Bermuda's church leaders have pledged to leave the pulpit and take their message to the streets in an effort to end gang warfare in the aftermath of last week's shootings.

Church leaders from a variety of denominations described their "shock and disappointment" at the gun violence on Friday and Saturday that left one man dead and four wounded.

In addition to a number of prayer vigils to be held across the island tonight, local churches will be looking to reach Bermuda's youth in their own neighbourhoods.

"I feel inclined to take it to the streets, in the form of questions and answers, trying to ascertain how the church can speak to this issue effectively," said Rev. Lloyd Duncan, administrative bishop of Bermuda's New Testament Church of God and pastor of the Greater Smith Hill Church in Curving Avenue, near the site of Friday's shooting. "We can't stay in the safety and comfort of the church, temple and synagogue and preach this message from the pulpit."

Rev. Duncan has organised tonight's prayer vigil at Greater Smith Hill Church, a joint effort that will see six area churches come together to offer "comfort and consolation" to a Pembroke community still reeling in shock from the weekend's events.

Pastors from neighbouring churches in Angle Street, Curving Avenue, Parsons Road and Marsh Folly will join Rev. Duncan at the 7.30 p.m. vigil, while services of "praise and prayer" will take place simultaneously across the island, at New Testament Church of God centres in Warwick, Somerset and Southside.

Meanwhile, representatives from other local denominations have joined Rev. Duncan in calling for a grassroots outreach effort to stop gang violence in its tracks.

Dr. Jeffrey Brown, president of the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, vowed that the church would have a "visible presence" on the streets.

Dr. Brown said he might look to resume the recent 'Homes of Hope' initiative in the Pembroke areas worst hit by the spate of violence.

Last held in March, the campaign saw Seventh- day Adventist church leaders speaking directly to the island's at-risk youth in their own areas.

"We walked up and down St Monica's Road talking to those hanging in the streets," he said. "We need to have a visible presence there."

He added that preventing gang violence is the collective responsibility of the churches, schools, Government and families, who must work with the Police.

"The Bible says, 'am I my brother's keeper?'," he said. "That's our responsibility. We can't pass it off on the Police. We must realise it is irresponsible when in our church, in our community, there is someone who could come forward with information and help."

A prayer vigil will be held tonight at the Greater Smith Hill Church at 28 Curving Avenue, Pembroke at 7:30 p.m. Services of praise and prayer will be held instead of regular bible study at three outposts of the New Testament Church of God at 7:30 p.m: the Healing Centre in Somerset, Sanctuary of Prayer at Cedar Hill, Warwick and Glory Temple, Southside. All are welcome.