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Latest News
’Faith is the only thing that gets me through’
by Mean Schmidt Holland Sentinel, Holland MI
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Task force gathers at church to address gang problems |
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A task force assembled Wednesday in Holland to discuss gang problems in the community, but this task force wasn’t initiated by police -- this one assembled in a church.
Pastors from several local churches, along with Holland Mayor Al McGeehan and police Chief John Kruithoff attended what the Rev. Jonathan Brownson called a task force on gang violence at the New Community Fourth Reformed Church on 15th Street to pray for an end to a string of recent incidents that may be gang related.
Diana Pena, mother of Justin Perales, the 18-year-old Ocala, Fla., resident accused in the Oct. 31 shooting in Moran Park, also attended the prayer service. Perales is charged with intent to commit murder, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, felonious assault and felony firearm.
Pena, also of Ocala, Fla., said she had been devoting much thought to her faith since returning to Holland, her former home, following the Oct. 31 incident.
"(Church) is where I need to be to get through my days with the situation with Justin," she said. "Faith is the only thing that gets me through."
The prayer service began shortly after noon with Brownson asking attendees to break into small groups to pray. Several pastors then led the groups through a series of prayer sessions.
Brownson told the groups that violence is caused by several underlying issues, including broken families, racial tension and lack of education and mentors, leading troubled young people to feel they have nowhere to turn.
He asked the small prayer groups to pray that young people have a sense of belonging in the community.
Tom Swieringa, a member of the Holland Area Prayer Initiative, a group of pastors who organize weekly prayer sessions centered around a variety of topics, said the group chose to schedule this anti-violence prayer service at the 15th Street church primarily for its location.
"We wanted to meet in the heart of the city," he said. "We felt like this would be a good place to meet."
In one prayer group, Kruithoff sat, head bowed, listening to his fellow group members speak.
"I believe in prayer, and where issues with gangs are concerned, faith can be an important component (in reaching solutions)," he said. "Law enforcement cannot do it alone."
As people lingered between pews after the prayer groups disbanded, Pena said the service had given her a bit of relief and comfort.
"I feel a sense of peace for Justin," she said.
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Nextwork.