(e)mergent Voyageurs

Some time ago, I shared about our friend who was shot near our home.  Things got quiet for awhile, but they seem to taking a turn for the worse.  The last few weeks has seen an increase in gang violence in our neighbourhood.  In addition to the recent murder that occured a few blocks away, there was also a serious beating on our street the same night:

“Two youths are in custody charged with second degree murder after a man, 21, died Saturday from a beating on Beverley Street.  Police said today the attack happened shortly before 9 a.m. when the 21-year old man was assaulted by two male youths. The victim was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.  A 16-year-old male has been charged with second degree murder and aggravated assault and a 14-year-old male is charged with second degree murder. A 15-year-old male was charged with aggravated assault.” - Winnipeg Free Press (click here for full story)

No matter how long I am in this kind of ministry, I will never get used to the idea of kids willfully and brutally taking the life of another person.  We desperately want to be Christ in this community, but feel helpless in the face of it.  I love my neighbourhood, with its wonderful diversity, rich heritage and some hardcore, committed neighbours.  And yet, when people read these stories we become a “ghetto”, a problem area and place to be feared and avoided.  I am not judging- I understand the impulse.  I just wish things would change.

At any rate, please pray.

My friend and co-worker Ree has written an excellent post on her blog about the joys and frustrations of her ministry and friendships in our inner city community. Ree has a gift with people that I greatly envy, an ability to naturally and comfortably relate to people of all walks of life. She is a gifted evangelist in this respect. Please take the time to read her post and comment. Here’s a paragraph, where talks about her friendship with some local gang members:

Knowing a name, the one their parents gave them, the one they grew up being called makes such a difference. It doesn’t have all the layers; the scary titles, the tag of being in a gang, the ‘bling’, anger or power. The whole thing with a ‘street name’ is getting a new identity and hiding your old one; hiding it from the police, friends, or even yourself. A new name is a new start. In many cases, their original name does hold a lot of ties to their past, which is often hurtful. However, I believe that has to be recognized and dealt with for real change in their life, as that is often the root of many of the other problems which they face or choose to be involved in.

‘Slick’ is hard to be a person; but John is human, loved by God.

God does not love gang members.