God, Gangs and Guns

Rose Gamble discovers how one South London church is tackling the reality of gun crime and gang violence – with love and commitment as their only weapons

 

Mick is about to drive his teenage granddaughter to the police station – her best friend was recently sexually assaulted and she is going to the identification parade. Unfortunately this isn’t an unusual scenario; Mick takes a teenager to court on a regular basis. If a local lad needs a safe listening ear, he’s usually the one they turn to. ‘When they’re really in trouble, they ask me to pray for them,’ he says. ‘I show them respect.’

Born and bred in Peckham, Mick lives on the Atwell estate, where we meet. We’re here for a mission event held on the estate by All Saints Church, where Mick has worked as verger for the past nine years. Every couple of minutes he pops off to grab a ladder or fix a problem with fuses – essential to keep the background music thumping.

Mick’s daughter Sharon, 34, lives around the corner on the estate. We talk by her garden fence about her family. Recently, her son had a gun held to his head, whilst hanging out on one of Peckham’s main streets. The gunman demanded that he hand over a pound; took it, and walked away.

A few metres away 16 year-old Perry is hanging out by a huge BBQ where volunteers are happily cooking burgers. ‘The church keeps me out of trouble,’ he says, when I ask what brings him to an event like this. ‘When I have nothing to do, I get restless.’

Slowly, children emerge from the local houses, parents in tow. Perhaps they’re drawn to the smell of burgers, or the live rap of New York band Beats and Blessings. Or perhaps they’re just intrigued by the message stamped across the backs of the t-shirts worn by church staff and volunteers: ‘God loves Peckham’.

 

Guns and gangs: the reality hits Britain
In February 2007 five teenagers from London and Manchester were shot within the space of 11 days. The government rushed to review legislation, promising to tighten laws relating to teenagers carrying guns. Police re-released the hard-hitting TV advert, ‘Blood on Your Hands’, hoping to impact young people in possession of weapons. But since then, more than 14 teenagers have been murdered in London alone.

A recent survey conducted in Youthwork magazine asked youth workers what issues were affecting their young people – 20 per cent said gun crime and gangs. So, as the numerous sad stories printed in our papers over recent months have confirmed, gun and gang crime can no longer be labelled an area-specific problem – this is now a matter of national concern.

But perhaps it is in taking a closer look at the realities of life and church in a community like Peckham that we can learn most about how to take preventative and responsive action in the face of this issue. How does a church facing the turmoil – and often tragedy – that follows in the wake of gun and gang crime reach out effectively? Can it make a difference?

 

Dedication to Peckham
What strikes you most about All Saints is this: what happens in Peckham matters deeply in this church. The church is living alongside the community, a part of the community – for better or worse, in sickness and in health. ‘I hope,’ says Revd Francis Orr-Ewing, vicar of three and a half years, ‘that nobody in this area of Peckham could live their lives without being aware of this ministry.’ ‘After the incidents in February a lot of people were saying, “now we’ve got to do something” and we were thinking, well, we’ve been doing something all along.’ His motto is ‘total saturation’.

So mission is paramount to All Saints – 56p of every pound given to the church is spent expressly on this purpose. In 2004, the opening year of Orr-Ewing’s ministry, the church was responsible for one in ten of the social action projects for Soul in the City in South East London.

That summer 200 volunteers worked on local estates in practical outreach projects – and, as a result, over 100 people gave their lives to Christ. These practical, visible demonstrations of God’s love can establish points of initial contact.

Of equal importance is the follow up: what matters is showing commitment to the local people. And this requires people power, so the Peckham Urban Mission Placement (PUMP) scheme was set up. Every two years the church takes on four young adults who work full time in the community.

 

Pump in the love
Three of the PUMP volunteers are sprawled comfortably in their slightly chaotic church office. Shortly they will be heading out to the Tuesday afternoon drop-in centre for out-of-school kids. ‘It just gives them something to do,’ explains Abi Coles. ‘There is a pool table and they can drink cups of tea. They’ll drink tea until the cows come home.’ Hardly a day goes by at All Saints without the team holding an event for young people. There are Bible study and prayer groups and ‘Light Night’; the Friday night youth service.

 

Establishing respect has been a long and, often all too literally, painful process. Orr-Ewing explains, ‘I’ve had stuff happen to my youth team and me: punched, sworn at, spat in the face, all of that.’ The PUMP volunteers realise that building trust is essential. ‘Commitment is so important – showing the kids that we’re here for the long term,’ says Sally Bryson.

In particular the team focus on investing in individuals who show early signs of being leaders. They have the most potential to either encourage others towards God – or back into destructive life habits. But Jon Tearne explains that this is no simple task. The lives they return to often ‘just throw junk back in their faces. They are surrounded by sexual immorality, drugs and violence.’

 

Local partnership
In 1996 youth worker Patrick Regan moved to Peckham. Now CEO of a charity said to be one of ‘London’s best-kept secrets’, Regan’s vision was to see Peckham’s young people excel – the charity was named XLP accordingly. Working hand in hand, and with money donated by All Saints, Regan set up a roaming detached youth work centre on a double-decker bus, which travels Peckham’s estates.

XLP is now working in 35 local schools, offering lunch clubs, literacy classes, lessons and assemblies. Each year the charity holds a borough-wide Xfactor style arts showcase – providing a platform for young people to perform – which was held this year in the Imperial War Museum. ‘Now we are in the unique position where we know some of the key guys from the gangs,’ Regan says. ‘We’ve had to deal with kids wearing bullet proof vests to school and getting stabbed, and the fall out from that,’ he says. ‘The kids we work with tell us that they can’t see any alternative lifestyle. But as Christians, we are actively trying to offer one.’

Regan’s experience has convinced him that change is always possible – for whole areas as well as individuals. In his recently published book Conspiracy of the Insignificant he writes: ‘Often places like Peckham are described as “needy” areas, and though I understand why people say that, we have to realise that every area is a “needy” area, each just with a different set of needs. There are some very complex issues which those of us who live there are very much aware of, but there are also some amazing people who are passionate about seeing people’s lives changed for the better.’

 

Coping with trauma
It’s mid-way through Tuesday morning staff meeting and the entire All Saints team are howling with laughter. Close friendship and laughter are what the team consider a healthy antidote to the pressure that staff and volunteers often experience. ‘You don’t want to get hard-hearted,’ explains Orr-Ewing. ‘But at the same time you’ve got to still be here next week.’ He continues: ‘Some of the stories that we hear and the lives that we are involved in are so traumatic, it’s distressing.’ For Abi Coles, it’s this closeness that sustains the team. ‘There is a real sense of family here,’ she says. ‘It doesn’t matter what shape, size or colour you are, everyone just pitches in. We’re all in it together.’

And prayer is the bedrock of the work. ‘Ultimately, Jesus transforms lives in a way no amount of social action can,’ says Orr-Ewing. ‘Peckham is a good example – we’ve had so much regeneration money pumped into this area that hasn’t worked. Only Jesus can turn lives around. Jesus has the answer for Peckham. What we’re about is the solution.’

 

Take preventative action in your area

 

Know your community’s needs
www.statistics.gov.uk/neighbourhood provides facts and figures sourced from government statistics and census data enabling you to build up a clear picture of your local district and population.

Think as a church about your response to crime
Premier and the Metropolitan Black Police Association recently partnered to produce the first large scale church consultation on violent crime, looking at how churches can positively engage in making our communities safer places. To view a summary of the consultation results visit www.premier.org.uk

 

Invest time in your young people
‘Churches should focus on 11-14 year olds’ says Patrick Regan. Often these are crucial years before young people join gangs. Encourage church members to mentor them – professionals in your church could give them work experience. ‘Making a one-to-one connection is the key’ says Regan. Faithworks magazine’s sister title Youthwork publishes a monthly mix of ideas, resources and guidance for youth ministry – www.youthwork.co.uk/magazine

 

Put family first
Treasure and support the families and parents in your community – they often care for and offer healthy role models for young people. Care for the Family offers brilliant resources – www.careforthefamily.org.uk

Work together
For an integrated approach hold shared events with social services, schools and other congregations in your area. HOPE08 aims to aid collaboration between churches by facilitating united prayer, action in the community and providing resources and training – www.hope08.com

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All Saints Church - www.allsaintspeckham.org.uk - 0207 639 3052

XLP - www.xlp.org.uk - 0208 297 8284

Patrick Regan’s book Conspiracy of the Insignificant is published by Survivor £6.99 / ISBN: 9781842913697 available from www.survivor.co.uk

 

Rose Gamble is editorial assistant for the Sunday Times Business Desk.