Mission Statement:
To go to those we once were, alcoholics, addicts, those in prison, the mentally ill, and tell them the great things God has done in our lives and that there is a way out: Jesus! (Luke 8:36, John 14:6)
Our Background:
Team members include former crack addicts, heroin addicts, speeders, and guys who drank a lot of alcohol and smoked a lot of pot
Some spent time in prison, were homeless, and spent time in mental institutions
We all were discipled through the ministry of Teen Challenge and spent time working for that ministry
Most of the StreetBand ministered with the Teen Challenge Choir under the direction of Bernie and Cathy Gillott, who they hold responsible for discipling them to minister the gospel on the streets and in prisons and missions - in fact we get our name from the TC Choir alias when they played street meetings: "The Solid Rock Street Band"
Our Music:
StreetBand music includes original songs as well as covers of Christian songs from artists Larry Norman, Bob Dylan, Nancy Honeytree, Margaret Becker, Johnny Cash, and the legendary Billy Romanski, as well as songs written by Teen Challenge students and staff including Mike Pattik, Tim Dana, Dave Torre, and Bernie Gillott
The StreetBand also is known to play secular rock and roll songs with themes that can used to bridge secular culture to the gospel
The StreetBand is more at home leading worship than it is playing rock and roll and all team members regularly minister in worship
Our History:
The StreetBand has its roots in the Teen Challenge Choir, a ministry team that many Teen Challenge Centres world-wide have. Team members served on choirs at National Training Centres in Canada (London ON), and the USA (Rehrersburg PA). Their work on these choirs ranged from musicians to sound engineers to choir singers to bus drivers to choir directors. While ministering with these choirs these men had the opportunity to minister in churches, schools, prisons, and on the streets all across Canada, the United States, and Great Britain, working with Wales UK Teen Challenge. The StreetBand itself was birthed in 1999. The Teen Challenge ministry in London ON began an evangelism department to disciple the men in the program in evangelism and to share the gospel on the streets, in prisons, in street missions, and with youth. One of the teams that was developed was the StreetBand. While the evangelism department was operational from 1999 to 2001, the StreetBand discipled men in the program and ministered the gospel regularly in London, Kitchener, and Toronto. In 2004 Teen Challenge opened an office in Toronto ON and called the StreetBand back into service to minister in the GTA. The StreetBand has been ministering on the streets, in jails, and in street missions in and around Ontario ever since!
A Testimony:
The StreetBand is a living example of 2 Timothy 2:2: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Mike Pattik was discipled at Teen Challenge in 1980. When Roger went through the program in the 1986, Mike was on staff and helped disciple him. When Wayne went through the program in 1990, Roger was on staff and helped disciple him. When Richard went through the program in 1997, Wayne was on staff and helped disciple him.
Our Regular Ministry Venues:
Toronto Followers Mission Street Church (www.followersmission.org)
Penetanguishine Superjail
Mimico Jail
London Men's Mission
London Salvation Army
Kitchener Ray of Hope Youth Jails (www.rayofhope.net)
Kitchener Grand Valley Federal Penitentiary for Women
London Teen Challenge Farm (www.teenchallenge.ca)
Contact Info:
Wayne Flonders: wflonders@hotmail.com