[By Mike Ramey] Gang leaders don’t like to lose members to local churches. They will ‘tolerate’ members ‘looking at’ religion and the church as a good ‘exit’ strategy, or as a good means of looking legitimate. Churches that want to make a true dent in Modern Street Gangs need to add a forgotten key--the key of discipleship. To put it bluntly, a church MUST show gang members the way out of gang life TO Jesus Christ AND how to STAY in Christ.

Don’t be fooled. Just because a person ‘comes forward’ at an altar call after the preaching of salvation doesn’t mean that they ‘get the full message’. Remember, some of those coming forward have been exposed to bible terms, but with different definitions. Pastors and altar warriors need to make sure that converts ‘know that they know’ Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and can publicly state why they believe in Him.

Ex-gang members will have to clearly be shown what they came out of and what they were (Sinners); plus, what they are now and where they are now (Saints) based upon what the Scriptures say! This process is crucial! Many gangs use the KJV in the wrong ways to ‘support’ their sin. There needs to be a clear discipleship process with God’s Word, as well as people to keep tabs and contact with this new lamb.

Next, the convert should be ‘pared up’ with someone of the same sex that has been a Christian for more than a few years, and can ‘come along side’ them to answer their questions; show them some friendship, and--if needed--be that ‘middle of the night contact’ if they have questions about the faith.

Last but not least, the church where the ex-member has joined NEEDS to have a regular, weekly meeting to teach new converts and new members--from the KJV Bible--what God expects of them, how to live this new life in Christ, and how to grow in Christ. I’ve seen far too many cases where churches ‘dance a jig’ over getting a new member, but won’t take the time to keep up with that member after the service is over!

Real, genuine discipleship is that forgotten key to victory over ANY sin!

Mike Ramey is a Modern Street Gangs and Media Consultant for THE GANG LINE, Indianapolis, Indiana. He can be reached at rameysgangline@yahoo.com. © 2015, 2016, 2018 Barnstorm Communications.

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Rev. M. G. “Mike” Ramey (Retired) served as the Certified Modern Street Gangs Specialist & Media Consultant of “The Gang Line”. He had been interviewed in the U. S. and abroad on radio, television, and Internet about the dangers of Modern Street Gangs since 2007. His writings on Modern Street Gangs abound in print and online. Previously, he served as an award-winning broadcast journalist, producer, and TV/Radio talk show host. He has also served as a staff writer, section editor, and syndicated columnist. Ramey has won—or helped to win—some two dozen journalism awards and citations. He also holds a Police Citation for Citizen Bravery from the Indianapolis Police Department (1986). Ramey is also married, an Ordained Minister (Retired) and a KJV Bible Teacher.

Ramey is a Certified Modern Street Gangs Specialist with Certifications in Law Enforcement (2006), Non-Law Enforcement (2010), and Gangs & Cults Ministry (2017). He also has endorsements in K-12 Gang Issues and Transnational Gangs. He also carries Specialist Ratings in Cult/Occult Crime, and Transnational Human Trafficking. Ramey has also served with several International anti-gang ministries, including Gangstyle.com of Washington state (2004-2009), Thug Exposed Ministries of California (2010 to 2015) and Bishop Outreach Ministries of Florida (2010 to 2015).

In 2011 “The Gang Line” offered training and certification coursework for those interested in becoming certified Modern Street Gang Specialists: Training approaches the anti-gang ministry field through the combined use of spiritual (biblical principles/discipleship) and criminal (gang members and gang crime). From 2015-2017, Ramey served as an Advisory Board Member for the School of Criminal Justice at Harrison College, Indianapolis, Indiana, with a specialty of Organized Crime & Gangs. From 2017-2019, Ramey served as a Bible Teacher to at-risk detained juvenile offenders at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center with his own Bible-based Curriculum centering upon Biblical Life Skills taught from the Book of Proverbs.

Rev. Ramey’s skill set includes having been a veteran substitute teacher (Secondary Education), a college instructor for two Bible colleges in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, a Probation Officer (Intensive/High Risk & School-Based) with the Marion County Juvenile Court, and a peer grant reviewer of anti-gang grant programs with the U.S. Department of Justice (2010). He also created, designed, and taught the course “Modern Street Gangs: Developing Urban Ministry Strategies—UM-190” at Crossroads Bible College, Indianapolis, Indiana (2009 & 2010). In 2013, Ramey served as a post-production Consultant for Chick Publications’ national anti-gang comic: “Black Angel”. It was translated into Spanish in 2014.

Ramey has written extensively on the topic of Modern Street Gangs with two Internet columns: “The Gang Line” and “The Gang Line Blogger” which abound in cyberspace. In a post-pandemic society, the motto of The Gang Line still rings true: “Spiritual Solutions for Spiritual Problems!”

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