The men of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church of Bermuda are being asked to step up to the wicket, and join the Big Brothers mentoring programme which currently has more than 100 little boys in need of a Big Brother.

Big Brothers are required to spend time with their Little Brothers each week, even if it is just talking on the telephone or helping them with their homework. Often Littles enjoy going to a movie, or eating out, or just kicking a football around the yard.

Littles are not all troubled children or from dysfunctional homes, as is sometimes assumed. Often their parents have decided that the child simply needs a little extra one-on-one attention.

"In light of what is going on on this Island it is time for the church to step up what it is doing," said Rev Ruth Vanlowe Smith, of St. John AME Church, and director of the church's Commission on Social Action. "Gangs are recruiting at a younger and younger age. They have a waiting list of 102 young men needing Big Brothers. I thought it would be wonderful if the church would step up and try and fill some of these spaces."

Talks between the AME church and Esme Williams, director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, began in earnest in June.

Then in August, they invited the men of the church to come together for a partnership breakfast. Ms Williams and several Big Brothers spoke to the men about the organisation. Many men at the breakfast were moved enough to fill out applications to become Big Brothers.

"The AME church has always been mentoring from one end of the Island to the other," said Rev. Betty Furbert-Woolridge, of St. Philip AME Church, and presiding elder of the Bermuda Conference of AME Churches.

"We do it from Monday to Saturday. We have after-school programmes. Our members help in the schools. This is not something new for us, but this is an extension of the ministry we already have in place. I want to commend Rev. Smith for getting us more involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters. This has been the desire of many people, but they laid back and didn't do anything about it.

"We do reach out to all races and religions. We are available to help in any way we can, and always have been whether it is spiritual, social or practical needs."

She encouraged other churches and other denominations to also reach out to Big Brothers & Big Sisters. "We need to all come together to make a difference on this island," she said.

Rev. Furbert-Woolridge warned that it wasn't just children who did not go to church who needed guidance.

"Some of our own children in the body of Christ need mentoring," she said. "We are finding that some of the parents in the body of Christ are struggling with their children. We need to be open in all areas. We need to do all we can to help one another so that our living will not be in vain."

Rev. Smith said it was a combination of different things that was causing the increase in dysfunctional behaviour in the community.

"It is changes in society, and changes in the family," she said. "A lot of parents now work two and three jobs, so who is at home watching the kids? There is an unchurched generation. Before, the church was a vital part of the family. We are no longer finding that.

"Just society and economics have changed us so much. It is causing a lot of what is going on in our society. There are those who want to blame, government, schools or parents. I believe it is all of our fault. If we all come together we can find a solution to fix what is going on in Bermuda."

She said it is not just one person's problem, and she believed that the Bermudian community had ignored its social problems for far too long.

"I remember our 1981 annual conference in Bermuda when we asked that each church adopt a school because we saw that things were going astray," said Rev. Furbert-Woolridge.

"The political arena was saying that it was not a problem. We still trudged along. We are in the schools teaching the children to read while we can, but we can't overrule government in their thinking. There was a time they said there were no gangs, but there are gangs."

She said some people in the community held the view that the churches were not doing anything to address the problem. She said this was not the case.

"We may be silent, but you may be hearing more from us now that we have an opportunity to speak out," she said. "Once we get a team working together, I think the AME church will be outstanding in moving forward to try to make a difference in our community."

Rev. Smith said they decided to recruit men from their church, rather than men and women, because there was a greater need for men. There is no shortage of Big Sisters.

"I would throw out a challenge not just to others churches but to individuals," said Rev. Furbert-Woolridge. "Can people make room in their hearts and homes for another child? In days gone by there were six to 11 people in the home and mother always had enough for everyone. If we could get past our own selfishness and be there for those who need us, that would be good."

For more information about the Big Brother and Big Sister programme please contact 232-2802 or email esme.bbbs@logic.bm">esme.bbbs@logic.bm or go to their webpage at www.bbbs.bm .