Indianapolis has gained a reputation for violence, with homicides occurring almost every day. While many residents are concerned, religious establishments in these areas are trying their best to do community outreach.
In October of 2014, Troy Riggs, Director of Indianapolis’ Department of Public Safety (DPS), deemed six areas in Indianapolis as “focus areas” because of high crime. These areas include the intersections West 16th Street and North Tibbs Avenue, West 29th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, West 34th Street and North Illinois Street, East 38th Street and North Sherman Drive, East New York Street and North Sherman Drive, and East 42nd Street and North Post Road.
“Unfortunately too often, cities have reacted with short term responses,” Riggs said. “Short term obviously isn’t working. It’s not necessarily a crime plan, but a quality of life plan.”
Keith McQueen, ® senior pastor at the Powerhouse Church of Deliverance, said crime is so high in these areas because there is a lack of positive options.
“If you see something all the time you’ll think it’s normal until someone comes along and shows you it is possible for you to achieve greater goals and experience a life of righteousness and peace and joy,” McQueen said.
Powerhouse Church of Deliverance is closest to the East New York Street and North Sherman Drive intersection. According to the DPS Focus Areas, initial analysis data from 2013 to August 2014, this area had a 73 percent rate of criminal homicides compared to just 23 percent in Indianapolis as a whole.
Additionally, this focus area has a 431 percent rate of non-fatal shootings, compared to 87 percent non-fatal shootings in Indianapolis as a whole.
Although there are a high amount of crimes in these areas, religious establishments try to help in different ways.
Pastor McQueen’s church has community outreach efforts, including GED training, tutoring, an annual community day and more.
Thomas Griffith, pastor at Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Church, said his church has many youth outreach efforts, such as a community choir, the H.O.P.E project which provides mentors and their annual community day, where they give out school supplies and have community activities.
Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Church is closest to the East 38th Street and North Sherman Drive focus area. According to the same DPS data report, 22.86 percent of residents in this area do not have a high school diploma, compared to only 15.57 percent of Indianapolis’ total population.
Additionally, of the juvenile crimes committed in this area, 20.85 percent of these are felony offense charges and 60.3 are misdemeanor charges.
Despite the data, Griffith said outreach to adults is sometimes more difficult.
“When you’re dealing with adults, you’re dealing with individuals pretty much set in their ways,” he said. “The primary solution we have found is the transformative power of the gospel.”
Riggs said while DPS needs to be focused on arresting and prosecuting, they also need to be focused on helping.
“We need to help them when they come out,” he said. “Prison is not a trap door. If we have not given them any skills or any assistance, the great majority who want to change their lifestyle don’t have that opportunity.”
Riggs also said while DPS has a role in this initiative, religious establishments and community organizations make a big impact.
“Quite frankly if it weren’t for faith-based communities, these issues could be deeper,” he said.
McQueen said churches must go to the people. He explained that he was exposed to a lot during his childhood, and someone from a church turned his life around.
“Somebody came to me and showed me it is possible to live an abundant life,” he said.
Since the DPS focus area initiative has been announced, Riggs said homicides have been down 35 percent, but there is still progress to be made.
“I am optimistic long-term that these areas will improve and that Hoosiers and our state will benefit long-term,” Riggs said.
