Radio Host Gets Finalist Position with Program Featuring Christian Response to Gun Crime
By Jeremy Reynalds (06/29/05)
Premier Radio's morning host Justin Brierley was a finalist at the New York Festival Awards for the program "God on His Feet," a Christian response to gun violence on the streets of London.
"God on His Feet" portrayed Brierley spending a night patrolling the streets of Brixton (a predominantly black area in South London) with the Street Pastors, an initiative with local Christians taking to the streets to offer prayer and practical help to those who need it.
The program competed with offerings from BBC, Classic FM, and Virgin Radio (www.newyorkfestivals.com/main.taf?erube_fh=nyf&nyf.submit.SearchWinners=true&nyf.CmptnCode=RP).
In a news release from Premier, Brierley talked about his experience making the program, "The chance to walk with the Street Pastors was a unique one. That night of eye-opening Christian witness is all woven into ‘God on His Feet,' profiling the work of organizations and musicians making a difference to the causes and effects of gun violence."
He added, "I experienced testimonies from reformed violent offenders, victims of gun crime and dedicated Christians who want to see a change to their communities. The program covered only an element of the breadth of work that is being carried out by unsung heroes in the Christian church."
Brierley said in the news release he was overjoyed to get the award. "It's a real testament to the hard work of Premier's production team. I am honored that we've come so far."
ABOUT STREET PASTORS
According to a 2004 report in "The Voice"newspaper (www.voice-online.net/content.php?show=4778&type=7),
the Street Pastors program has scored well for the black Christian community and is its response to gun crime in Britain.
Every weekend, "The Voice" reported, trained men and women go out on the streets of Britain's inner cities to provide pastoral care, prayer and counseling, and to discourage people from a life of crime.
Les Isaac, who began the program, believes society needs Christians out on Britain's streets.
"If the church is going to combat gun crime we have to be with the people," Isaac told "The Voice." "The street needs pastors, someone to care, help and have dialogue with. If people are in a pub, street pastors should be there. If they are in a club, pastors should be there. There's no restriction to where a street pastor should be."
In Aug. 2004, "The Voice" reported there were about 150 trained street pastors, operating in a variety of London suburbs. The program also operates in Manchester and Birmingham.
In the course of their work, street pastors have stopped turf wars and broken up fights. According to "The Voice," one team of street pastors even rebuked a group of hardened criminals, who were looking to start trouble with some young teenagers. Surprisingly, they accepted the rebuke well. A potential crisis situation was averted.
Isaac told "The Voice" that the black Christian community can do more to combat not just gun crime, but most social ills as well.
"There are churches doing a fantastic job in reaching the community, but they have to look wider than their own community," he said. "How can the church help young parents with their children, support local schools, work alongside local councils, social services and police? We can't just stay on the sidelines and pray, we have to go and contribute to making our communities safer places."
Isaac told "The Voice" that the rise in gun violence is due to a number of factors. "Peer pressure and the lack of values and father figures are a key cause," he said.
"The Voice" reported Isaac said that gun crime and its root causes have no quick-fix solutions, but he's in it for the long haul. "I'm not sure how long this thing will take. I have a ten to 15- year strategy. I am training men for this initiative. I can't do it on my own."
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