The devastating impact that gang culture, drug abuse and exploitation is having on lives is never far from the headlines. Something must change, so the No More County Lines tour is heading into high schools to show young people there is another way.
Through music, facts and stats and engaging lessons, our teams encourage and equip young people to make positive choices, and each tour culminates with a LIFT evangelistic gig where the gospel is boldly shared.
We were recently in Blackburn and Darwen and saw over 7,000 students in schools. In one school, after band NXT CHAPTR shared about the dangers of exploitation and gang crime, two young people told Evy that they’re now going to leave the gangs they’re in and start making positive decisions for their lives. Another young person shared, ‘I now know that my life is worth so much more than any gift I could be given by someone, and I know who I can talk to if I need help.’ What an important lesson to learn!
In another school, team member Emma got chatting to one student Gaby who she’d met previously during a No More Knives tour in 2021. Gaby said she’d loved the No More Knives concert and Emma was able to invite her to the evangelistic LIFT gig happening that week at Blackburn Cathedral. Gaby was so excited and invited along all of her mates. On the Friday night, she and six friends were there at the gig, had a great time hearing music from the bands and when the gospel was shared from the stage, they each responded! Straight afterwards, Gaby found Emma to say she’d accepted Jesus and asked for prayer that God would take away her anger and move in her life – how amazing!
Including Gaby and her mates, 295 young people came to the LIFT gig and 119 responded to the gospel, each getting to take home a Bible and being plugged into to local churches and youth groups to find out more about Jesus!
We can’t wait to take both the No More Knives and No More County Lines tours to more cities across the UK in coming months.
Find out more at message.org.uk/nomoreknives
