Do I really work with gang members?!

Gang:
1. a group or band
2. a group of youngsters or adolescents who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, esp. such a group engaging in delinquent behavior.
3. a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons.
4. a group of persons working together; squad; shift.
5. a group of persons associated for some criminal or other antisocial purpose.
6. a set of tools, electronic components or circuits, oars, etc., arranged to work together or simultaneously.
7. a group of identical or related items.

Even since I've been in Enfield, which isn't very long, I have really noticed changes in behaviour relating to gang culture. Obviously it existed previously, but especially in the past 6 months, it has escalated to a ridiculous degree. It worried me occasionally, especially when the young people began to play fight. A lot. And their explanation was that they were trying to toughen each other up. It worried me, because most of these kids are between 11 and 14.

I put it down to cultural difference- obviously where I come from, this behaviour wasn't evident. The problems are different in middle class areas.

So this week came as a bit of a shock to me if i'm honest. I guess I hadn't accepted the seriousness of the culture that the young people are exploring at the moment- and I guess a lot of them haven't either. It shocked me because it isn't just a boy beating up another one. It isn't even just a lad trying to nick someone's phone. It's an attempted murder.

It's not that I know the lad very well, although of course I was concerned for him and really glad that he's ok. It just hadn't struck me until this week that the gang issues had become so real. The majority of what I see is younger YPs, so like 11-13 year olds, shouting gang names and wearing gang colours. Maybe one of them might say "I'm calling my brother down" if someone upsets them. Do they see the side of the gang where someone plans to kill another?- definition 5. Or do they just see the commoradery,the friendship and the belonging? - more like definition 3.

It makes me really sad that this has happened. When I heard about it, it made me feel really hopeless- the problem of gangs is SO huge and so untouchable. But actually- even though I can't do a lot, I can do a little. And I can pray a lot to a God who can do a lot. Who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

http://www.message.org.uk/multimedia.cfm?&ID=444

He IS the redeemer. He saves us. He picks us up and turns us around. He opens His arms to us. To everyone.