Effectively Transforming a Community Affected by Crime and Violence: The Contextual Practice of Theology by the Church in Grey Ground Manchester, Jamaica

This study investigates the root causes of violent crime in the community of Grey Ground in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica. In order to do so, a Community Development Committee was formed with the mandate of determining the cause of crime. Having found the causes, the CDC sought ways in which to address them. The methods of addressing them varied: encouraging church attendance and political community and social interventions. Some of the ways used were through skills training, conflict management, evangelism, and the improvement of people through employment.
The study revealed that with the utilization of the intervention programmes there was significant lowering of crime, and many persons have not only surrendered to the power and working of the Holy Spirit, but lives have been changed, and persons now relate in love and understand the needs of others. There is also much evidence of respect for the person, property, and political allegiance of others. Among the recommendations proposed are that communities affected by violent crimes can be helped through both social and religious interventions, and that skills empowerment is likely to stem violence when people are employed.