† Dear Citizens of Porterville, {PDF}
† Today, Gang Watchers, a non profit Ministry is reaching out to gang members with the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. Many have left the life, but have left with little or no hope of an after-life.
† Today, Gang Watchers needs the Citizens of Porterville to know that our City is being over run with too many gang like activities and drive-bys. Looking the other way when it happens in your neighborhood isn’t a realistic way dealing with the problem. We must work together to save our city - Gang Watchers, Citizens, Cops and Churches. Together, if we try, we can stem this tide and make it an “All American City” again.
† Today, our children don’t feel protected and feel it’s necessary to join a gang for protection. If we as parents and a city don’t protect them, they’ll be forced to join a gang and eventually blame each of us parents for the trouble they end up getting into.
† Today, our society looks the other way thinking it will all go away, but it won’t ! Gangs do fill that void when a parent isn’t there. They fill that void when the Church isn’t there or their teachers as well. We’re all to blame at this point so all of us need to “suck-it-up” and go after our children and go after the gangs.
† Today, Gang Watchers needs to know if other service clubs and organizations will meet with us to discuss, first in private then in an open forum, to see what we can do. Separate … our clubs can only do so much, but together we can create solutions. Our City and our Children are worth saving !
† Research(1) has proven that the target age for children being pulled into gangs is around 8 to 12 years of age. Research has also discovered that money and government programs, even together, don’t do that good of a job … until they work hand in glove with the local Churches and Christians. THAT’S A FACT ! … So get over it !
† Today, this “Letter to the City” goes out as an open letter, meaning that you need to comment on it … one way or the other. You can say you don’t agree and that’s ok, or you can say that you do agree and that’s ok too … but continuing to do nothing is the same as saying - you don’t agree.
† Saying nothing, everyone knows, is siding in with the gangs … and that’s how they win and that’s how we loose - our city, our churches and our children.
† For more information on Gang Watchers and how to help - go to www.gangwatchers.org
