Time for churches to combat gang culture

Following Saturday night’s fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Adam Regis in Plaistow, Cllr Alan Craig of the Christian Peoples Alliance, has called for urgent action by the thriving London churches. Cllr Craig said that youth violence is reaching “epidemic proportions” and that the authorities have simply run out of ideas and solutions.

“While the government buries its collective head in the sand and claims the recent spate of teenage killings is nothing more than isolated incidents, it is time for the churches to step back into the public arena to promote their distinctive people-centred approach to young people and youth issues,” argued Cllr Craig.

“Many churches are already bursting with people and activities that offer proven solutions to these intractable problems,” said Alan Craig. “The Glory House Football Academy, the flourishing Saturday supplementary schools, the Street Pastor scheme, the Eastside Young Leaders Academy and the Peace Alliance – all these are successful Christian initiatives at local level in east London that offer hope for young men, especially black young men, who are being failed by society.”

Cllr Craig cited three areas where the churches have distinctive solutions:

· The marriage-based family: “There is no better long-term alternative to the burgeoning urban gang culture than the active promotion of stable and committed family life. Although the authorities refuse to recognise it, marriage is - literally - a Godsend to our fractured and alienated cities.”

· Fathers for boys: “Christians alone see God as Father so the churches should be shouting from the rooftops that children – especially boys – need fathers. After years of marginalizing fathers, society now needs them more than ever. The churches should rapidly expand their successful fathering and mentoring schemes.

· Education for males: “Last week’s Ofsted report on pre-school education highlighted that even from the earliest stages our over-feminised schooling system is failing the 50% of the population that God made distinctively male. Boys are unable to use their practical, focused, imaginative and often outdoor energies – and society is the loser.”

“The police and local authorities can now be declared officially bankrupt of any meaningful solutions to youth violence in our capital,” said Cllr Craig. “They have created a vacuum and - almost alone - the churches can fill it.  It is time for the churches to ignore the authorities, to step into the breach and to take a lead in serving the community in their distinctive way in order to combat gang culture.”

As Cllr Craig said, there are many projects happening locally run by Christians.   Following the murder of teenager Charlotte Polius in April 2005, youngsters from her church's youth group 'Teen Spirit' in Forest Gate decided to be a strong voice in their community and in society that would go beyond the walls of colour, religion and culture to stand against violence and all its outcomes. On 1 July 2005, (Charlotte’s birthday), they launched STOP DA VIOLENCE; the first event was in a concert which attracted over 500 young people from all walks of the community and society.

Transform Newham in partnership with XLP employ a schools worker.  XLP was also started in response to a stabbing in a secondary school in south London.  XLP has now been working in schools in South London for over 10 years. At the end of 2006, XLP made the decision to expand it’s ministry north of the river. Tom Booker has been employed as Transform Newham's Schools Worker since December 2006, networking and developing relationships with Schools and Churches.  XLP aims to serve and bless local schools through a wide range of
services, including lunch-clubs, assemblies, music and drama coaching and R.E and P.H.S.E lessons. Alongside working in schools Tom is looking in the long-term to develop community work in Newham, such as establishing homework clubs and using the XLP bus, a fully equipped youth-club on wheels to reach out to young people.  (Tom's recent prayer letter is available to download on the left.) If you would like to work alongside Tom or would like more information contact Tom at the Transform Newham office on 020 8472 6363.

There are many more projects working with the youth of our borough.  Let us continue to pray for peace.