Church+View+on+Causes+of+Violence

POWER POINT!!

“We’ve got a generation of young people, probably the first generation particularly in an African-American community, to grow up without a concept of church,” he said. “Anytime you’re disconnected from a moral center, you’re going to find violence.” - Rev. Alvin Love at Lilydale First Baptist Church

Church sees youth violence as a crisis of faith. Kids are calling out, needing their faith. But they act out on violence.

The lack of male guidance is a problem Fenger administrators have at least tacitly acknowledged: Two of the first posters past the main entrance’s metal detector feature the slogans: “Change came to the White House. Change is coming to the Titan house,” and “The Dignified Men of Fenger.”

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=143121

School shootings, gang activities, hate crimes and statistics that affirm the reality youth suicide and self-injury are leading society to examine its role in shaping and confronting youth violence toward themselves and others. It is the church that can reach the hearts of human needs that can result in violence. Children act out on violence. Anger is the primary emotion that manages experiences that challenge our perspectives, dreams or ideals. Like a flashing yellow light, anger prompts us to identify the conflict and find an appropriate resolution. Without effective coping skills and reality checks, anger will remain, covering the pain of insecurity, alienation, disillusionment, disregard or ongoing conflict. When anger is left unresolved, it intensifies and may be projected inward or outward to find an expression beyond reason.

http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Life-Transitions/Youth-Issues/Youth-Violence-and-Suicide.aspx

"A lot of teens are searching for identity," "Sometimes they go to drugs, alcohol, gang violence, sex, whatever. We want kids to realize that they already have identity in Christ, that they are loved and wonderfully made." - Vince Carr, founder of Can You Hear Me Ministries and a speaker at the Friendship Community Church youth conference

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/20/churches-offer-hand-to-deter-youth-violence/