Pastors are set to board Croydon buses to help control unruly schoolchildren and teenagers.
The religious volunteers - or "school pastors" - will also attempt to turn young people involved in crime away from breaking the law and into studying the Bible.
The scheme will be launched in the summer and will be led by The Ascension Trust's director, Reverend Les Isaacs. It will be launched in the Purley area and supported by police.
Detective Inspector Jacquie Hands said it would involve faith and community groups providing support on bus routes into the town centre and be co-ordinated by the Salvation Army.
The idea is a spin-off from the Street Pastors - 16 volunteers who tour Croydon's streets trying to get to know young people better.
Rev Isaacs said: "I think our courts too readily hand out sentences to our youngsters, rather than looking for alternatives within the community to help them go through the most difficult adolescent period.
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“A lot of the problems start at 13 when young men especially have identity issues and they try and establish their manhood. Unfortunately, this is often done by breaking the law.”
Frederick Clarke
"There is a lot that needs to be done."
The Ascension Trust was founded in 1993 by Rev Isaacs who wanted to see individuals working effectively within their local churches and communities.
Similar schemes to target youth crime in the borough are being set up by Croydon's Mighty Men of Valour. According to its director Frederick Clarke, the initiatives will help faith groups reduce crime in the borough and surrounding areas.
Mr Clarke welcomed the school pastors bus plan but called for young people to be targeted much earlier - when they begin primary school.
He said: "I have no doubt that this idea will help reduce crime and I really hope it does. However, I do believe targeting people in secondary school and later may be a little late.
"A lot of the problems start at 13 when young men especially have identity issues and they try and establish their manhood. Unfortunately, this is often done by breaking the law."
This can not be legal. One would suspect it would be OK in a muslim country but not in a free country. This is pure intimidation. Would it be asseped if these people would tech das capital instead of the bible? Or maybe the cohran, spiritism, Scientology etc? This is absolutely redicy-ulous and against human rights to do such a thing. Have these people totally lost their heads?
This can not be legal. One would suspect it would be OK in a muslim country but not in a free country. This is pure intimidation. Would it be asseped if these people would tech das capital instead of the bible? Or maybe the cohran, spiritism, Scientology etc? This is absolutely redicy-ulous and against human rights to do such a thing. Have these people totally lost their heads?
Posted by: otheradam, London on 4:54pm Thu 17 Apr 08
Craig, Jim, Eduardo and Jon. The primary aim of these pastors is to "[quote]control unruly schoolchildren and teenagers[/quote]" and "[quote]attempt to turn young people involved in crime away from breaking the law[/quote]".
I don't know about you but I think this is a very good thing.
It so happens that the people who are prepared to do this are Christians. Before you get on your high horse about that fact please describe what you have done about the unruly teenagers on buses or those headed towards a life of crime?
Craig, Jim, Eduardo and Jon. The primary aim of these pastors is to "
control unruly schoolchildren and teenagers
" and "
attempt to turn young people involved in crime away from breaking the law
".
I don't know about you but I think this is a very good thing.
It so happens that the people who are prepared to do this are Christians. Before you get on your high horse about that fact please describe what you have done about the unruly teenagers on buses or those headed towards a life of crime?
Posted by: Peter Russell, Coulsdon on 1:01pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Unfortunately the article is misleading. The aim of schools pastors is not to move people from crime to Bible study! As with Street Pastors, this initiative aims to bless communities by meeting people where they are and by helping them.
The inevitable question raised is: why would Christians do this? Surely there must be an ulterior motive? Well, the motivation is Jesus command "to love your neighbour".
As a member of one of the churches involved I can assure you it is as simple as that!
Unfortunately the article is misleading. The aim of schools pastors is not to move people from crime to Bible study! As with Street Pastors, this initiative aims to bless communities by meeting people where they are and by helping them.
The inevitable question raised is: why would Christians do this? Surely there must be an ulterior motive? Well, the motivation is Jesus command "to love your neighbour".
As a member of one of the churches involved I can assure you it is as simple as that!
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