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Gang violence Mininstry - Never Too Hot by Cathy - Staff Writer
To look at them, Keith and Jo appear to be your normal every day happily married couple raising children in a busy world. They live in a nice house, drive nice cars, have beautiful children, and he enjoys a professional career while she is a stay-at-home mom. But, Keith and Jo have an unusual past…a past they have turned into a unique ministry aimed at helping youth and young adults deal with the issues of gang violence, alcohol abuse, and drug addiction. They draw from their own past experiences in lending their helping hands to others. Keith was a full-blown member of a regional violent gang in New York while Jo was an associate of the nationally known Crips gang in Florida. Together, the team today is speaking to youth groups, sharing their experiences while educating parents, and reaching out to local gang members showing love and respect, but letting them know there is an alternative…Jesus Christ. “I always wanted to work with kids on drugs and alcohol. I never planned on bringing up my gang history,” said Keith when explaining how their ministry Never Too Hot started. “And then I started thinking of the damage I caused and realized that if I didn’t take a stand and try to reach out to our youth, I would be doing even more damage than good. It was hard to make the decision to go public because of family and my career. The demons of your past can definitely affect your life today, but our ministry has been embraced by the community so far.” While they are eager to share their experiences in an effort to help young people, both realize the dangers that surround being a former gang member. They prefer their last names not be used for the safety of their children. “We are not going after the gangs, but reaching out to those who are either currently in a gang, or thinking about joining a gang,” said Keith. “We would like to assist them and offer a second chance like we had.” Gang Background Supportive, law-abiding parents who loved him dearly raised Keith in a good home. But, being an impatient, rebellious 16-year-old, he slowly started hanging out with older teens, participating in illegal activities, and doing drugs. “I didn’t quite realize I was getting involved with organized illegal activities,” he admitted. He got caught up in the thug life, but still felt he was on the outside looking in. He saw the pretty girls, the nice cars, the power and respect gang members seemed to possess, and, of course, the money. “I watched my friend roll up in a nice Trans Am, with two ounces of weed and two pockets full of cash,” Keith remembered. “I was amazed at the pistols tucked into the waistband, and I wanted to be that cool. I was living what I was seeing on television.” He was “jumped” into the gang. Four gang “soldiers” encircled him, and then beat him by stomping, kicking and punching him for 31 seconds. “I got to my feet and was hugged by the same people that just kicked my butt,” said Keith. “At the time, I thought I was the real deal. But, I look back today and think how could I think they were my family? My parents and uncles never circled me and beat me to a bloody pulp to show me their love. But, this is what is left to our youth today.” He stayed in the gang of misguided souls for over three years. He saw five of his friends murdered in front of his eyes either by shooting, stabbing, beating or being run over intentionally by a car. Then the war started. Not the Iraqi war, but the war that occurred when his gang decided to take on a rival gang. “We went in with victory on our minds and we ended up fighting for our lives,” said Keith. “They were far better prepared than we were. It was 12 or 15 up against 30. Kids just don’t realize how serious it can become so quickly. One minute you’re joking around and the next, you’re dodging bullets. We all went into battle together. Some made it out, some didn’t.” He was scared, lucky, devastated. After all he had seen that night, he made up his mind to get out. He packed his bags and escaped to Florida. He simply told his parents he was leaving home. They had no idea of his involvement in gangs or illegal activities. They thought he was just out with friends. He’s never been back to New York and has had no contact with any of his old friends in the gang. He doesn’t know if they are still involved in the gang, or if they made it out like he did, or if they are in prison or dead. In Florida, Jo dated a member of the Midnight Crips so she was known as an associate gang member. All of her friends were involved as well. She also took part in illegal drugs and activities. While Keith fell into gang activity basically to be “cool”, Jo’s involvement came naturally in her neighborhood. “It was the lifestyle where I grew up,” she said. While her school was roughly 10 percent African American, more than half the school’s entire population was gang members. At the age of 16, Jo watched as her boyfriend and his younger brother, who was not involved in gangs, confront a rival gang member in her neighborhood. The rival gang member shot at her boyfriend, but killed his little brother instead. Jo’s grandmother, who raised her since an infant, died, and her world fell apart. She moved away from the area so gang members weren’t upset with her for leaving. As a single teenage mom, Jo eventually met Keith who worked laying carpet. They fell in love, and they moved to North Carolina, leaving all gang and illegal drug activities behind. The Ministry Keith and Jo both believe God brought them safely through their gang-related journey for a reason. Through His strength and love, they are now focusing their ministry on helping youth find alternatives to illegal behavior and addictions. Jo also addresses the issue of teenage pregnancy. They started going to church, and both have come a long way on their Christian walk. Keith even writes poems to share his thoughts and feelings. “We witness about the Lord and how He saved me,” said Keith. “The Bible tells us the Lord wants you fiery hot, not lukewarm, for Christ. That’s where we got the name Never Too Hot. We’re fighting the good fight for faith.” Keith’s minister at his Perquimans County church thinks of Keith as a modern day psalmist, wiring poetry about his experiences and his transformation with Christ in his life. “Keith and Jo bring credibility to the table when dealing with the gang issue,” Pastor Bill said. “They’ve been there, done that. They add another component to the dialogue ongoing through the schools, community, and law enforcement. They are helping to stir the pot up, all for the glory of God. They are a blessing. The minimum we can do is pray for them.” Never Too Hot offers intervention services to schools and organizations as well as workshops on recognizing, preventing, or slowing down gang activity in your neighborhoods. They will give their personal testimonies to youth groups, and Keith has even started meeting with gang members, gang wannabees, and gang associates in the street, offering them hope and alternatives. For Keith, his work in gang-related activities isn’t done to help get rid of gangs. He reaches out because he still finds love in his heart for the brotherhood. “Doing this, I’m caught in the middle between my family and my love for the brothers,” he said. “I’m not out there to lock them up. Locking them up won’t get rid of the gangs. It might save one or two of them, but the gangs will still be here. We just want to help educate, to help them. We just want to give kids a second chance.” “At the end of the day, we go home to our 90210 lifestyle,” he continued, “but, there are kids out there who are fighting for survival. Survival is the only thing they’ve got. A gang might be the only organized support system they have. Don’t turn your back on them. Don’t just say that you care, show them.” Would he have listened to someone or accepted help from a ministry when he was actively engaged in gang related activities in New York years ago? “I think it would have made it easier to listen if someone had been there,” he said. “If we can reach out and give them somewhere to turn, no matter what stage of gang life they are in, we can assist them in becoming an asset to the community.” Keith says indications show gang-related activities are occurring in Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Chowan counties. The operating gangs seem to be more organized now than in the past. Keith and Jo are trying to incorporate the Lower the Flag program into their ministry whereby gang members improve their school grades, abstain from illegal activities and drugs for four to six months. At the end of the program, successful participants turn in their gang colored clothing and Never Too Hot will buy new clothing for them. For more information about Never Too Hot, contact Keith and Jo at keith@nevertoohot.com or P.O. Box 72, Winfall. |
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