Christ Episcopal Church Features B.U.C.K. Squad

In late December 2020, a young man named Buck was shot and killed in Charlottesville and Petrelle felt compelled to form a group of men who dub themselves the BUCK Squad, or Brothers United to Cease the Killing. These former felons who have been transformed by the gift of sobriety through the power of the love of God, volunteer to be conflict mediators for gun violence. Petrelle described their new street weapons.

“The first thing we do with a gang leader or gun fighter is tell him, ‘We love you.’ They usually cry and say no one has ever told them that. We lead with love. We empathize with them because we were them; we don’t judge. Most killings are because of Ego, and we can speak to that.” When asked about the possibility of being killed in a gun fight, Petrelle said they know it could happen, but they created the problem and they love these guys, so they are willing to do it, quoting Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The Buck Squad’s vulnerability in love is palpable and powerful.

Read this original feature on Christ Church Cville’s blog here: https://www.christchurchcville.org/sermons/march-28th-marilu-thomas-the-kingdom-come/