One district attorney in Alabama is encouraging local churches to "adopt a gang member" to mentor them and help decrease gang violence in the area.
Attorney Michael Jackson at Dallas County District recently told some pastors at the Selma Convention Center about this idea and said in a statement, "Most of the country has gang issues. This is an idea that just came to me one night and I feel like this would be successful here in Selma and Dallas County. I wanted to get it started here so it can spread"
"What we're trying to do is develop a conscience for some of these young folks. They're out here killing, and robbing and raping, and they don't even blink an eye." He added.
Jackson's goal is to see these gang members be more connected and involved with local churches, letting them realize that doing valuable work is important than doing crimes on the streets. He told reporters that violence and crime in Selma were increasing in 2015 and that the number of shootings started to be measured on a weekly basis rather than per year as standard.
He already asked around 50 pastors, who were present to check each church members who are engaged in gangs, to guide them and create some activities of the church which includes choir and other Biblical programs. Jackson's proposal was approved by the pastors and think that it will greatly help a lot of young gang members in the area.
John Grayson, a Preacher of Gospel Tabernacle Church in Selma, told WSFA-TV, said, "I think it will help. I think there's more dialogue that needs to be done concerning it, but I think it's a great idea. We have problems in Selma, and I think it's going to take a plethora of ideas and people working together to combat crime and gangs in our city."
Meanwhile, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin also encouraged pastors to organize a walking prayer group in Louisville's high-crime areas to help stop the violence within the said area. He also ordered that members and pastors of the congregations to join for a one year walk a block that will be done weekly. He and his wife will also be joining the praying walk.
