DANVILLE, Va. — Richmond County native Robert David has combined his faith and gang prevention experience in a new book, released earlier this month.
In “Gangs vs. Kingdom: Battle for the Next Generation,” David “shares the wisdom and expertise he has acquired over the years and provides the groundwork for combating gang violence using basic moral principles, the concept of which, he asserts, are rooted in Christianity,” according to a press release.
David helped form the county’s first gang prevention task force along with Jason Graham when the two worked together as probation and parole officers, he said in an email. He currently works as currently serves as Danville, Virginia’s Youth and Gang Violence and Prevention coordinator.
A motivational speaker and ordained minister, David explains how tribes and societal organizations evolved into the gang units we know today by using Biblical text and examples from history.
According to David, a gang is not necessarily harmful by nature.
“In the Bible, groups were called tribes and references to them can be found as early as the book of Genesis,” he writes. “(T)he differentiating factor is tied to purpose.”
He says youth have become disenfranchised from their faith and find a sense of belonging in gangs.
The solution, according to David, is to create spaces within the church community away from “toxic media culture that aggrandizes violence.”
The book was made available on Amazon on Aug. 1.
For more information on David, visit www.RobertDavidLifeCoach.com.
