SNCGTF98/ AllRigthsReserved2011. Internet Resources&Studies

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2 Signs & Symbols of Faith Everyone in the Church community has a mandate to help those in the community who are broken-hearted, bruised or oppressed, and many at-risk youth, and young people are affiliated in gangs. Faith Prevention & Intervention Handbook Faith is the Prevention and Intervention Shield in and against all criminal activity by SOUTHERN NEVADA COMMUNITY GANG TASK FORCE Faith-Based, Community, & Partners Compiled by Chaplaincy Nevada SNCGTF98/ AllRigthsReserved2011 Internet Resources&Studies 2

3 Acknowledgement We give our special thanks to all those who have made this booklet possible. All information compiled was a collaborative effort of those individuals who are committed and dedicated to their community work, to our youth, and for their efforts of making our communities a safer place against the opposing elements of gangs, criminal activity, addictions, and juvenile delinquency. This handbook offers information on the existence and vital relationship between God and mankind, for all those who are hurting and in need, whatever faith an individual is rooted in. Faith is the key element in the relationship with God. God is in relationship with us through faith. Special thanks to all the SNCGTF partners and agencies, City, County, and State leaders, and Law Enforcement, Faith-base organizations, and Media who work together in a combined effort for the safety and betterment of our neighborhoods. Special Thanks to Chaplaincy Nevada community Chaplains handbook team. The funding of this book is made possible through private donations, and fundraising events. SNCGTF sncgtf@live.com P.O. Box LV NV

4 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Page 5: Prevention, Intervention, Faith Chapter 2: Page 6: The Need for Faith-base Chapter 3: Page 7: The Role of Faith Chapter 4: Page 9: Faith Practices Chapter 5: Page 10: Signs & Symbols of Faith Chapter 6: Page 12: Interfaith Chapter 7: Page 13: Interfaith Practices Chapter 8: Page 14: Major World Religions Chapter 9: Page 15: Christianity Chapter 10: Page 18: Judaism Chapter 11: Page 20: Islam Chapter 12: Page 22: Buddhism Chapter 13: Page 23: Hinduism 4

5 Chapter 1 Prevention and Intervention of Faith What is prevention and Intervention of Faith? 1. Positive Action 2. Parents, Community, and Faith-based Organizations 3. Treatment Programs for youth and adults 4. Love, Faith, and Hope Relationships 5. Mentorship, and Re-Entry Programs Faith Moves Mountains. Faith Creates Miracles. Faith Can Enter Places Where Flesh Can Not Faith Is Free, $0 Cost. Faith Transforms Positive actions and partnerships of faith-based communities reaching people with the Power of Love and Prayer. Faith is a central tenet of contemporary religions that concern for the poor, and children are critical issues to be addressed. 5

6 Chapter 2 The Need for Faith-base There is always a need for faith-based organizations to combat youth issues, such as gang involvement. The playing field for faith-based organizations to provide services in the community is huge. Involving the faith based community can also help cities and states with, faith-base services, rehabilitative services, re-entry programs, mentorship s, and treatment centers geared to the needs of their youth and families, holds the offenders responsible for their actions, and can help to influence positive structure of hope, growth, guidance, and relationships. It is important to understand the faith-based need to help provide education and information to our state and leaders, with the answer, It Is suitable and acceptable to partner secular services with Non Profit organizations, and 501c3 community faith-base for providing the resources and services to the most vulnerable in the community. With secular inclusion of faith based organization s it provides the faithbased community the opportunities and relationships while fulfilling their purpose, which is to serve others and increase its role in serving its community at large Together the community faith-based organizations, and government can help improve the lives of youth, juveniles, offenders and families. Developing and demonstrating positive programs with focused objectives while creating positive results. With effective goals and efficiency, the difference between church and state, should be become less important. The core remains to see that the lives of our youth become more improved, and the community resources and services grow in gaining positive outcomes. Combining the joint effort of churches, synagogues, mosques, businesses, and government this can help convince that proper help is provided to the individuals within the community who legitimately cannot meet their own basic human needs, and for those who hunger for spiritual guidance. 6

7 Chapter 3 The Role of Faith Prevention: An action, which stops something from happening. Intervention: An act of intervening, in order to prevent undesirable consequences. Faith: A system of religious belief, a belief in and devotion to God Many reports show that people who belong to a religious group, young and old, and use faith practices are less likely to begin using substances, join gangs, drink alcohol, than their counterparts who were less conscious of religion in their decision-making. Those who have participated in surveys, and treatment programs indicated that religious beliefs play an important role in their decision-making process. Faith-based, and community grassroots organizations can be effective partners in efforts to prevent, intervene, and neutralize juvenile delinquency, especially gang-related crime. The role of faith comes into play with gang prevention and intervention. For the most part, its more about the individual's faith and hopes that things could get better, and that they could be encouraged towards making a positive difference in their life and others. The possibility and hope in transforming negative energy that the individual had in the gang, to a "non-threatening" positive energy to helping others. Abraham is called the father of faith, and he was justified before God because he showed in his life that nothing was more precious to him than to have faith and trust in God. It is important to be steadfast in faith because the resulting strength received will help you through your trials in life. 7

8 When researching your greatest resource is your books of faith, (one example) the Holy Bible, there are 3 key elements to look for, 1. Look at the literal meaning 2. Think on how the words apply to society at large as a general principle 3. Reflect it s meaning on your own life as an individual. Children are tomorrow s future, and we are responsible to inspire and instill within the youth a desire to fulfill their potential in life with a sense of dignity, honor, respect and destiny. Each person in the faithbased community is an instrument of God to be utilized as a child s prevention and intervention source. Our obligation to God is to go forward in love, faith, and hope. To work from our hearts, to volunteer our time, to give from our souls. These things should be done without the goal and expectation of payments, and competition/application of grants. There is nothing wrong with having the ability to receive the funding for necessary operations, the key is to remember we must stay focused, for when our work and focal point is about getting a piece of the pie, then the real issue of community service, and servants becomes lost, and society suffers. A vital component of the community is the faith base community, which uses their passion in God to help make a difference in the world. Don t try and convince others that your faith is good and right, but use your own faith to empower others, and to help others where they once needed the help. 8

9 Chapter 4 Faith & Practices Faith helps you grow your relationship and love in God, and love of people. Faith practices include; -Prayer and Communication -Scripture and Bible Studies -Sharing your Faith -Serving and Worship -Church and Community -Stewardship, Time, Talent, and Resources -Family and Home -Becoming an Example of Gods Righteousness These practices will help you and your family to grow and move closer in your relationship with God. Faith practices allow God to change your heart to be more like His. These practices can lead you and your family to allow God to use your lives, your resources, and your time in helping others move closer to Him and to participate in the work He is already doing. The practice of faith is like developing any relationship. You have to give it time and attention. Faith requires you to see, hear, feel, and constantly remember who your partner is, and knowing that partner is Almighty God. Have confidence in the relationship's viability, even when you are facing the enemy, the unknown, and doubting in yourself. Faith cannot be seen as a viable product, it s not just something you have, it s a spiritual and spirit fed life, and a relationship. It involves an awareness of and an attunement to God's presence in our everyday experiences and existence. 9

10 Chapter 5 Signs & Symbols of Faith Interfaith Symbols 10

11 Religious Symbols Cont. Christian Cross Judaism Muslim Buddhist Bahai Hindu American Indian Church Mormon Angel Moroni 11

12 Chapter 6 Interfaith Faith is to trust. To commit oneself, to act based on self experience to warrant belief, but without absolute proof. Mere belief on the basis of evidence is not faith. To have faith involves an act of will. Faith is the development of pathways through doubt. Interfaith The term interfaith refers to cooperative and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions, at both the individual and institutional level with the aim of deriving a common ground in belief through a concentration on similarities between faiths. It is distinct from syncretism or alternative religion, in that dialogue often involves promoting understanding between different religions to increase "tolerance" towards others, rather than to synthesize new beliefs. The history of religion shows that conflict has been more the state of affairs than dialogue. Interfaith actions, are persons adhering to different religions. 12

13 Chapter 7 Interfaith Practices Relate to others as equal partners in the search for truth Recognize that listening as well as speaking is necessary for a genuine conversation. Remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words." Treasure the sense of wonder that comes with encountering the new, the unusual and the surprising. Record such experiences in a journal if possible Be hungry for knowledge about the other person's culture and religion. Learn to understand what others actually believe and value. Moreover, allow them to express their beliefs and values in their own terms. This does mean that we cannot, with experience and knowledge, challenge other people's cultural values Be honest in sharing your beliefs and do not try to water them down to accommodate. Other people see through this and lose respect for you Do not misrepresent or disparage other peoples' beliefs and practices Be aware of your own need for ongoing conversion to your own professed beliefs. Remember, it is not our job to convert others to our beliefs, but to be faithful to our own faith Respond to others as a gift, not as a threat Be sensitive to vulnerable people and do not try to exploit them Our differences can make a difference; therefore rejoice in the richness of our diversities. 13

14 Chapter 8 Major World Religions Faith and The Golden Rule The golden rule is endorsed by all the great world religions Do onto others as you would wish them do onto you. The golden rule may be an important moral and ethical truth. Knowledge, imagination, and the golden rule, can progress far in our moral thinking. An ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment A responsibility to ensure justice for others. Christianity: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31 Judaism: "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", Leviticus 19:18 "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. Talmud, Shabbat 31a. "And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 Islam: "None of you believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths. Buddhism: "a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353 Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana-Varga 5:18 Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Mahabharata 5:

15 Chapter 9 Christianity The signs and symbols of the Christian religion is the cross. The cross is a symbol of Jesus' death which repesents eternal life. The fish represents that God was the fisher of men. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Ghost. Jesus, also known as Christ is the only man who ever lived and claimed that he was the Son of God, and told people that whoever believed in him would never die, but have eternal life in heaven. The gift of eternal salvation is free, however, you must repent (turn away) from sin to be forgiven, and then are filled with the Spirit, which is also known as being Born Again, or Saved. In Christianity, Jesus is also known to be the Transformation of the Heart, who has the ability to transform and convert the heart and soul of a human over to faith in God, through his redeeming love. The Holy Spirit brings us the truth and wisdom of Christ, and Christ crosses us over to God the Father. For Christians, Jesus is the best prevention and intervention into a persons life. He is known as the lifesaving medicine and bandaid for healing all wounds. Through a personal and growing relationship with Jesus and His Gospel, Christ offers effective prevention methods. 15

16 Prevention: is tackeling the issue before it becomes a problem. Parents teach your children about faith at a early age, become proactive as a family united at home and church. Develop a right relationship with your children through faith with the Lord. Nurture and help develop your children through love and discipline. train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 The most important and powerful education we can give to our children, is the knowledge of God. The home should be a place of safety, love and comfort, support and rules of responsibility. Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul" Proverbs 29:17 The Seven Keys for Raising Godly Children 1: Purpose 2: Planning 3: Love 4: Instruction 5: Authority 6: Motivation 7: Consistency Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth Ephesians 6:1-4 Intervention: Juvenile crime is quickly moving toward becoming one of America''s leading concerns. In fact, former President Clinton at the end of 1995 declared juvenile violent crime to be the country''s most serious crime problem. Disguised behind hardened, angry faces lies both America''s biggest threat, and the Church''s greatest opportunity. My people perish for lack of knowledge Hosea 4:6 16

17 While youth ministry is not specifically mentioned in Scripture, perhaps the most relevant verse for troubled youth ministry was written by Paul in I Cor. 4:15, "Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel" Just as it was clear to Paul that the Corinthians had a bigger need for a father, much more than another teacher, the problem seems to remain with todays troubled youth. This verse in Corinthians seems to lay the groundwork for a basic paradigm of effective ministry to juvenile offenders. Because one in two children now grow up without a father in the United States, and in our inner cities only one in five children live with their father, a whole new approach to youth ministry has become necessary. It is best described by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, I Cor. 4:15: Paul knew that these people did not need another teacher, their needs were much deeper, they needed a father. One can''t be a father to everybody, but Paul knew that God was calling him to be a father to some people in Corinth. The commands of Jesus, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength You shall love your neighbor as yourself Go and make disciples of all nations Baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Faith is the Prevention and Intervention shield in, and against all criminal activity. 17

18 Chapter 10 Judaism The Star of David is a six-pointed star made up of two triangles superimposed over each other. In Judaism it is often called the Magen David, which means the "shield of David" in Hebrew. The symbol is most commonly associated with the Jewish people. The menorah is the oldest symbol of the nation of Israel and the mission to be "a light unto the nations. Judaism is a religion developed among the ancient Hebrews and characterized by belief in one transcendent God who has revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions. Followers of the Torah, the five books of Moses constituting the Pentateuch, the body of wisdom and law contained in Jewish Scripture and other sacred literature and oral tradition. Judaism is an Abrahamic religion (a faith that recognizes Abraham as a Patriarch) Major religions that trace their roots back to Abraham are, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Baha'i Faith. The three Jewish patriarchs are: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses was the next major leader of the ancient Israelites. 18

19 Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith God exists. God is one and unique. God is incorporeal. God is eternal. Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other. The words of the prophets are true. Moses was the greatest of the prophets, and his prophecies are true. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah were given to Moses. There will be no other Torah. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men. God will reward the good and punish the wicked. The Messiah will come. The dead will be resurrected Faith is the Prevention and Intervention shield in and against all criminal activity. 19

20 Chapter 11 Islam Star and crescent is used as a symbol of Islam. Many Muslim countries like Pakistan, Turkey and Algeria use this symbol in their flags. Islam is the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet. Followers of the Koran, the book composed of sacred writings accepted by Muslims as revelations made to Muhammad by Allah through the angel Gabriel. Islam was founded in 610 A.D, by the prophet Muhammad Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah Muhammad is the messenger of Allah The Five Pillars of Islam The shahadah, which is the basic creed or tenet of Islam Salah, or ritual prayer, that must be performed five times a day. Zakat, or alms-giving. Sawm, or fasting during the month of Ramadan. The Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca during the Islamic month of Dhu al-hijjah 20

21 The Message of Allah is to, Perform Prayers Pay Zakat Fast in Ramadan Pilgrimage to the House, City of Mecca An adherent of Islam is a Muslim, meaning "one who submits to God" The religion is articulated by the Quran. Religious practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five duties that unite Muslims into a community. Faith is the Prevention and Intervention shield in, and against all criminal activity. 21

22 Chapter 12 Buddhism The Buddhism symbol is the Dharma wheel, one of its most common symbols. The wheel of Dharma is usually the image used to identify the Buddhist religion. It's basically a chariot wheel with 8 spokes. Buddha who is the founder of the Buddhist religion is also called Buddha Shakyamuni. Born as a royal prince in 563 BCE to 483 BCE in a place called Lumbini originally in northern India. Census offices and public opinion pollsters generally include Buddhism as one of the major religions. Books that describe the religions of the world generally list Buddhism as a religion along with Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, etc. The Government of Canada denies registration of religious charities unless they teach the belief in one or more Gods or Goddesses. However, they allow Buddhist faith groups to register, even though they do not teach the existence of a deity. The Buddha intended his philosophy to be a practical one, aimed at the happiness of all creatures. Teaching is contained in the Noble Eightfold Path, which covers the three essential areas of Buddhist practice: ethical conduct, mental discipline and wisdom. The goals are to cultivate both wisdom and compassion; then these qualities together will enable one ultimately to attain enlightenment. Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship Faith is the Prevention and Intervention shield in, and against all criminal activity. 22

23 Chapter 13 Hinduism The Hindu Symbol is Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning. It represents several important triads: * The three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven * The three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva * The three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama Thus Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. This meaning is further deepened by the Indian philosophical belief that God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most sacred sound, Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together. The syllable is discussed in a number of the Upanishads, which are the texts of philosophical speculation, and it forms the entire subject matter of one, the Mandukya. 23

24 Quote AUM is a bow; the arrow is the self, And Brahman (Absolute Reality) is said to be the mark. Quote The essence of all beings is the earth. The essence of the earth is water. The essence of water is the plant. The essence of the plant is man. The essence of man is speech. The essence of speech is the Rigveda. The essence of Rigveda is the Samveda. The essence of Samveda is OM. Faith is the Prevention and Intervention shield in, and against all criminal activity. 24

25 This Handbook Belongs To: Phone: My Goals Pevention: Intervention: Faith: 25

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27 Signs & Symbols of Faith Faith is the Prevention and Intervention Shield in and against all criminal activity We hope you enjoyed this informative handbook on the importance of faith and community. We chose 5 of the worlds major religions as examples. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism The purpose of this handbook was to identify the services, relationships and necessary functions for working between community, faith-based organizations, and state for the prevention and intervention goals of our youth, families, and community. Information Compiled by Chaplaincy Nevada (MOFM Christian Outreach) SNCGTF98/2011 Internet Resources&Studies 27

28 28 Information Compiled by Chaplaincy Nevada (MOFM Christian Outreach) SNCGTF/2011

29 29 MOFM ChaplaincyNevada