Jason Byassee Resources

Gangs are a prominent part of urban centers and rural towns. This article addresses how churches can minister to gang members or neighborhoods affected by gangs. It also discusses how churches can learn from gangs. As political leaders and police work on gang suppression, churches have decided to offer alternative forms of community. They are hosting unconventional memorial services for deceased members, providing spaces for activities, and supplying resources kids need that would otherwise inspire them to commit crime to acquire them. When churches reach out to meet the needs of kids, set expectations, and provide support to reach those expectations, youth are open to change and become quite successful as participants in non-antisocial behavior. Often communities respond to gang activity with fear, and churches can help by rebuilding relationships in the community.

From churches in North Carolina to New York City to Chicago, opportunities for worship and community relationships are developing in creative ways. Ex-gang members are participating in ministries as leaders. Worship involves traditional lyrics to contemporary arrangements. Hip-hop is welcomed with boundaries, and the timing of ministries reflects social calendars of youth. Gangs evolve or grow to be less antisocial and more of a fellowship when the church listens and observes the factors affecting groups of young people.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
1. How have gangs influenced the neighborhood around your church or the youth within your church?
2. What is your present relationship or interaction with gangs and gang members?
3. How you identify the needs in your community that gang membership meets?
4. Which need do you believe your ministry can meet? 5. How are your resources allocated to minister to youth and/or gangs?

IMPLICATIONS
Since gangs are forms of community that fill the needs of youth, if churches capitalize on meeting the needs of young people, some of the youth that join gangs may not join and they will participate in the church. Then they will gain the spiritual support of adults and develop multiple dimensions of maturity. Certainly, some people want to be members of a gang, but most youth want to belong to something and feel supported. They need relationships, access to resources, and opportunities to make money or socialize. Churches already do these things for adults and those who participate according to the rules of society. The long-term effects of not figuring out how to engage youth and gang members will result in lack of young people and young adults and families in churches over the course of future generations. What the church does not provide we have seen that society will, and then the church will have to respond to it or navigate around it. Churches can work in, above, or with culture if people are willing to take risks and hear God for direction.

Tamecia R. Jones cCYS