29 Oct 2025, 18:46Darell J. Philip, London Area 6C Communications CoordinatorHackney, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Gangs and County Lines Church Safeguarding Tour 2025
The Gangs and County Lines Church Safeguarding Tour 2025 made its final appearance for the year in the London Area 6C district of East London at the London Ghana Seventh-day Adventist Church on the afternoon of Sabbath 25th October 2025.
Hosted and arranged by Paul Frempong, a youth worker, Team Manager within the Youth Justice Service and Director of Boys2Men Ministry, the Gangs and County Lines Church Safeguarding Tour 2025 travelled to each of the London Area Districts educating parents and young people on how to safeguard themselves from gangs and violence. Paul was joined by motivational speaker Elder Clarence Jackson who supports at-risk children through one-to-one programmes, Ambrose Dawson who is Senior Executive Officer at the Ministry of Justice, and Linda Acquah, a Primary School Special Educational Needs Coordinator and member of the South East Community Seventh-day Adventist Church. Also supporting the young people in attendance was the South England Conference Teens Ministry Director, Pastor Joojo Bonnie, and his team.
Each of the participants shared advice on how the church could help in safeguarding their young people from gangs and violence. In his presentation, Paul Frempong highlighted some of the things which attract young people in joining gangs: money, protection, a sense of protection and love but also peer pressure. What was driven home was the importance of parents being actively involved in every aspect of their children’s lives – from their home, church, and school life to the friends they associate with. Homes where there is openness, honesty and trust built on the love of Christ make a positive difference in the lives of the young people found there.
Linda Acquah shared how vulnerable young people such as those with special educational needs are groomed into joining gangs and of the importance of parents taking an active interest in the education of their children by attending parents evening to meet teachers as well as having authentic conversations with their children about their school day and learning.
The information shared finally hit home when it was highlighted that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not immune to such an issue. Among the many young people to have lost their lives to youth violence albeit indirectly have included Kiyan Prince, Keelen Morris Wong, and Vanessa James, all from Adventist homes, who lost their lives whilst inadvertently trying to safeguard themselves and their loved ones from harm. Kiyan’s father, Mark Prince, set up the Kiyan Prince Foundation which works with young people in educating them on the dangers of youth violence and the ways in which they can safeguard themselves. Elder Jermaine Wong set up Learn2Live in memory of his son, Keelen, which uses the power of creative expression to build emotional resilience and break cycles of trauma among young people.
For more information on this subject contact: boys2menworkshops@gmail.com
The Gangs and County Lines Church Safeguarding Tour 2025 made its final appearance for the year in the London Area 6C district of East London at the London Ghana Seventh-day Adventist Church on the afternoon of Sabbath 25th October 2025.
Hosted and arranged by Paul Frempong, a youth worker, Team Manager within the Youth Justice Service and Director of Boys2Men Ministry, the Gangs and County Lines Church Safeguarding Tour 2025 travelled to each of the London Area Districts educating parents and young people on how to safeguard themselves from gangs and violence. Paul was joined by motivational speaker Elder Clarence Jackson who supports at-risk children through one-to-one programmes, Ambrose Dawson who is Senior Executive Officer at the Ministry of Justice, and Linda Acquah, a Primary School Special Educational Needs Coordinator and member of the South East Community Seventh-day Adventist Church. Also supporting the young people in attendance was the South England Conference Teens Ministry Director, Pastor Joojo Bonnie, and his team.
Each of the participants shared advice on how the church could help in safeguarding their young people from gangs and violence. In his presentation, Paul Frempong highlighted some of the things which attract young people in joining gangs: money, protection, a sense of protection and love but also peer pressure. What was driven home was the importance of parents being actively involved in every aspect of their children’s lives – from their home, church, and school life to the friends they associate with. Homes where there is openness, honesty and trust built on the love of Christ make a positive difference in the lives of the young people found there.
Linda Acquah shared how vulnerable young people such as those with special educational needs are groomed into joining gangs and of the importance of parents taking an active interest in the education of their children by attending parents evening to meet teachers as well as having authentic conversations with their children about their school day and learning.
The information shared finally hit home when it was highlighted that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not immune to such an issue. Among the many young people to have lost their lives to youth violence albeit indirectly have included Kiyan Prince, Keelen Morris Wong, and Vanessa James, all from Adventist homes, who lost their lives whilst inadvertently trying to safeguard themselves and their loved ones from harm. Kiyan’s father, Mark Prince, set up the Kiyan Prince Foundation which works with young people in educating them on the dangers of youth violence and the ways in which they can safeguard themselves. Elder Jermaine Wong set up Learn2Live in memory of his son, Keelen, which uses the power of creative expression to build emotional resilience and break cycles of trauma among young people.
For more information on this subject contact: boys2menworkshops@gmail.com
