives were messed up.
Again, no.
Jon explained that we're just out to help out anyone who was in need of any kind of assistance. |
"...every single one of us is able to be in contact with someone's moment of pain or moment of need and just extend love and truth to them...." |
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Then the policeman told us he thought it was a fantastic idea and that they could always use the help. He stood and chatted with us for quite a few
minutes. Later in the night he drove by and waved to us with a big smile on his face.
minutes. Later in the night he drove by and waved to us with a big smile on his face.
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We left that scene and kept walking until we came to a guy sitting in an alleyway. He was sobbing and talking on his cell phone. When he got off his phone, Jon asked if he was alright. |
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HARD. The poor guy was so drunk.
Anyway, about 20 minutes later he had calmed down and sobered up just a
little and we ended up sitting on the sidewalk with him as he sobbed and smoked a cigarette. He kept asking us, "why are you guys speaking to me, why
are you sitting here with me?" He called his girlfriend, saying he was going to get a taxi home and that he was sitting with some cool people. We sat with him and chatted until his taxi came. He shook our hands and gave us huge hugs. As
he ran across the street he said, "what you guys are doing matters," and kept thanking us.
little and we ended up sitting on the sidewalk with him as he sobbed and smoked a cigarette. He kept asking us, "why are you guys speaking to me, why
are you sitting here with me?" He called his girlfriend, saying he was going to get a taxi home and that he was sitting with some cool people. We sat with him and chatted until his taxi came. He shook our hands and gave us huge hugs. As
he ran across the street he said, "what you guys are doing matters," and kept thanking us.
Jon gave him his phone number and told him he could call for whatever.
We walked on and he had the taxi pull up beside us so he could say thanks again.
We walked on and he had the taxi pull up beside us so he could say thanks again.
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You know what was going through my head as I was laying here trying to go to sleep? That scripture that says when you give someone a drink of water in Jesus' name, you're giving Jesus a drink of water. |
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And you know what else is running through my brain? How every single one of us are able to be in contact with someone's moment of pain or moment of
need and just extend love and truth to them in action or words or something we have to give them...and it counts.
And Jesus knows them, and we pray for them,and when we came in at 3:30 or 4:00 this morning God was still seeing them and has our prayers for them
hidden in His heart, and He is moving in whatever way He does and keeping His promise that His truth doesn't return empty.
What we earn or what our job titles are mean nothing to God! He has made each one of us to do good things as we live and breathe and have our being in Him!
Okay - so now it's almost 7 a.m. and I guess I should get some sleep! Just wanted to get this out to people before I fell asleep, so that maybe I could encourage you just a little bit with the fact that God is alive and there is more - so let's keep asking for more of Him and what He's got to give and for His compassion for the people who need to know His love so desperately."
hidden in His heart, and He is moving in whatever way He does and keeping His promise that His truth doesn't return empty.
What we earn or what our job titles are mean nothing to God! He has made each one of us to do good things as we live and breathe and have our being in Him!
Okay - so now it's almost 7 a.m. and I guess I should get some sleep! Just wanted to get this out to people before I fell asleep, so that maybe I could encourage you just a little bit with the fact that God is alive and there is more - so let's keep asking for more of Him and what He's got to give and for His compassion for the people who need to know His love so desperately."
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Shannon Byous is originally from California, USA. As of this year, she is once again a missionary in the UK. Right now, she's just astounded by God because His plans for her life are unfolding right in front of her eyes. She writes, is a photographer, and loves her friends and family very much. Her website is www.10lampsoffire.net
(This a personal piece and does not necessarily represent the views of 24-7prayer.) |
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