Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

Efforts to get the Church actively involved in the fight against crime and violence took another positive step last Saturday, when the Ministry of Health hosted a workshop for participants in the Churches Violence Prevention Network.

The event held at the Meadow-brook United Church in St. Andrew, brought together representatives from churches located in violence-prone Jamaican communities.

Healthy lifestyles

"The Ministry of Health is not responsible for direct crime fighting, but we can assist through social development promoting healthy lifestyles," said Dr. Deanna Ashley, of the Health Ministry.

Thirty church organisations have joined forces to form the network that promotes effective peace-making and violence reduction in their related communities.

Projects currently undertaken by the network include counselling services, early childhood education, homework programmes and Bible classes.

During the workshop, several churches indicated that the lack of adequate volunteers has been affecting the services they offer.

However, the Greater Grants Pen Ministers' Fraternal had positive news. The fraternal is a smaller network comprising all churches within Grants Pen.

Leading member of the fraternal, Pastor Teddy Jones, told The Gleaner that churches in Grants Pen have opened their doors to the community.

"We offer after-school sessions for school students as well as adult literacy classes," he disclosed. Other efforts he said, include an interaction programme that brings together approximately 300 young persons each Friday, during which they are taught Bible principles and provided with meals.