How to help those involved in gangs

Jul

How to help those involved in gangs

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This from one of our team…in response to a Pastor seeking to help a gang member in his congregation.

It is important to realize that often getting out gangs you have to understand that there is sometimes a cult like mentality. Sometime they will want to stray back, or have trouble dropping the lifestyle. Like a cult also the members of the group may threaten the safety of the one wanting out as well as try to repeatedly persuade him to stay.

Support, thru your church will make a good impact…as long as he ALWAYS knows he has someone there to turn to in times of crisis. Also associating with good and positive people will help fill the void that was there and provide ongoing support, kind of like getting someone off of drugs or alcohol.

The good news is that making a proclamation of faith is reportedly one of the few ways that gang members have shown to get out of the gang. In the book, Suburban Gangs, Dan Korem’s research indicates that the Missing Protector Factor is one of the main contributors to gang involvement. He states that when young people have someone they can turn to in times of crisis, that they can have ongoing contact with (say two or more times per week…even if only for a few moments) they tend to be easier to get away from the gang life.

For many young people a gang has become their family. It is all they have often. The only place they have put their trust. With you all he is going to have to have family to replace that new void. While we all fall sometimes it is critical that he feels that his new family is willing to help him get on his feet. While he should learn independence, at first he will need to be supported in many ways.

Keeping him involved in the Word will also help. This will give him something positive to focus on, and as it says, is like a sword against that which will tempt him.

I would like to see him be able to move from his area though. While sometimes that is not possible, getting away from that crowd is often a very critical part of “rehab.”

You have to treat it like dealing with both a cult and an addiction. An alcoholic does not need to be exposed to other drunks at least as much as you can make that happen as possible.

I can tell you this, he is not alone. There are many, many gang members who write us wanting to get out. In fact most likely he is not the only one within his gang that wants out as well.