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It is encouraging that 89 per cent of respondents felt that gun and knife crime was an issue that the church should address. This presents huge opportunities, and challenges, for the church to engage with disaffected young people across the country.

The church is already the biggest provider of youth services in the UK, beyond the statutory agencies, and has a vast network of people and premises, touching every community in this country. Our potential to reach young people who are affected by gang culture is enormous. It will require partnership working, with other churches, government, non-faith based groups and even other faiths – but on issues like this we must put our differences aside to work for the common good.

The upcoming edition of Faithworks Magazine includes a resource feature to help churches engage with the issues around violent crime, looking at the inspirational example of how one church in Peckham has reached out to its community in the wake of the far-reaching effects of gun crime. For more information visit www.faithworksmagazine.info

The upcoming Faithworks Conference (November 1-3) will also inspire, equip and resource Christians, projects and churches to engage with their communities to bring about sustainable transformation. Tickets are still available – visit www.faithworks.info/conference for more details.

Faithworks celebrates the work of Christians, churches and projects who are working to bring hope and sustainable transformation to the communities around them.