Paul and Jean Blakey
Paul Blakey can often be seen wandering the streets of Halifax on a Friday and Saturday night! Paul is the founder of Street Angels, a simple idea from God that works. In November 2005 through Churches Together in Halifax the thought of providing a safe place and safe people for the town was developed. It went from thought to reality in 2 weeks, after discussions with the Police, Street Angels launched.
Paul has since developed the project and working with the wonderful volunteers and partner organisations, has contributed to seeing crime reduced by 42%. Street Angels has developed in many other towns and the work continues to grow and prosper.
Paul became a Christian in 1989, aged 14, at a Billy Graham live-link in Bradford. His life was to change - as he went from religion to reality of the overwhelming love and acceptance God has for us. Paul became more involved in the life of the church and during a March for Jesus event in Manchester in 1992 God gave him a heart for unity and telling others about God's love. In 1993 he organised a March for Jesus in Halifax, the first of three such events, which accomplished unity and reaching out with God's love.
Following these events Paul became involved in Calderdale for Christ and FGBMFI. He soon became the secretary of FGBMFI and was increasingly empowered to be the person God had called him to be. Paul organised several events, including a visit by Ishmael, the children's worship leader, that attracted over 400 children and saw 75 respond to the call to become Christians.
Paul has a keen interest in computers and developed a Borough wide Christian web site in 1998. Workwise Paul has run his own desk top publishing business, worked in a residential care home, moved from this to selling toys with a friend from FGBMFI, then worked for Action Halifax, a regeneration partnership, and Calderdale Libraries. Thanks to funding from HBOS through Community Foundation for Calderdale Paul is currently working full time for Street Angels.
Paul was married in August 2006 to Jean and enjoyed an eventful honeymoon in Brazil, spending time travelling and ministering with Dario Luiz. To experience a different culture and way of doing church, yet at the same time appreciating the unity we have as the family of God, has helped Paul and Jean cement the vision to be part of a world-wide network that has seen ministers from around the world welcomed to this local area.
Paul and Jean are keen to see God's Kingdom of love, peace, safety, reduction in crime, changed lives demonstrated as reality for society and people. They partner with others, including those outside the church, to make this a reality - and as Street Angels demonstrated, it works!
Paul has since developed the project and working with the wonderful volunteers and partner organisations, has contributed to seeing crime reduced by 42%. Street Angels has developed in many other towns and the work continues to grow and prosper.
Paul became a Christian in 1989, aged 14, at a Billy Graham live-link in Bradford. His life was to change - as he went from religion to reality of the overwhelming love and acceptance God has for us. Paul became more involved in the life of the church and during a March for Jesus event in Manchester in 1992 God gave him a heart for unity and telling others about God's love. In 1993 he organised a March for Jesus in Halifax, the first of three such events, which accomplished unity and reaching out with God's love.
Following these events Paul became involved in Calderdale for Christ and FGBMFI. He soon became the secretary of FGBMFI and was increasingly empowered to be the person God had called him to be. Paul organised several events, including a visit by Ishmael, the children's worship leader, that attracted over 400 children and saw 75 respond to the call to become Christians.
Paul has a keen interest in computers and developed a Borough wide Christian web site in 1998. Workwise Paul has run his own desk top publishing business, worked in a residential care home, moved from this to selling toys with a friend from FGBMFI, then worked for Action Halifax, a regeneration partnership, and Calderdale Libraries. Thanks to funding from HBOS through Community Foundation for Calderdale Paul is currently working full time for Street Angels.
Paul was married in August 2006 to Jean and enjoyed an eventful honeymoon in Brazil, spending time travelling and ministering with Dario Luiz. To experience a different culture and way of doing church, yet at the same time appreciating the unity we have as the family of God, has helped Paul and Jean cement the vision to be part of a world-wide network that has seen ministers from around the world welcomed to this local area.
Paul and Jean are keen to see God's Kingdom of love, peace, safety, reduction in crime, changed lives demonstrated as reality for society and people. They partner with others, including those outside the church, to make this a reality - and as Street Angels demonstrated, it works!