In the News
Pastor tells Anderson University Students to reach out to troubled teens
By Titus Ledbetter III
Anderson Independent (Independentmail.com)
Curtis Johnson speaks at a National Day of Outrage Against Youth Violence event at Anderson University.
(Photo by Nathan Gray)
Johnson, a Sunday morning gospel show host on WJMZ (107.3 JAMZ) radio, spoke at the university during an event to recognize the National Day of Outrage Against Youth Violence. He is pastor of Valley Brook Outreach Baptist Church in Pelzer. He said people are being conditioned to expect violence in their communities and that needs to be changed.
"The people we want to get the message to are not here," Johnson told the crowd. "We can see our roles in what needs to take place to make a change."
The event was sponsored by the Southeast Anderson Community Task Force, Fresh Start Community Development Corporation, Anderson University, the Anderson Branch of the NAACP, Men at Work Outreach Ministry, the Anderson Community Gang Task Force and the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the National Action Network.
More than 50 people come out for the event, said Horace Alexander Jr., president of the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the National Action Network and event organizer. Alexander said it was important to deal with violence because gang involvement plagues the community.
Johnson said troubled teens in the community are in a box where they have nothing to do and they turn to violence. He said Anderson University has a generation of young people who can help to influence those who have a negative effect on the community.
Bob Hanley, vice president for student development, said the university has been dedicated to getting the message out about how to end teen violence.
"By working together we hope we can make a difference with our young people," Hanley said. Jonathan Allsbrock, 19, of Spartanburg is an Anderson University student. He was impressed with JohnsonÕs speech.
"I became more aware of how our society is and the problems we have," he said. Jacob Saxon, 18, of Anderson said he attended the event to learn about how to help other people who are troubled. He said that he found out a lot about the cycle of violence.
Charlie Ervin, vice president of Men at Work Outreach Ministry, said he thought Johnson delivered a powerful message.
"He talked about the culture," Ervin said. "We have accepted a culture of violence. That needs to be turned around."