Starting a Street Church: What we’ve learned

When serving the homeless community, every experience is unique.

Here is our experience so far:

• When the Holy Spirit prompted Alice to start a street church, we realized God had already been aligning close personal relationships with our street friends:

  • We had already joined our friend Ashley and her team in preparing and serving food.

  • We had already worked with Jack, Tony and Matthew in gathering and distributing clothes and blankets.

• To get our Washington Park street church going, we consulted our friend Lindsey ; Having previously lived on the street and out of her car, Lindsey’s key encouragement was: “Begin where the houseless live and gather.”

• Five of us held a prayer walk around the park to claim this as holy ground and for God’s will to be done. 

• Our first street church was held in January 0f 2022 on a cold drizzly day.

  • We discovered that providing drinks and snacks provides a good way to introduce ourselves.

  • We began putting out a sign that says “Prayer in the Park”. 

• Some members come regularly, some sporadically and some are passing through. All are welcome. Each street church develops its own dynamic as those who host and those who attend fluctuate as the Spirit leads. 

• The best way to start is to let the Holy Spirit be your guide.

• Some who attend church are just starting on their journey. Others have incredible faith and share that faith powerfully. All are encouraged to grow deeper in their relationship with God and to grow closer as a church family.

• Often attendees serve by helping up tables and chairs, others serve as greeters, some lead in prayer, others read scripture, some lead in song.

• It is thrilling to see a true family emerge. 

Roles available at Street Church:

• Open service with christian songs, and guitar. 

• Lead in bible study.

• Share favorite scriptures. 

• Serve as a greeter. 

• Help with set up and tear down.

• Invite folk walking by to join us for coffee, prayer, and fellowship.

Prayer backs up all we say and do. Our street church members are part of God’s church family and step in to read scripture, to recruit.