Wendy: TONIGHT ON
"NEWSWATCH," A DIFFICULT
FIRST TRIP FOR THE NEW
DEFENSE SECRETARY.
A LOOK AT WHAT CHUCK HAGEL
WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ON
HIS FIRST VISIT TO
AFGHANISTAN.
PLUS, CHRISTIANS IN PAKISTAN
ARE SPEAKING OUT AFTER AN
ATTACK BY MUSLIMS.
WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT STARTED
THE VIOLENCE THAT DESTROYED
NEARLY 200 HOMES.
AND SEE HOW A GROUP CALLED
GRIP IS TACKLING GANG
VIOLENCE IN THE WINDY CITY.
ALL OF THIS AND MUCH MORE
TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH"
"NEWSWATCH."
IT WAS A DEADLY DAY IN
AFGHANISTAN.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, I'M
WENDY GRIFFITH.
ANOTHER SO-CALLED INSIDER
ATTACK AS TAKEN THE LIVES OF
TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND
THREE AFGHAN POLICEMEN.
IT HAPPENED WHEN AN AFGHAN
POLICE OFFICER OPENED FIRE
INSIDE A POLICE STATION
WHERE U.S. TROOPS WERE
VISITING.
THE SHOOTING TODAY IN WARDAK
PROVINCE IS THE LATEST IN A
STRING OF INSIDER ATTACKS
AGAINST COALITION AND AFGHAN
FORCES, AND IT COMES JUST
ONE DAY AFTER A DEADLINE
GIVEN BY AFGHANS FOR U.S.
SPECIAL FORCES TO WITHDRAW
FROM THAT PROVINCE.
THAT ROUND OF VIOLENCE ALSO
COMES ON THE HEELS OF A
VISIT FROM AMERICAS NEW
DEFENSE SECRETARY.
CHUCK HAGEL LEFT AFGHANISTAN
THIS MORNING AFTER A
DIFFICULT TRIP, ONE THAT WAS
MARRED BY VIOLENCE AND A
SURPRISING VERBAL ATTACK
FROM AMERICA'S SUPPOSED ALI,
HAMID KARZAI.
DALE HERD HAS THE STORY.
Reporter: HAGEL'S TRIP
TO AFGHANISTAN WAS RIDDLED
WITH BOMBINGS, SECURITY
THREATS, AND POLITICAL
GRIDLOCK AND A BIZARRE
ACCUSATION FROM THE AFGHAN
PRESIDENT.
KARZAI SAID HE WAS WORKING
WITH A PLAN TO KEEP TROOPS
IN AFGHANISTAN.
I TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT
IT WAS NOT TRUE, THAT THE
UNITED STATES WAS
UNILATERALLY WORKING WITH
THE TALIBAN IN TRYING TO
NEGOTIATE ANYTHING.
I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS WHERE
WE ARE AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN
AND HOPEFULLY WHERE WE'RE
GOING TOGETHER.
Reporter: U.S.
OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO
EXPLANATION FOR KARZAI'S
REMARKS, AND INSISTS THERE
ARE NO BACK-CHANNEL TALKS
WITH THE TALIBAN.
AND ALSO DOCTOR HIS FIRST
AFGHAN TRIP, HAGEL HAD TO
DEAL WITH A SERIES OF
VIOLENT ATTACKS.
A JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE WAS
CANCELLED DUE TO CONCERNS
ABOUT SECURITY.
THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT SAYS
TWO SUICIDE BOMBERS KILLED
17 PEOPLE ON SATURDAY.
THERE ARE ABOUT 66,000 U.S.
TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN, AND
COMBAT FORCES ARE SCHEDULED
TO BE FULLY WITHDRAWN BY THE
END OF NEXT YEAR.
BUT KARZAI APPARENTLY THINKS
THE U.S. IS WORKING WITH THE
TALIBAN TO KEEP THE NUMBER
OF TALIBAN ATTACKS UP IN
ORDER TO KEEP U.S. TROOPS
IN.
DALE HERD, CBN NEWS.
Wendy: AND FOR MORE ON
THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY STEVE
BUCCI, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
ALLISON CENTER FOR FOREIGN
POLICY STUDIES A AT THE
HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
STEVEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
THANK YOU.
IT IS MY PLEASURE.
Wendy: PRESIDENT KARZAI
ACCUSED THE U.S. OF
COLLUDING WITH THE TALIBAN.
HOW MUCH STRAIN DOES THAT
PUT ON U.S.-AFGHAN
RELATIONS?
THERE IS A LOT OF
POLITICAL THEATER GOING ON
RIGHT NOW, AND THAT KIND OF
COMMENT IS REALLY UNHELPFUL
ON HIS PART.
I WISH PRESIDENT KARZAI
WOULD STOP DOING THAT SORT
OF THING.
Wendy: IT OBVIOUSLY PUT
HAGEL IN AN AWKWARD
POSITION.
WAS HE MORE CAUTIOUS DURING
HIS MEETING WITH KARZAI, AND
WAS THAT THE RIGHT
APPROACH?
I THINK HE PROBABLY WAS
MORE CAUTIOUS, NOT JUST
BECAUSE OF THAT COMMENT, BUT
BECAUSE HIS OWN POSITIONS
ARE A LITTLE OUT OF WHACK
WITH THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
GOING ON.
AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL GET
SETTLED IN HERE, NOW THAT HE
IS CONFIRMED, AND WE'LL BE
ABLE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS
TO DO THIS DISENGAGEMENT
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
ALREADY DECIDED ON IN AS
SENSIBLE A WAY AS POSSIBLE.
Wendy: STEVEN, WHAT DO
YOU THINK HAGEL'S MAIN
MISSION WAS THERE?
AND DID HE SUCCEED?
WELL, I THINK HIS MAIN
MISSION WAS, OBVIOUSLY, TO
GO SEE THE TROOPS, TO TRY TO
MAKE SOME SORT OF CONNECTION
AS THEIR NEW LEADER, AS THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, BUT TO
TAKE A MEASURE OF HAMID
KARZAI FOR HIMSELF, TO TRY
TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP,
AND PARTICULARLY, HOPEFULLY,
GET THIS BAN THAT KARZAI HAS
PUT ON THE USE OF OUR
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN
AND AROUND WARDAK PROVINCE,
WHICH IS VERY, VERY
PROBLEMATIC.
Wendy: THIS WAS, OF
COURSE, HAGEL'S FIRST TRIP
IN HIS NEW ROLE.
HOW DOES THIS SET THE TONE
FOR HIM AS DEFENSE
SECRETARY?
I WOULD SAY HE MAY BE HAD
A SINGLE OUT OF IT.
DEFINITELY NOT A HOMERUN.
IT WAS KIND OF LOW KEY.
THEY GOT SOME PUSHBACK FROM
THE TALIBAN, WHICH THEN
KARZAI SAID WASN'T REALLY
THE TALIBAN, TALKING ABOUT
THE BOMBINGS THAT OCCURRED.
THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE
TRYING TO COLLUDE WITH THE
UNITED STATES TO GET THEM TO
STAY LONGER.
THERE WAS SORT OF A LOT OF
MIXED MESSAGES COMING OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT
PROBABLY HOPED THAT
MR. HAGEL'S VISIT WAS A
LITTLE MORE OF A SUCCESS
THAN IT WAS.
Wendy: AND JUST A
REMINDER, WHEN IS THE EXIT
DATE FOR U.S. TROOPS OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN?
IS THERE ONE?
WELL, DEPENDING ON HOW
YOU READ IT, IT WILL BE
SOMETIME DURING 2014.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THE PRESIDENT
WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO
ACCELERATE THAT DEPARTURE.
AND, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
IT SEEMS LIKE KARZAI IS NOT
DOING TOO MUCH TO TRY TO
SLOW IT DOWN.
BUT THOSE WITH A MILITARY
BACKGROUND ARE LOOKING AT IT
AND SAYING YOU REALLY DON'T
WANT TO RUSH THIS ANY FASTER
THAN WE NEED TO.
WHILE WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO
SEE OUR TROOPS COME HOME,
AND COME HOME SAFELY, IF WE
DON'T DO THIS RIGHT, WE
COULD END UP HAVING JUST AS
BIG A MESS THERE AS WE HAD
BEFORE 9/11.
Wendy: STEVEN BUCCI
WITH THE HERITAGE
FOUNDATION, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.
THANK YOU.
IT IS MY PLEASURE.
Wendy: AND al-QAEDA
GROUP IS CLAIMING
RESPONSIBLE FOR 38 SYRIAN
SOLDIERS' DEATHS.
THE ATTACKS SUGGEST A
POSSIBLE COORDINATION
BETWEEN al-QAEDA'S IRAQ
BRANCH AND ITS ALLIES IN
SYRIA, FIGHTING ON THE SIDE
OF THE REBELS.
PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS ARE
CALLING FOR JUSTICE AFTER A
MUSLIM MOB ATTACKED A
CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORHOOD IN
LAHORE.
THIS WAS THE SEEN AFTER
HUNDREDS OF RAMPAGING
MUSLIMS TORE THROUGH THE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
DESTROYING ABOUT 170 HOMES.
THE MOB WAS FUELED BY THE
ARREST OF A CHRISTIAN MAN ON
CHARGES HE BLESSPHAMIED
MOHAMMED.
SUNDAY THEY MARCHED IN THE
STREETS OF ISLAMABAD AND
OTHER CITIES, CALLING ON THE
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT
MINORITIES.
OF COURSE, IT IS QUITE
CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF
PAKISTAN HAS FAILED TO
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE
MINORITIES.
THE MINORITIES ARE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS THEIR JOB AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT
THEM.
AND IF 200 HOUSES HAVE BEEN
BURNED IN THE PRESENCE OF
THE POLICE, THAT IS CLEARLY
AN INDICATION THAT IT IS NOT
THE GOVERNMENT TAKING CARE
OF THE MINORITIES.
Wendy: BLASPHEMY
CARRIES THE DEATH PENALTY.
THAT IS OFTEN USED TO
PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS.
THOSE WHO STAND UP AGAINST
THE LAWS ALSO RISK THEIR
LIVES.
SHABAB BODI WAS MURDERED
AFTER PROTESTING PAKISTAN'S
BLASPHEMY LAWS.
FOR MORE ON THIS, WE'RE
JOINED BY SENIOR
CORRESPONDENT GARY LANE.
GARY, HOW ARE THESE
BLASPHEMY LAWS IMPACTING
CHRISTIANS?
ARE THEY AFRAID TO TALK
ABOUT THEIR FAITH?
YEAH, THEY ARE AFRAID TO
TALK ABOUT THEIR FAITH.
IF THEY SPEAK ABOUT IT, THEY
GET KILLED, OR AT THE VERY
LEAST, THEY'RE THREATENED OR
INTIMIDATED OR THROWN IN
JAIL.
THEY'RE HESITANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE TRUTH AND SPEAK
OUT ABOUT THE HORRIBLE LAWS
OR AR ARCHAIC LAWS.
BUT IT'S -- MANY TIMES IT IS
USED AGAINST CHRISTIANS JUST
AS A PLOY.
Wendy: WHY DO YOU THINK
THERE ISN'T MORE PUBLIC
OUTRAGE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY?
I THINK THE INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA CONSIDERS THIS JUST,
OH, THIS IS JUST SECTARIAN
VIOLENCE, CHRISTIANS AND
MUSLIMS GOING AT IT AGAIN.
BUT THEY NEED TO SEE THIS AS
A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.
THESE ARE POOR CHRISTIANS,
MOST OF THEM ARE JUST STREET
SWEEPERS, AND FARMER
LABORERS, AND THESE MOBS
WILL COME AFTER THEM SIMPLY
ON A RUMOR THAT SOMEONE DID
SOMETHING.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AT
ALL.
AND MANY TIMES THESE CASES
ARE THROWN OUT BY THE HIGHER
COURTS BECAUSE THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE.
Wendy: YOU WOULD THINK
THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF NOT
JUST LEGAL RIGHT, BUT A
SPIRITUAL RIGHT TO PERSECUTE
THESE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE SO-CALLED BLAS
PHAMIED MOHAMMED?
THEY GO OUT AND RAMPAGE
THROUGH THE STREETS, AND
STEAL WHAT THEY CAN FROM THE
HOMES OF THE CHRISTIANS, AND
THEN SET THEM ON FIRE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
Wendy: WHAT IS THE
LATEST ON THE MOM WHO IS
FACING THE DEATH SENTENCE?
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR
HER APPEAL TO GO TO A HIGHER
COURT.
THE COURT HAS BEEN HESITANT
TO ACCEPT THE CASE AT THIS
TIME BECAUSE OF THE
INTIMIDATION AGAIN.
AND AT THE LOWER COURT
LEVEL, JUDGES ARE BRIBED AND
INTIMIDATED.
HIGHER COURT LEVEL, LESS
LIKELY.
IT IS A MATTER OF SOMEONE
WITH COURAGE COMING FORWARD
AND SAYING, WE'LL EXCEPT
THI ACCEPT THIS CASE, AND
LOOKING THAT THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE AND THROWING IT
OUT.
Wendy: HOW CAN WE AS
CHRISTIANS HELP THESE
PEOPLE?
THE FIRST THING THEY SAY
IS PRAY.
PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE US
STRENGTH TO ENDURE THIS
PERSECUTION.
NOT THAT HE'LL FREE US FROM
IT, BUT TO ENDURE IT.
THE OTHER THING IS TO
SUPPORT THOSE GROUPS LIKE
"THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS"
THAT HELP THESE PEOPLE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT IN THE
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITHOUT
ANY HOUSING.
THEY NEED HOW.
175 FAMILIES.
Wendy: THE BIBLE SAYS
PRAY FOR THOSE IN CHAINS.
TENSIONS ARE HIGH AT SOUTH
KOREA AND THE U.S. BEGIN
THEIR MILITARY DRILLS.
IT INVOLVES 10,000 SOUTH
KOREAN AND 3,000 AMERICAN
TROOPS.
IT COMES AFTER NORTH KOREA
NULLIFIED THE AGREEMENT THAT
STARTED BACK IN 1953.
THEY PILED THREAT ON TYPE OF
THREAT, AND VOWED TO LAUNCH
A NUCLEAR STRIKE ON THE
U.S.
SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAY
U.S. TROOPS IN SOUTH KOREA
ARE MEANT TO PREVENT NORTH
KOREAN AGGRESSION.
COMING UP, CATHOLIC
CARDINALS PREPARE FOR THE
CONCLAVE AS MANY IN THE
WORLD WONDER WHO WILL BE THE
NEXT POPE.
Wendy: CATHOLIC
CARDINALS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD ARE NOW IN ROME FOR
THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A NEW
POPE.
THE DOORS OF THE SISTINE
CHAPEL WILL CLOSE TOMORROW
FOR THE ELECTION PROCESS TO
BEGIN.
THERE IS SAID TO BE NO CLEAR
FRONT-RUNNER, BUT SOME OF
THE SAME NAMES KEEP COMING
UP IN ALL OF THE
SPECULATION.
EPHRAIM GRAHAM REPORTS.
LET US PRAY FOR THE HOLY
SPIRIT TO CHOOSE A NEW POPE
WHO WILL CONFIRM US IN OUR
FAITH.
Reporter: THE 115
CARDINALS MET MONDAY FOR ONE
LAST TIME, TO HEAR SPEECHES
AND DISCUSS ISSUES.
THOSE DELIBERATIONS END
TUESDAY, WHEN THE CONCLAVE
BEGINS INSIDE THE SISTINE
CHAPEL.
EVERYBODY BUT THE
CARDINALS OUT OF HERE WILL
SEE THOSE DOORS CLOSED.
NO CAMERAS INSIDE.
AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR ALL OF THE CHURCH TO
BEGIN PRAYING AND TO ASK THE
HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP GUIDE
THESE MEN IN THEIR
SELECTION.
Reporter: THAT
SELECTION IS SAID TO BE WIDE
OPEN AS CARDINALS DEBATE
WHETHER THE NEXT POPE SHOULD
BE SOMEONE WITH CHARISMA TO
ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS, OR A
MANAGER TO OVERHAUL THE
CHURCH IN A TIME OF SEX
ABUSE SCANDALS AND
DISARRAY.
REPORTS FROM ROME POINT TO
SEVERAL CAMPS INSIDE.
ITALY HAS THE LARGEST GROUP
OF ELECTORS, AND ONE ITALIAN
NEWSPAPER SAYS CARDINAL ANGELA
SKOLA IS MENTIONED.
AND THERE IS STILL THE
POSSIBILITY OF AN AMERICAN
POPE.
LIKE CARDINAL TIM TIMOTHY
DOLAN OF NEW YORK.
A WEEK AGO, WE WOULD HAVE
SAID, WOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
BUT NOW YOU SEE A SENSE OF
RESIGNATION AND TRUST AND
FAITH.
Reporter: AND SEAN
O'MALLEY IS AMONG THE
AMERICAN NAMES BEING
MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE
CONTENDER.
AF GRAEPHRAIM GRAHAM, CBN
NEWS.
Wendy: VENEZUALA PEOPLE
ARE CONSIDERING THEIR FUTURE
AFTER HUGO CHAVEZ SUCCUMBED
TO CANCER.
CATHOLICS AND EVANGELICALS
HELD PRAYER VIGILS FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
THE RELATION BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE CHURCH
WERE OFTEN STRAINED UNDER
CHAVEZ, THE HEAD OF THE
EVANGELICAL COUNCIL
EXPRESSED OPTIMISM ABOUT THE
FUTURE.
WE'RE EXPECTING WE CAN
CONTINUE AND WE CAN BE
INVOLVED IN SOME WAY IN THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS AS
CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED A TRANSFORMATION OF
OUR SOCIETY, AND WE NEED TO
TRUST THAT THE LORD WILL
CHANGE THE SOCIETY AND NOT
JUST THE POLITICAL
IDEOLOGICAL SYSTEM.
Wendy: OLSON AND OTHER
EVANGELICAL LEADERS HAVE
CALLED FOR UNITY AND CALM AS
A DEEPLY POLARIZED
ELECTORATE PREPARES TO
DECIDE WHO WILL LEAD
VENEZUALA AFTER CHAVEZ.
UP NEXT, HOW COMMUNITY
LEADERS ARE STEPPING UP TO
END VIOLENCE IN ONE OF
AMERICA'S MOST VIOLENT
CITIES, CHICAGO.
Wendy: CHICAGO IS KNOWN
FOR ITS HIGH RATE OF GANG
VIOLENCE AND MURDER.
THE NEW YEAR BROUGHT THE
CITY ITS DEADLIEST JANUARY
IN MORE THAN A DEC CATER.
SO THE MAYOR HAS PUT MORE
OFFICERS ON THE STREETS, BUT
SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE
TAKING ANOTHER APPROACH TO
FIGHT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS
DEADLY VIOLENCE.
MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN SHOT IN JUST OVER TWO
DAYS.
Reporter: IN AN
UNFORTUNATE REALITY, AS
RELIABLE AS THE MORNING
SUNRISE.
THE LATEST DEADLY
SHOOTING WAS LAST NIGHT AT
68th AND RIDGELAND.
Reporter: A NEW DAY
BRINGS ANOTHER TALE OF GUN
VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.
THIS MORNING A
17-YEAR-OLD BOY IS DEAD
AFTER AN ARGUMENT ON THE
COURTS.
IT TEARS YOU UP.
TEARS YOU UP.
Reporter: RICARDO
MARTINEZ'S SON SERVED TWO
TOURS IN IRAQ.
AFTER RETURNING HOME, HE WAS
SHOT WHILE SITTING IN HIS
CAR.
THE CONVICTED GUNMAN THOUGHT
HE WAS A RIVAL GANG MEMBER.
THAT WAS ALMOST SEVEN YEARS
AGO.
YOU GET UP AND YOU GO TO
WORK AND YOU CRY ALL DAY
WHILE YOU'RE WORKING, YOU
KNOW.
AND THEN YOU GET HOME AT
NIGHT AND YOU LOOK AT THE
NEWS, AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE
THEY KILLED YOUR SON AGAIN
WHEN YOU SEE ANOTHER PARENT
GOING THROUGH THE SAME
THING.
THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT
GOES BY THAT I DON'T SHED A
LITTLE BIT OF A TEAR.
THERE IS NOT A DAY.
I DON'T SEE THERE EVER BEING
A DAY.
Reporter: THE CHICAGO
POLICE STILL SEARCH FOR WHO
SHOT MONICA RUSSELL'S
8-YEAR-OLD SON 12 TIMES AS
HE WALKED HOME FROM SCHOOL
IN 2009.
GAMES, LIKE IT IS A
TROPHY.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOURSELF
FOR THAT.
Reporter: AND JUST
WEEKS AGO, TANITA COFIELD
FOUND HERSELF WITH THE SAME
REALITY.
MY SON GOT SHOT IN THE
HEAD AND A GUNSHOT WOUND IN
HIS LEFT HIP.
Reporter: CHICAGO SAW
MORE THAN 500 MURDERS IN THE
FIRST HALF OF 2012.
THAT'S THREE TIMES MORE THAN
WHAT NEW YORK CITY SAW IN
THE VERY SAME TIME.
AS THAT DEATH COUNT
CONTINUED TO RISE, NUMBER 42
SPARKED OUTRAGE, FROM THE
WINDY CITY TO THE WHITE
HOUSE.
A 15-YEAR-OLD HONOR STUDENT
GUNNED DOWN AT THIS PARK,
ONLY A MILE FROM THE
PRESIDENT'S CHICAGO HOME.
AND JUST AFTER SHE PERFORMED
AT HIS INAUGURATION, ALONG
WITH HER SCHOOL'S MARCHING
BAND.
SHE AND HER FRIENDS SIMPLY
WANTED SHELTER FROM THE
RAIN.
A RIVAL GANG DETERMINED,
WRONGFULLY, THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS, WHO WERE
STANDING AT THAT SPOT, WERE
MEMBERS OF A GANG, AND FIRED
INTO THE CROWD.
Reporter: THE MAYOR PUT
MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE
STREET, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS
BIGGER THAN THE C.P. D.
A JANITOR BY NIGHT, ANDREW
HOLMES WORKS AS A COMMUNITY
ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY.
I'M ON A MISSION TO CALM
DOWN SOME OF THE GUN
VIOLENCE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
ON BOTH SIDES.
Reporter: HOLMES TAKES
CRIME TIPS, FOLLOWS THE
LEAD, AND VISITS CRIME
SCENES, TO COMFORT VICTIMS
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
PHOTOS OF 4-YEAR-OLD VICTIMS
COVER HIS DEATH.
THIS IS PERSONAL.
HOLMES WAS SHOT IN GANG
CROSS-FIRE MORE THAN 18
YEARS AGO AND NEARLY DIED.
IT WAS TOUGH.
STILL TOUGH NOW WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT IT.
Reporter: THAT PAIN
DRIVES HOLMES TO ALSO REACH
OUT TO GANG MEMBERS.
THEY OFTEN CALL HIM PREACHER
MAN BECAUSE HE IS ARMED WITH
A MESSAGE OF HOPE, EVEN WHEN
CONVINCING THEM TO TURN
THEMSELVES INTO POLICE.
IF YOU COME UP WITH A
GANG MA MENTALITY
LIFESTYLE, YOU CAN'T
POSSIBLY RAISE A SON OR A
DAUGHTER.
YOU CANNOT BE A FATHER.
THAT'S NOT A FATHER FIGURE.
Reporter: SCRIPTURE
CALLS FOR BELIEVERS TO
DEFEND THE CAUSE OF THE
FATHERLESS.
THAT'S WHAT PUSHES THESE MEN
AND WOMEN TO TACTICAL THE
CITY'S RISING GANG
VIOLENCE.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
YEAR, I HAD A CLOSE FRIEND
OF MINE WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN
SEVEN TIMES, SHOT, FOR
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
Reporter: YOUTH PASTOR
KEITH WIDLEY WORKS IN AN
OUTREACH PROGRAMME CALLED
GRIP.
IT PARTNERS WITH CHICAGO
CHURCHES TO PUT YOUNG MEN
AND WOMEN IN CONTACT WITH
MENTORS.
REAL LIFE WOULD TAKE YOU
TO PRISONS AND HOSPITALS,
AND YOU'RE GETTING THE
2 A.M. PHONE CALL AND YOU
HAVE TO RESPOND.
BUT IT IS ALSO INVITING KIDS
OVER FOR MOVIE NIGHT.
Reporter: THIS MENTOR
TAKES IT A STEP FURTHER.
BULLETS RIPPED THROUGH HIS
HOME THE NIGHT HIS FAMILY
MOVED IN.
WE STAY UP ALL NIGHT JUST
PRAYING AND SEEKING OUT GOD,
AND SINGING PRAISES TO HIM,
AND THANKING HIM FOR SAFETY
IN THE MIDST OF IT.
AND ABOUT 5:00 IN THE
MORNING, MY WIFE LOOKS AT ME
IN THE EYES AND SHE SAYS,
BRIAN, I KNOW WHAT THE WORLD
SAYS WE SHOULD DO, BUT THIS
CONVINCES ME THAT WE NEED TO
STAY.
Reporter: THAT WAS
EIGHT YEARS AGO.
MONDAY NIGHTS, GRIP BRINGS
HUNDREDS OF KIDS AND THEIR
MENTORS TOGETHER FOR FUN,
GAMES, PRAYER, AND BIBLE
STUDY.
THE WEEKLY CELEBRATION IS
CALLED "SLAM."
AND IT'S LOADED WITH LIFE
MESSAGES.
DON'T LET WHERE YOU COME
FROM DETERMINE WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO GO.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A
MESS OR A PREDICAMENT NOW
DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL ALWAYS
BE LIKE THAT.
Reporter: FAITH AND
HOPE THAT CAN GENERATE THE
POWER TO RISE ABOVE THE
VIOLENCE.
EPHRAIM GRAHAM, CBN NEWS,
CHICAGO.
Wendy: UP NEXT, HOW ONE
TEENAGER IS HELPING WOMEN,
INFANTS, AND CHILDREN ALL
THROUGHOUT INDIA.
Wendy: AND FINALLY, A
TEENAGER IN INDIANA IS
PROVING THAT SELFLESSNESS
DOESN'T ALWAYS COME WITH
AGE.
THE 19-YEAR-OLD DONATED HIS
ENTIRE YEAR'S WORTH BONUS
CHECK TO HIS LOCAL WICK
PROGRAM, WITH HIS 130-DOLLAR
CHECK, HE BOUGHT OVER 200
ITEMS FOR NEEDY WOMEN AND
CHILDREN.
THE ITEMS INCLUDED COATS,
BABY BOTTLES, AND SOAP.
HE WANTED TO RETURN THE
FAVOR TO THE PROGRAM THAT
ONCE HELPED HIS FAMILY WHEN
THEY WERE STRUGGLING.
IT IS ME SAYING THANK YOU
TO THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE
WHO BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO WORK
HARD EVERY DAY AT THE JOBS
THEY DO, WHATEVER THEY DO,
AND THEY TRY TO SUPPORT
THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY JUST
CAN'T DO IT.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH.
WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE LIKE
ME, OR WHOEVER ELSE HAS MORE
THAN ENOUGH.
I MEAN IT IS NOTHING SPECIAL
ON MY PART AT ALL.
Wendy: THE
ORGANIZATION'S DONATION
SUPPLY WAS NEARLY EMPTY.
HE SAYS HE HOPES HIS GOOD
DEED WILL INSPIRE OTHERS TO
DO THE SAME.
AND NO DOUBT IT WILL.
WELL, THAT'S ALL FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEWSWATCH."
YOU CAN E-MAIL US YOUR
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT
"NEWSWATCH" AT CBN.COM.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT
TIME.
TAKE CARE.
