Rev. Colin McCartney

A Response To Violence / Speaking ScheduleMany of you have approached us at UrbanPromise and have asked what we believe is the solution to the gun violence that seemingly is sweeping our city. Please read this letter in its entirety with an open and prayerful heart as these times, though dark as they may appear, also offer great hope and opportunity for good things, God things, to happen. Evil days are filled with opportunities and perhaps the reason evil exists is simply because we have not acted on the opportunities God has presented to us. For as it is written; “make the most of every opportunity for the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:16

As all of you are aware our city has been shaken up by gun violence as evidenced by the senseless killing of an innocent 15-year-old girl who was caught in crossfire while shopping on Boxing Day. All of our hearts break for the loss of this innocent life. In response to this tragedy and the increase of gun violence the media has declared 2005 as the year of the gun! 2006 has started out badly with a murder of a twenty-one year man by a gun on New Years day!

There has been a plethora of sound bytes as a result of the apparent loss of control of the gang culture on our streets. Politicians are pointing their fingers of blame on each other and suggesting quick solutions that seem to be motivated mostly by their need for votes during this election season. The police are demanding harsher gun laws. The liberal left are complaining about the social conditions that have turned young people into heartless killers. The conservative right decries the “hug a thug” mentality displayed by social activists. While all of this is going on the clergy continue to hold public prayer meetings that appear to be more geared toward the media spotlight then heaven’s throne. Many are asking the question – what are we supposed to do?

May I suggest a solution? It is important that you understand that my views come from a heart that has felt the pain of losing one of our own UrbanPromise youths and staff member in 2004 to murder by the gun. When it comes to gun violence it is a personal issue to me as I have had to bury one of our own. (To this day the killers of our beloved Patrick “Dalton” Pitters have not been brought to justice.) I also share my thoughts from a Biblical worldview. I am one of those people who believe that God has a solution to the problems we are facing.

There Is No Magic Solution
We need to understand that there is no magic pill to what we are facing. Youths that kill in cold blood will continue to kill no matter how harsh the gun laws are. Tough laws are not the solution. I personally believe that we need to tighten up the laws, not as a preventative tool, but as a matter of justice. Money is also not the solution. Many believe that if we throw more money at social programs the youth on the street will get help. This response is partly right as long as the government spends wisely. Unfortunately, many politicians are out of touch with what is working on the frontlines. This results in too much public money wasted on ineffective programs while good programs starve funds. Money is not the solution.

There Is A Slow, Plodding Action
Though there is no quick magic cure there is a slow, plodding action we must partake in. I am convinced that what UrbanPromise is doing by operating after school and summer programs targeting children will and is having a positive affect in the future. We are reaching children before they are hardened by life. Our participation in their young lives is shaping them by giving them hope, a loving community, powerful self – esteem and purpose in their lives. All these ingredients mentioned are what my social activist friends say is lacking in our at – risk communities that breed violent youth. Our young people are saying no to gangs because of the foundation of hope they received while they were children in our programs and they continue to have re – enforced in our YMAD (Youth Making A Difference) youth programs. Our StreetLeader program has given many of these YMAD teens a job as tutors or summer camp counsellors and with this job they learn responsibility, leadership skills and confidence. Finally, our UPhold Mother’s Ministry is working with the mothers of the children and youth that attend our programs. These mothers are wonderful women who, with our encouragement and guidance, are positively shaping their children to be positive and responsible citizens. All the above work is done in a relational environment in which our staff is ever present in the “at – risk” communities and homes of those we serve. We are there simply because of two reasons – we are called by God to be there and we simply love our people. There is no other place we would want to be then right there in some of the toughest neighbourhoods in Toronto. This is slow, plodding action but it is bearing fruit. Childhood is being restored. Children and youth are shown and loved into a different lifestyle then the one that is surrounding them. Hope is established and a wonderful future is laid out before them.

However, in the midst of all of the work we are doing we have discovered a secret – God is active in our communities. He is present in us and in those we serve. We have discovered the secret of Mother Teresa when she said; “When I look into the eyes of the poor I have an eerie feeling that Jesus is staring right back at me.” Jesus is with us and is experienced by us as we serve Him in the lives of the people in our communities. The solution to our problems is God but He chooses to work through us, His mystical body. Therefore the responsibility of treating the violence in our city rests squarely on us.

TWO SEPARATE CHALLENGES
A Challenge To The Church
Let me leave you with two challenges. My first challenge is to the church. It is time for us to step up to the plate. We have talked too much and prayed long enough and frankly have prayed too much in front of the cameras. It is time we do something! UrbanPromise is looking for churches that are located in “at – risk” neighbourhoods to open their hearts and the doors of their churches. We are currently forming an “UrbanPromise Coalition” of churches that are committed to getting involved in their community. We are working with these churches, as a pilot project, learning as we go, how best to equip churches to effectively impact their communities. The time of talking and public praying is over and now we must roll up our sleeves, put our prayers to action and get to work. If you know of any churches that are interested in joining the coalition please have them inform us right away.

A Challenge To You
Now here is my final challenge and it is to you who read this letter. Join us. The simple solution to the problem of nothing getting done is to do something! This is all God requires of you – action. This is what faith is all about as written in James 2:17 “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” So do something. I have already told you what UrbanPromise is doing through the various children, youth and Moms programs we run that become the meeting places where life changing relationships form. Do something and join us. Join us by donating more finances to our ministry so we can do more work. Join us by volunteering your time in one of our programs.

CONCLUSION
In the Book of Nehemiah we read the story of a faithful servant who wept over his beloved city. The reason for his tears was that the walls that protected the city from destructive forces were ruined. But Nehemiah did not just weep, pray or complain about what was happening in his city. He also took action! Nehemiah humbly repented of the sins of the city and prayed to God for strength to make a difference and he did not stop there but he took action. He appealed to the pagan King he served and, with the blessing of this king, went to the city and began to build a team of rag tag residents who were willing to do something, anything to rebuild the walls of protection. It was slow, plodding action that took much time but eventually the walls of Jerusalem were restored, brick by brick. The UrbanPromise Coalition of churches and the financial and volunteer help we seek is a modern day example of the Nehemiah story. I believe God is calling a rag tag group of people together who are willing to do something. And with God’s help this group will rollup their sleeves and take on the responsibility of rebuilding their section of the wall of protection for Toronto, brick by brick. Will you join us?