Allo Mate…
I had my first gig since exams finished today. I rolled with my bois Icie, A Star, Brewer and my cousin Michaela! she’s a heavy poet and watch out for her album later this year! (pay me later cuzzy). It was at Stratford Circus and it was called ‘Youth Against Crime’! I loved it. There was some really talented, inspiring and influential youths that came and also a panel which took answers from the audience! The panel included a police officer and some important people in society! It was hosted by TJ from KEERRRRRCHING! Who remembers that proggramme?….Just me? Cool lol
Yeah well as you probably gathered from the title, the good old gun and knife crime debate came up. This one was different though. It wasn’t just a bunch of Christians saying this epidemic is bad and needs to change (There’s no action in talking), neither was it a bunch of news reporters saying what can we do to tackle this problem, and coming up with NO answers!
Instead this was real realistic people with real life experiences and advice that could infact make a great impact to young offenders. A rowdy carribean woman started off by attacking the police officer over the lenient convictions of those carrrying knives! I felt sorry for the poor coppa, it aint his fault is it ! But anyway he answererd well and ensured her their job is to get the knives off the streets and its the magistrates job to give the punishments!
There was this inspirational dude called ‘Shy’. My man was STABBED 4 TIMES!! Shot 1 time! The 4th time he got stabbed he saw a bright light and said it was God so he gave his life to Christ and became a Christian! Imagine…it took getting stabbed 4 times to realise…dont make the same mistake!
He then talked about how hard it was after that to get out of the life he was living. He talked about being beaten up, having his legs broken too just because he told his bois he wanted out! He got beaten by his own crew!!! MADNESS!
Anyway he pressed on and now he’s giving anti gun and knife crime advice and talks!
My thoughts are ACTION ACTION ACTION! People talk about the issue but how many actually take action and steps to resolvin it. I come from a Christian background and it seems these days Christians are more interested in watching other people, judging other people, wastin time over unneccessary debates and quotes from these great historians and famous people, rather than being the difference in this world and reaching out to the people that need it most!
Don’t talk the talk! Walk the walk!
Watch the insightful short film below
STANDARD
powerful film man
wow!! Guv this blog was really emotional!! that short really tugged at the heart strings!! its no joke any more its time for some real action!!
Sadly, WordPress don’t give no ‘Likes’ like Facebook does. LOOOOOOOOL!
But once again, nice post, man!!
‘It wasn’t just a bunch of Christians saying this epidemic is bad and needs to change (There’s no action in talking), neither was it a bunch of news reporters saying what can we do to tackle this problem, and coming up with NO answers!’
LOLOL! Say no more!!
But it’s also worth pointing out that we do have Christians making really positive, practical moves in mainstream society.
I don’t know if this is a sweeping generalisation, but it seems to me the problem is we rarely get to hear about these activities in our own ‘Christian mainstream’…
And when we do, people tend not respond to them as well as if someone starts off with the usual ‘this epidemic is bad’ premise. That seems to get people going!
Reverend Nims Obunge started Peace Alliance in 2001 – http://www.peacealliance.org.uk – and that seems to have morphed into London Week Of Peace – http://www.weekofpeace.org.uk – these are initiatives that have the faith at their heart, but really SOCIETY as their sphere of activity, with some real good, positive results…
Green Jade and XLP – http://www.xlp.org.uk – have been doing the Gunz Down project for several years now – http://www.gunzdown.org – going into schools to talk to young kids about the impact of gun and knife crime BEFORE it becomes something they seriously involve themselves in.
Response to it – and this is from the kids themselves – has been very encouraging to see…
Smooflow and Roucheon of Royal Priesthood are also involved the Government’s Platform2 project – http://www.myplatform2.com – which gives opportunties to young people to volunteer for a project abroad. Smooflow’s intention is to target some of the people you mention that might be looking for a way out of the lives they previously lived…
There’s also the work that Silas Zephaniah is doing with Street Symphony – http://www.ssymphony.com – I don’t know much about this one, but I do know Silas puts on events with a lot of Christian artists but is very outward-looking with his target audience, with much community-based activity…
Witness in Birmingham dropped out of the Christian circuit altogether and has been doing some tremendous work not just in Birmingham but internationally as well. All I will say is check the websites: Mentoring Through Music: http://www.mtmuk.com – You Are A Star: http://www.urastar.co.uk – and his own website: http://thewitness.co.uk
I guess what I’m trying to say is there is A LOT going on, but – like you very rightly say – we probably need to do a lot less moaning and a lot more doing…
Big blog, Relevant Film (Nuf noise 4 trebla, I see u Amani) Yinka- big comment, active organisations working on this. I encourage any1 reading this to volunteer their time if you are serious about making a change or at least saving ONE life! I started with Re Nims (awesome man) and the Peace Alliance in 2006. Stop talking get involved. Now working on HYPE Haringeys Young People Empowered we in Knee deep is this reality. Doing a lot. Above all we need to be praying, coz this buiness on the block is a factory constantly curning out youngas by the hour. Only God can do what needs to be done, with our sacrifice as willing vessels. 20 years from now when we are raising our kidz I bet yer gonna wish you done something earlier. If you want to get involved in something progressive holla @ guv 2 holla @ me. Janay
The film is hard.
I’m a youth leader at my church and we’ve had a play we’ve been working on for a while and I’ve been thinking of turning it into a short film for a while. I think watching this has been the final push I needed to get it started.
It’s similar to this but with a much deeper insight as to why people turn out how they do, and with a Christian spin on the end. The name is Identity, look out for it late 09.
Thanks Guvna for postin.
Real talk brother, I do feel that as Christians actions are the only way forward. When I say actions, this can be in a number of different ways as I do think we get dragged into arguing what constitutes as “actions” for Christ. I think that with how bad things have become with gun/knife crimes and more importantly – with how there are a lack of solutions offered by the police and action groupe to this epidemic, that we as Christians can stand up and show that there is an alternative life to violence.
True Henry, the police however dont hide the fact that need help to police in times like this and they constantly consult teh community becaus ethey know theres much mor info and intelligence on whats happening within us. I think there needs to be programmes for the year4s in primary school 2 ensure the future is different, something sustainable which brings them thru 2 like secondary school year8….Value life/ Careers/Relationships/ Emotions/ restorative justice/ dillemmas. I am actually working on making this happen, any1 else who reads this do the same…kool.
However, I think the buck gets sent back to us, right now, we must ensure we are having healthy positive reationships not only with friends we have on this route, but also positive strong relationships with future husbands/ wives because providing that that family unit is strong and prayed up and God fearing, the children you produce and the children I produce will be change makers challenging the disentegrating status quo for young people in London which will be in existence 20years from now. Basically its down to parenting, if a woman is a single mum with 4 boys and no dad present, and she does not know Christ, how on earth will she keep tab on all four of her teenage boys, effectively. Ya dig? when she finds out he’s in Grey gang or Green gang what is she really going to be able to do?? Its to Late (Only God boi) (Which is y we must prevent from now, b4 the youts even exist!) Its starts with us, keep encouraging the faith & the truth and ensuring that we have positive Christlike relationships, with that constant renewal and refreshment of our minds n hearts.
Wow…forgive me for the sermon, Gods been showing me a lot! Stay
Blessed
film is deeeeeep
\”My thoughts are ACTION ACTION ACTION! People talk about the issue but how many actually take action and steps to resolvin it.\”
It would be nice if you could give us your thoughts on what \”action\” should be taken? As Christians our mandate is to preach the Gospel in love to a perishing world. What action would you take?
\”I come from a Christian background and it seems these days Christians are more interested in watching other people, judging other people, wastin time over unnecessary debates and quotes from these great historians and famous people, rather than being the difference in this world and reaching out to the people that need it most!\”
Have you got a bone to pick with certain Christians you know? That\’s a very sweeping generalisation and I don\’t think its wise to be lumping all Christians into the same boat. Because on the contrary I could quite easily state \”it seems these days Christians are not interested in studying church history or involving themselves in any type of deep theological discussions\”.
What\’s happening on the streets of London is more to do with the sin and heart of man. You can give us the youth all the facilities, after school clubs and even money to study, but you will still find greed and pride will continue to reek havoc, causing lives to be lost.
Instead of pigeon holing let\’s support movements like the Street Pastors of Brixton/Peckham who are on the battlefront. And the only way this mess will get resolved is through the work Christ transforming the minds of the youth.
hear hear!:)