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Steve Rowe

Chaplain and Area Manager for London & South

Railway Mission Chaplains:

Supporting Rail Staff on Life's Journey


In this blog series, we shine the spotlight on members of our dedicated chaplaincy team and their invaluable work supporting rail staff on life's journey. Members of the team will share their motivations, daily responsibilities and the impact of their work across the rail industry.


Next to feature in our series is Steve Rowe.

What area of the UK rail network do you cover? 


I am the Area Manager for London & South, covering the area from Anglia to the south coast.


What inspired you to become a railway chaplain?


Being able to demonstrate the love of God around people, many of whom have rarely or never had positive contact with a person of faith. Being part of a service provider supporting people through difficult times and celebrating through good times. I was impressed with the idea of evangelism on the railways when reading through the job description, so applied.


How do you spend a typical day in the role?

 

My role is to support chaplains in the London and South area, including providing cover for them and looking after their well-being in a sometimes challenging job emotionally. I also help everyone in the south region stay focused on the priorities of our remit. Our management style is situational, meaning we provide support, training and encouragement to chaplains who are for the most part self-managing and self-motivated, also looking out for their wellbeing and safety. We also have a voice in leadership and training initiatives. I also take care of much of the media work, including magazine and publication editing and design and calendar design. I’m also part of the directive team when there is a major incident, reporting to the Executive Director.

 

How do you tailor your chaplaincy work to the specific needs and challenges faced by railway employees?

 

We are both reactive and proactive. On days when we are not being reactive, responding to requests for support, or following up with staff who have or dealing with incidents, we are out and about meeting and engaging with staff, developing interactive relationships and making ourselves known to staff during the well times so we are familiar to them when they go through more challenging times. We receive training in different skills needed to support staff through trauma or difficult days when they can feel under stress or pressure.


How does your faith play a role in the support you provide and how do you navigate the diversity of beliefs and backgrounds of the railway workers with whom you interact?

 

Every person is precious to God. Our remit is to support people regardless of their background or beliefs, which is the same process used by our Founder, Jesus. He met people where they were as they were and showed them solutions to issues they faced on a day-to-day basis. Being led by God helps us make better decisions about how we support people and what is needed at the time. Every need is different or has a variety of options. Having the leadership of God helps us provide a situation whereby those we support can have confidence in their own outcomes. We’re not here to judge people but to assess ways to assist them, even if it ultimately means signposting them to other agencies at times.

 

Can you share a memorable experience from your time as a chaplain?


Helping a rail track worker with responsibility for trackside safety go through a difficult time after having witnessed first-hand a suicide lineside. Of course, this experience multiplied his safety awareness many-fold, and he found himself at odds with his team because his enhanced awareness of safety issues made it harder to make reasonable assessments, which was why his managers called me in to support him through this term. Over a period of around six months, we would either meet up or I would call or return his calls and he gradually came to terms with his environment and what was required of him.

 

In what ways can people inside and outside the railway industry support the work of Railway Mission and chaplains like you?


We have three important avenues of support: prayer, social and financial. Praying for our staff members and for the people with whom we engage is so important to us, and gives us the sense that we can go on and engage with some of the challenging issues we face with confidence, knowing we have the backing of a prayer team. Whilst we have some financial support from the rail industry for the work we do, we are also dependent on the generous donations of our supporters. Honestly, it really keeps us functional to have the financial backing of dedicated givers. Having full and part time employed chaplains is a benefit to the railways and we cherish those who dig out their wallets and sow into our support work. Socially we are on most social media outlets and a cheerful acknowledgment of our work goes down well with all of our chaplains. We have also been nominated and successful at recognition events over the years and this level of appreciation is valuable.

 

What are the challenges you often encounter in your work as a chaplain within the railway industry, and how do you address them?


Of course, we deal with many instances where people could be potentially traumatised, and chaplains are not immune to the possibility. There is a growing recognition of the need for support over the course of what is being called compassion fatigue, where chaplains give so much of themselves to supporting others that they can be left short themselves. We have a number of wellbeing support functions available, including peer support, regular debrief meetings, welfare checkups, EAPs, TRiM and a few Apps that are available to all staff, as well as dedicated pastoral support.

 

What message or advice would you like to share with railway employees and their families who may be reading this blog post?


Chaplains are available to all rail staff, including family members and retirees, for support through those difficult times when we can be struggling with life’s challenges. We don’t have all the answers, but we can point you in the direction of some who may be able to assist you on your journey to wellbeing. We do have a heart to serve and to be there for people who are doing it tough.


Finally, what do you find most fulfilling about your role as a chaplain in the railway industry, and what motivates you to continue your work with the Railway Mission?


Many days we see people, talking about all and everything, and it can almost seem mundane, but we know we are establishing relationships with staff and building a rapport for the times when it’s all action and people are desperate for someone, anyone to come alongside and provide enough support to get them through the day and on to the time when they feel confident enough to cope with life themselves.


 

Keep an eye out for the next in our railway chaplain blog post series.