Residents Fight Back
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
Members of the Way World Outreach Ministry as they sing for the crowd of over three thousand San Bernardino residents.
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
A member of the Way World Outreach Ministry and volunteer for the Stop the Violence event as she dances with the crowds to the live music being performed.
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
The population of San Bernardino as they sing and dance to one of the many performances that the Stop the Violence event sponsored.
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
"The Robotic Man" performs for a crowd of excited San Bernardino residents. The crowd had to scream to help "restore" the functions half-way through to continue the performance.
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
San Bernardino residents and Stop the Violence volunteers sing and dance together throughout the event.
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
Crowds of listeners came to hear Pastor Marco Garcia speak about violence and taking back their streets. Garcia shared his story of childhood struggle and the his journey to the church.
Photo Courtesy of: Christian Shepherd
Stop the Violence volunteers shoot the crowd with water and candy as the sun comes out on the event. There were over 700 volunteers helping the ensure that the event went off without a hitch.
By Christian Shepherd
Community Writer
05/19/2014 at 12:49 PM
Over three thousand residents of San Bernardino stood up and fought back against violence in their community this passing Saturday, May 10, at the Stop the Violence festival, hosted by The Way World Outreach Ministry. The festival included live Christian music, games for families, Sno-Cone and popcorn booths, a kid’s zone with activities, and over 20 more booths from various organizations and businesses in the community.
The Way World Outreach Ministry (WWOM) has over three thousand members, 700 of which volunteered their time during the festival. The Ministry has extended this outreach to the community every year for the past ten years. This year's event was co-sponsored by Cathedral of Praise International Ministries based out of San Bernardino and led by Bishop Craig W. Johnson.
Despite the estimated three to five thousand attendees at this event, the WWOM had more of a grass roots start in the community ten years ago when they would go out to the streets of San Bernardino to help the community.
Although they have grown exponentially each year in size, their goal of serving the children in the inner city of San Bernardino has not faltered throughout the years.
“There is a group of people out here who love their kids. We need to stop this violence; we need to protect our kids,” says Pastor Marco Garcia.
The event had a money machine give-a-away, where residents were given the chance to grab as much money as they could in thirty seconds where a fan would blow cash around in a box with the resident inside of it. They also gave away multiple flat screen televisions, a fridge, and bicycles to names pulled from the raffle.
The WWOM opened their doors to those who would come for help. “We are offering you love. We are offering you change. We are offering you family. Come as you are, bring all of your problems,” Pastor Garcia compelled.
Garcia told his own story about his violent upbringing and his path to finding the church and God and criticized the activities on the streets of the city including drug use, gang activity, and prostitution which continue to destroy the youth in the inner city.
“The street teaches pride and pride ruins lives and ruins our legacy. I grew up without a father because of pride,” Garcia concludes. The WWOM will continue to work within the city of San Bernardino to stop violence in the community.
