Galwad i Ofalu: Profiad Gweinidog Stryd yn Southport
Fiona Mann o Ardal Gweinidogaeth Bro Ystumanner sy’n rhannu ei phrofiad grymus fel Gweinidog Ymateb gyda mudiad gweinidogion stryd. Yn ystod terfysg Southport, roedd yn rhan o dîm a alwyd i gefnogi cymuned a oedd yn galaru, gan gynnig cysur a gobaith. Mae ei hanes yn dangos yr effaith wirioneddol y gall gweinidogion stryd ei chael mewn cyfnodau o argyfwng.
Pan welais daflen am y mudiad Street Pastors mewn siop lyfrau Gristnogol flynyddoedd yn ôl, roeddwn i’n gwybod fy mod i wedi dod o hyd i’m galwedigaeth - mynd allan i gymunedau "i wrando, i ofalu ac i helpu." Prin yr oeddwn i’n gwybod y byddai’r llwybr hwn yn fy arwain i Southport yn ystod un o’i horiau tywyllaf.
Fel Gweinidog Ymateb, rwy’n helpu yn ystod argyfyngau cenedlaethol. Rydym ni’n gweithio ochr yn ochr â’r gwasanaethau brys a chynghorau lleol, gan gynnig cymorth lle bynnag y mae ei angen. Ar adeg digwyddiadau trasig 29 Gorffennaf yn ystod terfysg Southport, pan laddwyd tair merch ifanc mewn ffordd mor ofnadwy, gofynnwyd i mi ymuno â’r tîm a oedd yn ymateb i’r sefyllfa.
Cyrhaeddais y dydd Sul canlynol ar gyfer patrôl fin nos gyda thri gweinidog arall. Yr hyn a wnaeth fy nharo fwyaf, fel y gwnaeth yn ystod trychinebau bom Manceinion a Thŵr Grenfell, oedd y distawrwydd. Roedd tawelwch llwyr yn cael ei darfu dim ond gan sŵn wylo tawel wrth i bobl sefyll yn darllen nodiadau ac edrych ar arddangosfeydd coffa.
Nid yn unig yr oedd y gymuned yn galaru, roedden nhw mewn sioc. Dywedodd un wraig wrthyf fod eu tref wedi troi’n "esgus" am derfysgoedd ledled y wlad, wedi’u hysgogi gan gamwybodaeth. Ac eto roedd Southport yn dal i fod yn gymuned gwbl gadarn, yn cefnogi ei gilydd beth bynnag fo’u cefndir.
Yn ystod ein hamser yno, aethom i ddau wasanaeth coffa. Yn yr Eglwys Gatholig leol, fe wnaethom ni gyfarfod ymatebwyr cyntaf yr oedd eu hanesion yn dorcalonnus. Eu prif gwestiynau oedd "Pam?" ac "Fe ddylwn i fod wedi gwneud mwy." Allem ni ddim rhoi atebion – dim ond gwrando.
Yn ystod y gwasanaeth coffa fin nos yng Nghanolfan Atkinson, roedd y sgwâr yn orlawn â phobl yn sefyll yn gadarn â thref mewn galar. Wrth i ni batrolio y diwrnod nesaf, fe wnaeth yr heddlu fynegi diolch am ein presenoldeb a’r gefnogaeth emosiynol a roddwyd gennym ni i’r gymuned a oedd wedi’i syfrdanu.
Beth wnaiff aros gyda mi? Persawr blodau di-rif mewn tri man ar draws y dref. Y teulu a oedd yn storio teganau meddal bob nos ac yn eu dychwelyd bob bore. Yn fwyaf oll, y cariad a’r gefnogaeth a ddangosodd pobl at eu cymuned a’i gilydd.
Ynglŷn â Steet Pastors
Mae Street Pastors, menter a gychwynnwyd yn 2003, wedi ffynnu ar draws y DU, gan ddod â heddwch i’n strydoedd a chefnogi’r rhai sy’n agored i niwed heb farnu. Mewn tair wythnos yn unig ym mis Rhagfyr 2013, fe wnaeth gweinidogion stryd arbed £13 miliwn amcangyfrifedig i’r GIG trwy helpu pobl a oedd wedi anafu ac yn agored i niwed. Dychmygwch yr effaith heddiw.
Os ydych chi’n teimlo Duw yn eich galw i’r weinidogaeth hon, mae llawer o fentrau gweinidogion stryd yn gweithredu ledled Cymru gyfan. Ewch i www.streetpastors.org.uk i ddod o hyd i’ch grŵp lleol, i wirfoddoli, neu i roi. Gallai eich cymorth helpu i ddod â chysur a gofal i gymunedau yn eu horiau tywyllaf.
Called to Care: A Street Pastor's Experience in Southport
Fiona Mann from Bro Ystumanner Ministry Area shares her powerful experience as a Response Pastor with Street Pastors. During the Southport riots, she was part of a team who were called to support a grieving community, offering comfort and hope. Her story shows the real impact Street Pastors can have in times of crisis.
When I first saw a flyer about Street Pastors in a Christian bookshop years ago, I knew I had found my calling - to go out into communities "to listen, to care and to help." Little did I know this path would lead me to Southport during one of its darkest hours.
As a Response Pastor, I help out during national disasters. We work alongside the emergency services and local councils, providing support wherever it's needed. When the tragic events of 29 July happened during the Southport riots, where three young girls were tragically killed, I was asked to join the team responding to the situation.
I arrived the following Sunday for an evening patrol with three other pastors. What struck me most, as it did during the Manchester bombing and Grenfell Tower disasters, was the silence. A deafening silence was broken only by quiet sobs as people stood reading notes and looking at memorial displays.
The community wasn't just grieving; they were in shock. One lady told me their town had become "an excuse" for riots nationwide, fuelled by misinformation. Yet Southport remained a rock-solid community, supporting each other regardless of background.
During our time there, we attended two memorial services. At the local Catholic Church, we met first responders whose accounts were harrowing. Their main questions were "Why?" and "I should have done more." We couldn't give answers - we just listened.
The evening memorial service at The Atkinson Centre saw the square flooded with people showing solidarity with a town in sorrow. As we patrolled the next day, the police expressed gratitude for our presence and the emotional support we provided to the bewildered community.
What will stay with me? The fragrance of countless flowers at three sites across town. The family who carefully stored soft toys each night and replaced them each morning. Most of all, the love and support people showed for their community and each other.
About Steet Pastors
Street Pastors, an initiative started in 2003, has flourished across the UK, bringing peace to our streets and supporting the vulnerable without judgment. In just three weeks in December 2013, Street Pastors saved the NHS an estimated £13 million by helping the injured and vulnerable. Imagine the impact today.
If you feel God calling you to this ministry, there are many Street Pastor initiatives throughout Wales. Visit www.streetpastors.org.uk to find your local group, volunteer, or donate. Your support could help bring comfort and care to communities in their darkest hours.