S.O.S.

“The  main thing to remember is that they can’t take advantage of what already belongs to them, you don’t need to protect it and you don’t need to worry because its not yours to defend” and with those words Joe Hyland changed my life. With those words he ushered me into the freedom Jesus Christ had given me and called me to walk in but that I had blocked with a hedge of rules and worry. I know it probably seems obvious but to me it wasn’t, I was always worried about doing what I was “suppose to” and always aware of how wildly that can contrast from what is right, to the point that it sometimes made me physically ill. In one simple statement Joe erased years of conflict and apprehension and I was able to live as I have been called to.

The S.O.S. bus is a service started by Joe about 6 years ago, they park the bus (two 60ft tour buses with an accordion bend) outside the busy bars and pubs in the same spot every Friday and Saturday night until 4am. The bus is staffed with volunteers, a medic and a driver, has a medical bay, huge plasma Tvs for entertainment and education, a conference area and prep quarters for meals, tea and coffee.

 During the course of the night volunteers pour coffee and tea for passersby, we feed them bread and chocolates and sometimes soup or pancakes, as much as they would like for free and we talk with them. “Always be spreading the gospel and only when you absolutely have to use words” says Joe, the S.O.S. bus is a Christian program but the volunteers come from all faiths and walks of life. Most of the volunteers I met working on the bus, my very first night in Belfast, had been moved to volunteer after being helped by the bus. One man had gotten drunk with coworkers and having arrived only recently from India was lost, an S.O.S. shuttle took him home. There were tales of women being chased by would be attackers to the very doors of the bus where they found safety. S.O.S has cards and posters promoting their service, bar owners know that when they need to eject someone they can call S.O.S. and a team will arrive to pick that person up, thereby avoiding that person becoming the victim or perpetrator of a crime. If someone is fallen or hurt, bystanders can call S.O.S. and they will come with a medic relieving that person from further obligation or involvement and allowing them to be a good neighbor at the same time. 

 

 

 

 

Recently a young woman called to report another young woman had fallen and struck her head, the S.O.S shuttle came for her and S.O.S. staff stayed with her in the hospital until 4 am, she was inebriated and did not want to go to the hospital, after surgery the doctors told Joe she had a very bad concussion and that a delay in her care would have likely been fatal.

There is no ulterior motive, there is no whisper of contract, it isn’t “I will give you this, if you come to church or listen to me talk about Jesus “, Its all free for the asking , given freely with love and the amazing part is once they realize you’re not asking anything in return they become interested, they want to know why. Working on the S.O.S. bus I met young men from Belfast, young women from Rome, Gypsies and homeless people and I didn’t have to hold back anything from them, I could give to them freely and love on them freely because “they can’t take advantage of what’s already there’s”. Working S.O.S was one of the best experiences of my entire life.