24,000 weapons off the streets thanks to Christian youth charity
Thousands of lives across the country may have been saved thanks to a Christian youth charity. Word 4 Weapons has been taking knives and guns off the streets since 2009 and has just celebrated removing 24,000 knives through its ‘surrender initiative’.
The group has placed 30 bins across London and the West Midlands, away from CCTV, providing a place for those owning illegal weapons to hand them in anonymously. Mike Smith MBE, founder of Word 4 Weapons, told Premier Youthwork that he is overwhelmed by the success of the project. He said: “I’m very proud that this happened, because it means that when I heard that call in my head, when I believed that God told me what to do, it was the right thing to do and to act on it. I believe that can only get better, I believe that there will be more bins out there so the whole of the UK will feel much safer.”
Word 4 Weapons was set up to counteract what it describes as a wave of knife and gun crime that is devastating communities and making people numb to the issue. The group also works to support young people caught up in crime. “We go by what our faith tells us, and our Christian faith tells us you should forgive,” Mike Smith said. “We know there is the law, and the law needs to be adhered to, but that doesn’t mean that because someone has done something wrong that we should lock them up and bang them away for the rest of their life. We need to understand that they need to be integrated into society.”
Christian charity defends school evangelism leaflet
A Northern Irish charity is defending how it works with young people after a pamphlet it gave children was branded ‘sledgehammer Christianity’. The leaflet, which was created by Hope for Youth Ministries (HFYM) and taken home by pupils at Lisnaharragh Primary in Belfast, featured a prayer and quoted Acts 16:31 which says: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
Colin Tinsley from HRYM told the Belfast Telegraph: “Having engaged with thousands of young people throughout Northern Ireland, I would be so annoyed if anyone felt our approach was anything other than loving and caring. We simply present the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
HFYM has visited 250 schools across Northern Ireland, where it distributes Bibles and literature, and also holds ‘fun weeks’ which can attract up to 120 children.
The group’s leaflet distributed at Lisnasharragh Primary read: “If you want to get saved and ask the Lord Jesus into your heart, here is a prayer that will do that. Remember, saying the prayer won’t save you. You must really mean what you say with all your heart.”
Lisnasharragh Primary’s principal, Philip Monks, told the Belfast Telegraph: “One parent contacted me regarding a flyer that had been given by Hope for Youth Ministries. All concerns expressed by parents are taken seriously. After consultation with staff, I responded immediately and to the parent’s satisfaction.”
One mother told the Belfast Telegraph: “I think it’s too much even for a ten-year-old to think of themselves as sinners needing forgiveness for being bad and then to be warned that even saying the prayer won’t save them and that Jesus died because of them.”
Another parent was quoted as saying: “I don’t mind children learning basic Christian principels but this is Christianity being delivered via a sledgehammer.”
“I want my children and future generations to have good priests in their lives. My Catholic faith is the anchor that supports everything I do in life.”
Mark Wahlberg in a video he recorded for the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors in Boston
News in brief
Reboot
In September approximately 1,000 young people from across the country gathered in Westminster to ask their big questions to leading apologists. The Zacharias Trust hosted Q&A panels, seminars and short talks covering subjects from suffering and science to homosexuality and hope. The day was live-streamed and is still available to view at rebootglobal.org/live.
Limitless
For over a decade Serious4God has served young people, youth leaders and local churches across the Elim movement. To mark a new season, Serious4God is rebranding as ‘Limitless’. Leadership team member Laura Hancock said: “Limitless is an invitation to who we are becoming in God - that we are a Limitless movement, a Limitless generation!” They’ve also launched a new gap year program called Limitless Pioneers.
Children’s society resource
A new resource from the Children’s Society, nominated for best youth work resource in the 2016 Christian Youth Work Awards, contains six sessions from a faith perspective to help young people explore key topics such as identity, sexting, mental health, healthy relationships, and life online. The resource aims to empower 11-16-year-olds to support themselves and their peers, and challenge them to make a difference in the world around them. You can download the free adaptable resources at childrenssociety.org.uk/YWM
