Newspaper Articles
Pastor Okusi Interviewed by local newspaper about the causes of the recent rioting, click HERE.
Petition launched to stop charities being taxed for playing music
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
A petition has been launched to save hundreds of voluntary groups that play music from a new Government tax in April.
Jason Hadden, the Tory parliamentary candidate for Croydon North, says more than 1,000 groups in the borough, including charities, churches and youth clubs, would be affected by the "bonkers" levy.
He is therefore urging residents across Croydon to sign his online petition to stop the so-called performance rights licence (PRL) being ratified by Parliament in April.
Clement Okusi, from Thornton Heath's Potters House church, is among those who would be affected.
"I am really shocked at this move by the Government, it is completely absurd," he said.
"Charitable groups have been struggling with a huge drain on resources as a result of the recession and the increase in people needing help.
"We should be getting a leg-up from the Government, and not being pushed down.
"Music to my congregation is everything. To make us pay more to worship and support our community is the lowest of the low."
Charities and voluntary groups have enjoyed long-standing exemption from music licensing rules.
But Mr Hadden says Croydon's churches, village halls, charity shops and youth clubs would face an extra estimated £80 cost each year for playing music.
While this may not seem a lot, he says it could bring small charity shops and groups in financial difficulty to breaking point.
He said: "This will even affect charity shops that have a radio in their staff room.
"Some organisations will stop playing music because they can't afford a licence.
"This is absolutely bonkers. I spent Christmas morning at a beautiful service at Pastor Okusi's church and the thought that we would be taxed for playing live music at such an event is madness."
*To sign Mr Hadden's petition, which he plans to hand to the Prime Minister, visit
The Croydon Guardian
A gospel concert
9:04am Friday 19th December 2003
A free gospel concert, organised by the Potters House Christian Centre, takes place at the Fairfield Hotel, Wellesley Road, on Saturday, December 20. The concert starts at 7.30pm and all are welcome.
The church is also holding a Christmas Day service, followed by mince pies and cream.
http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/443754.A_gospel_concert/
From snooker hall to church
3:35pm Wednesday 1st October 2008
A derelict snooker hall in East Croydon has been transformed into a church.
The Potter’s House Christian Church in Croydon say the new building will be a hub of activity for single mums and local teenagers involved in gangs.
Congregation donations and a loan of £580,000 from the Co-operative Bank allowed the church to bid for the building and renovate it.
Pastor Clement Okusi, leader of the church, said: “For a long time, it has been the church’s vision to have a building from which we can serve the community.
David Bolton and his team at the Co-operative Bank have given us sound financial advice at every stage of the process. They have not just been our bank, they have become part of our project team.”
http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/3719543.From_snooker_hall_to_church/
The Baptist Times January 2009
http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/354/377/4737/3/3/0/The%20Potters%20House
The Croydon Advertiser 2008 - 2010.
Police stop and search 130 Croydon children every week
By Anna Edwards
anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk
More than 130 children are stopped and searched in Croydon every week by police who fear they are carrying weapons or drugs.
Startling figures reveal that from the start of August 2007 to the end of August 2008, 6,917 youngsters aged between 10 and 17 were searched.
On top of this 25 children under the age of 10 were also stopped.
Officers fear some of these extremely young children are being used to conceal knives for older gang members.
The figures released this week also show that during the same period, 31 pensioners were stopped and searched.
For someone to be searched police have to have genuine concern that the person being stopped has a weapon, drugs or stolen goods on them.
One of Croydon's top officers, Superintendent Dave Stringer, explained why such young children were having to be searched.
He said: "We might search someone if they're truanting from school, and they could have something on them that they shouldn't. "You might get a young person whose older sibling is a known gang member, and that group has been acting suspiciously.
"So if you saw that person with the gang member you would search both, in case the elder one has asked the younger person to hold something for them - it could be a weapon, it could be a drug.
"We have to act on intelligence, and it doesn't matter what age someone is."
Supt Stringer added that there was good reason to search every single individual who was stopped - even the pensioners.
He said: "People still commit crime when they reach 65 - it's unusual, by that age most people's criminal activity trails off.
"It could be a known offender is being using distraction in a burglary, so they can trick people - like getting into someone's house."
Stefan Brouwer, 23, from East Croydon, was stopped and searched two years ago and says officers were thoroughly professional.
He said: "I was smoking with some friends when police came up and wanted to see if we had anything on us, like drugs.
"I didn't feel intimidated, they were not aggressive. They checked pockets, my wallet, shoes - even my socks!
"But I didn't have anything on me, so they left, it was fine.
"I cannot imagine what older people must be doing to get stopped and searched - you don't think pensioners would be the sort to make police suspicious.
"And kids under 10 getting stopped is shocking, but I suppose it shows police are being on the ball and being fair."
Figures show that out of ethnic groups searched, black people were searched the most, but only just ahead of white people.
Pastor Clement Okusi, who preaches at the Potter's House Christian Church, in Thornton Heath, works with youths who have had experiences with the police.
He said he was not surprised black people were searched the most.
He said: "There is no doubt one or two people may feel they are being targeted unduly, but overwhelmingly, the people I talk to say they were targeted for the right reasons.
"If the majority of crimes are being committed by young black men, then it's not surprising they are the majority being searched.
"The majority of gangs in Croydon are black, end of."
Police were unable to say how many of those children and pensioners searched had weapons or drugs found on them.
But in the 13 months the figures cover a total of 16,807 people were stopped and searched in Croydon and out of that number 1,454 arrests were made.
Aspiring South Croydon model stars in advert with David Beckham
by Dave Burke
dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk
An aspiring South Croydon model is appearing on television screens across the world after catching the eye of one of the biggest names in the music industry.
Monique-Michelle Eastmond was hand-picked by hip-hop superstar Missy Elliott to appear in a new TV commercial.
The 23-year-old stars in the latest Adidas advert alongside some of the most well-known names in music and sport,
including David Beckham and singer Estelle.
The former Shirley High and John Ruskin pupil, who flew to California especially to film the commercial, told the Advertiser this week: "I still can't believe it.
"Even though I've seen myself on TV it still hasn't sunk in."
She was one of five girls picked from hundreds of thousands of entrants from across the world who applied to an online competition run by Missy Elliott.
The advert, which shows dancers and celebrities rubbing shoulders at a house party, was shot in the world-famous Warner Brothers studios.
Monique-Michelle enthused: "It was amazing, it was a real buzz."
Remarkably the wannabe model, who is currently completing a psychology degree, battled low self-esteem throughout her teenage years.
"People have said they always knew I would be a star, but that was news to me," she said.
Monique-Michelle moved out of home at a young age, after rebelling against her mum, and admits she used to be "a very angry girl".
That all changed seven months ago, when she decided to go to the Potters House Christian Church, in Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, and her life changed dramatically.
She has become involved in mentoring youngsters at the church and hopes to work with young people in the future.
Monique-Michelle said: "My church has got a lot of young people who have been with gangs and who have been following the wrong lifestyles.
"We get to change all that and I find it refreshing to work with young people."
Church opens new facility
A CHURCH has celebrated a successful opening of its new premises.
The Potters House Christian Church used to have to share its space with several other community groups at the Fairfield Hotel, in Landsdowne Road, East Croydon.
But now, thanks to generous congregation donations and a loan of £580,000 from the Co-Operative Bank, the church has found a permanent home at 374 Brigstock Road,Thornton Heath.
The building will also allow the church to continue its good work with local teenagers caught up in gangs, as well as supporting single mums.
Pastor Clement Okusi, leader of the church, said: "It has been the church's vision for a long time to have a building from which we can serve the Croydon community."
East Croydon church turns gang members' lives around
2An East Croydon church has been inspiring dozens of former gang members to become beacons of the community.
For the last seven years, Potters House church group in East Croydon has convinced bad boys to put down their weapons.
Its creator, Pastor Clement Okusi, says he knows the secret to getting teen criminals to change their ways.
"Without a shadow of a doubt it's the gospel of Jesus Christ that has saved these young boys," he said.
"Since I launched the church with my wife in 2001, several youngsters who were once involved in drugs and gangs are now looking at a positive, crime-free future
"This church offers something they can relate to. I had a rough childhood and I know where they're coming from.
"I'm not some privileged politician who was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
"And I'm not afraid to tackle them in their homes, in the streets and wherever they hang out, at all times of the day.
"I will happily walk up to a group of 10 youths and start talking to them – I want them to know they have a choice."
Pastor Okusi currently presides over a 250-strong congregation, and 100 of them are 15 to 21-year-olds.
He said: "Many of our younger members have been in gangs, and of those, some are from single parent backgrounds.
"Others were involved in drugs and others got on the wrong side of the law.
"I truly believe Croydon needs Jesus. It may sound a bit preachy, but it's not meant that way.
"What I'm talking about is morality and basic Christian values."
Pastor Okusi says there is a key root cause that leads to youngsters carrying blades.
He said: "Knife crime has got worse in Croydon and one of the biggest reasons for that is absent fathers.
"The church fills that void, and the results are here for everyone to see.
"And yet we don't get any support from anyone – not the government, not the council.
"Money is poured into initiatives that don't work, while we are the ones making a real difference.
"Maybe it's time people sat up and took note."
Free concert for ex-gang members
The teens from the Potters House congregation composed their very own tunes and lyrics for the "No knives no guns" gig at Fairfield Hotel tomorrow at 7.30pm.
It will be the second showing after a sell-out show-stopper earlier this month, which attracted more than 300 people.
Clement Okusi, pastor at the church, based in Lansdowne Road, East Croydon, said: "What we are trying to achieve is very simple, we are trying to get these youths into a place where the value of life is rekindled and what better instrument to use, than other teenagers that have gone through it and seen the consequences of crime.
"We are hoping this will have a positive impact to the teen visitors that attend this concert as a positive message is coming from their peers."
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