East Croydon church turns gang members' lives around
An East Croydon church has been inspiring dozens of former gang members to become beacons of the community.
For the last seven years, Potters House church group in East Croydon has convinced bad boys to put down their weapons.
Its creator, Pastor Clement Okusi, says he knows the secret to getting teen criminals to change their ways.
"Without a shadow of a doubt it's the gospel of Jesus Christ that has saved these young boys," he said.
"Since I launched the church with my wife in 2001, several youngsters who were once involved in drugs and gangs are now looking at a positive, crime-free future.
"This church offers something they can relate to. I had a rough childhood and I know where they're coming from.
"I'm not some privileged politician who was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
"And I'm not afraid to tackle them in their homes, in the streets and wherever they hang out, at all times of the day.
"I will happily walk up to a group of 10 youths and start talking to them – I want them to know they have a choice."
Pastor Okusi currently presides over a 250-strong congregation, and 100 of them are 15 to 21-year-olds.
He said: "Many of our younger members have been in gangs, and of those, some are from single parent backgrounds.
"Others were involved in drugs and others got on the wrong side of the law.
"I truly believe Croydon needs Jesus. It may sound a bit preachy, but it's not meant that way.
"What I'm talking about is morality and basic Christian values."
Pastor Okusi says there is a key root cause that leads to youngsters carrying blades.
He said: "Knife crime has got worse in Croydon and one of the biggest reasons for that is absent fathers.
"The church fills that void, and the results are here for everyone to see.
"And yet we don't get any support from anyone – not the government, not the council.
"Money is poured into initiatives that don't work, while we are the ones making a real difference.
"Maybe it's time people sat up and took note."
25 Comments
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by Anthoulla, Croydon
Wednesday, April 01 2009, 11:21AM
“If you want longterm results then google WaveTrust or George Hosking (base in Croydon by the way)
This man is amazing and has managed to get the UK government to set schemes which tackle violence and child abuse. They are linked beleive it or not!
Wave stands for putting the love back into our society.
Read the Report on the Wave Trust website - a real eye opener!”
by Mark Jones Bristol, Bristol
Sunday, January 25 2009, 5:27AM
“Croydon Church just sent 29 young and set free ministers to impact Bristol Church in Southmead. Their joy over witnessing to people on the street and seeing people pray to receive Jesus Christ was exceptional. The conversion of these people is over meeting with ONE man, and that really can only be God. Only God can detach the simple but evil issues of this society from the man or woman trapped by them. All the people commenting negatively towards the Bible must understand that Gang Bangers are getting saved and becoming totally different people. Can you change absolutely without the truth of the BIBLE?”
by AJ, Bristol
Sunday, January 25 2009, 12:00AM
“Keep up the good work Pastor. You are a true man of God, the fruits are there for everybody to see. Anyone who wants to turn his life round, must surrender to Jesus. I did not believe in God before, since I stopped being so full of myself, arrogant and prideful God taught me many nuggets of truth. May God bless the churches, with pastors on the streets preaching the Good news of Jesus Christ. More Christianity, it's what we need, more preaching, it's what the world needs”
by damaged x memeber, croydon
Wednesday, December 24 2008, 1:27AM
“To back it up with scripture... Are you mad? why do you think there are so many denominations of Christianty? Because ANYONE can back up their argument with scripture.. it can be interpreted in so many different ways... wow you people in that church really don't know your word do you.. READ IT”
by Chris, Croydon
Monday, August 18 2008, 12:55PM
“I dont recommend "googling" stuff, as a good source to base truth on!
The internet is not governed by anyone - anyone can put any old nonsense on the internet & many accept it as truth, most of the time it is not...
If you want to see what the Potter's House is REALLY all about, I would go there, check it out for myself & ask the man himself (Pastor Clement) anything I want to know - tell him to line their teachings up with scripture, if he can GREAT, if not, I would avoid like the plague...”
by BoredofCroydon, Croydon
Friday, August 15 2008, 12:16PM
“Anyone Googled Potters House Church? Found out what its really all about?”
by Keith Taylor, Croydon
Thursday, August 14 2008, 10:27PM
“I was never a Christian but 30 years ago I read the Bible that was left at my bed and I read it from the front! Prior to this I had been in a diagnosed vegetative coma, following that I had complete amnesia, had to learn how to speak, how to read and then read that Bible as far as:
Hebrews 13, "Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those in chains as if you were in chains with them, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
I saw somebody in the bed across the ward and determined from that text that it was for me to help him walk for he was unable and the strange thing is that I was also paralysed and had been told I must despite my best attempts accept this, and yet in June of this year I walked unaided onto a stage at Las Vegas at the first convention of online Social Network Myzenzuu.org to recount my story of how both of us walked 6 weeks later because of the truth I received from that book!”
by Chantelle, Thornton Heath
Thursday, August 14 2008, 1:35PM
“Macca - I am sorry, but you are incorrect. Just by your last comment, I now KNOW you have not even read the bible...
I will give one example out of the few you listed...the Crusades. The Crusaders believed they were doing the "will of God" by killing Jews right? - they called the Jews "The Christ Killers" (which in itself is incorrect - Romans Killed Jesus) - but the bible refers to the Jews as The Children of God, God's Chosen people, the apple of His eye etc. so you see the Crusaders have an opposing view to God/The Bible, so how can they be Christians? - They claimed to be, but "by their fruit you shall know them" - their actions proved differently...just like those who claim Christianity, but sleep around, rave, take drugs, are in gangs & get up to all sorts of nonsense - those things are CONTRARY to God - they ARE NOT Christians - By their fruit you shall know them...
The Bible does not teach ignorance or hatred at all...
Please read the Bible. Start from The Gospel of John I am sure it will change your view point & maybe even your life...”
by nareen khan, northampton
Thursday, August 14 2008, 12:16PM
“ralph,its not religion its relationship.there is a big difference.pastor clement is preaching the full counsel of God and lives are being changed.and you right religion does not make you moral but relationship does.the reason why you think its all myth and legend is because you know of God but you don't know him personally.you cannot have opinions on something you have never tried.as humans if we dont know God we have a natural rebellion towards him.and its not just the gangsters with the guns that need God, we all do including you.”
by sandra, shirley
Thursday, August 14 2008, 11:18AM
“wel i attend the potters house nd witnessd dese concerts the no knives no guns concert nd has made a great impact in2 the young people that came nd majority ov dem accepted jesus in2 der lives pastor is right jesus is the ansa i gt saved tru wun ov the concerts and since den my life has never bin the same im nt gona say i was involved in gangs but i was slightly involved i was surrounded by them i was with them majority of the times nd to admit at any point my life could have been taken nd all these big boys all came from fatherless homes is dat nt tellin u sumin der all goin 2 things lyk drugs,girls,money to filll that void but the only person that can fill that void is JESUS nd he filld dat void i had in my heart mate”