Audiance hears ideas on how to engage with the problem
About 65 people came to Christ Church on Sat Nov 10th to hear 3 very inspiring speakers on a subject entitled “Gang Culture – Who Cares?” which was arranged by Chiswick Churches for Justice and Peace.
Pastor Mimi Asher started with a lively and engaging talk on how she has confronted violent young gang members in South London, invited them in to
her own home and won them over with her love and kindness and by showing
her interest in them. A number of the young people came to the meeting too and
joined in with the spirit of her talk.
Richard Moy, the Vicar of Christ Church then continued by talking about his
recent pioneering ministry in Wolverhampton and how he engaged with the
young late night revellers in the city's pubs and bars and eventually encouraged
them to pray, reflect and explore their beliefs together often for the first time
in their lives.
Then Sheldon Thomas, the new Christ Church Link Missionary spoke very vividly about how he had been badly treated as a young black man in the East End in the 1970’s and how this had made him angry enough to form a gang to get revenge. Eventually he saw there was better way, gave up the gangs and now does incredible work in East London and elsewhere in helping
young people to get out of gangs.
There were a number of questions from the audience who reacted with great interest.
Finally, local MP, Mary Macleod, wound up the evening by issuing a challenge to us all to help with this problem, especially with the new hostel opening in Chiswick shortly.
Chiswick Churches for Justice and Peace looks forward to arranging more inspiring and relevant talks in the future.
Simon Rodway.
( Chairman CCJP)
November 15, 2012