A London pastor who was ambushed in his car by an armed gang last October is to tell thousands of Christians this Sunday that the answer to ridding the capital of gun and knife crime lies in offering forgiveness and hope to the perpetrators.

The gang held guns against the heads of Pastor Ade Omooba, of the Christian Victory Group, and two colleagues as they sat in their car in New Cross, south London.

When the robbers demanded that the men hand over their money, phones and briefcases, Pastor Omooba gave them £250 in cash but told the young men “you are just like my own sons”.

He told the gang that they were pastors and cared about them and that they were robbing the very people trying offer help and hope. He also admitted to them that he needed the money to carry out his work in helping young people involved in crime but told them to take the money and share it out among themselves.

After the gang took the money and left the car, Pastor Omooba and his colleagues spent a few minutes praying for the men, who moments later returned to the car and handed the money back.

Pastor Omooba will share his testimony with Christians gathering for the Global Day of Prayer on Sunday. Global Day of Prayer London, of which Pastor Omooba is a trustee, is holding prayer events in each of the capital’s 33 boroughs.

Prayers will focus on London’s crime rate, the MPs’ expenses scandal and those affected by the credit crunch.

Pastor Omooba will tell Christians that at the point at which he was robbed he “felt so much compassion”.

“I said thank you … I just thought these boys were lost. They just wanted someone to care,” he will say.

Mr Omooba believes his experience shows that even armed gangs robbing are capable of redemption. He believes this should be the basis of regenerating London’s toughest communities and will urge Christians attending the GDOP events to change their attitudes towards perpetrators of crime.

Thousands of Christians are expected to turn out from GDOP prayer events taking place in parks, churches and venues across the capital on Pentecost Sunday.

London Mayor Boris Johnson will pay tribute to the vital role of churches in their communities in a video message to be broadcast to each of the events.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also publicly endorsed Global Day of Prayer and next month, senior church leaders from GDOP will join a special reception at No 11 Downing Street.

Global Day of Prayer London is part of a worldwide movement which mobilises over 250 million believers in 219 countries.


On the web: www.gdoplondon.com