A Seventh-day Adventist layperson in Bermuda wants the island nation's churches to shut their doors. For a month.

"The bible says 'Go ye therefore to the world,' not 'Go ye therefore to church,'" said Scott Smith, who is gaining recognition in Bermuda for advocating unconventional ministry to gang members and victims of gang violence alike.

The 44-year-old native Bermudian isn't against corporate worship; he's a member of the Pembroke Adventist Church. But he says many people won't step foot in a church -- not even one like Pembroke, which is situated in a neighborhood notorious for gang violence and is responsive to its community's unique needs.

To connect with their neighbors, Christians should visit them, Smith says -- a simple, obvious solution, but one he's observed is more likely to generate talk than action.

If churches in Bermuda closed their doors for a month, members and leaders could channel energy, time and resources into a concerted effort to change the atmosphere on Bermuda's streets, Smith says.

Parts of the Atlantic Ocean island nation have experienced escalating gang violence in recent years, leaving many Bermudians bracing themselves for the next shooting, Smith says.

Last week, Smith met and prayed with a mother whose 16-year-old son was shot in the family's front yard in what she described as an act of gang retribution. Among the lucky ones, her son is recovering in an area hospital, Smith says.

For a year now, Smith says he has visited the family of every victim of gang violence. "I hear about a shooting, I go," he says. "I know not everyone will accept Christ, but if I can share his love, that's something. You can't show people the Second Coming of Christ until you show them the love of Christ."

Smith, who introduces himself as "an advocate for a better Bermuda," often asks, "Where did we go wrong?" It's a question he's used countless times as a conversation wedge with gang members, families mourning a loss to gang violence and government officials. It generates a sense of shared responsibility, he says.

"Sometimes we're so quick to condemn, or to sell an agenda or a message, that we forget to acknowledge that we messed up somewhere along the way, too," Smith says.

Admitting that church members can and have made mistakes is key to getting community members to open up, Smith says. And when they do, be ready to listen, he says. "You'll develop relationships; you'll build trust."

Smith's background is one many he ministers to can identify with. As a troubled teenager, he was introduced to the Adventist faith, but for a time maintained parallel lives: one, as a drug addict flirting with gang affiliation; another, as a young man fascinated by the Daniel and Revelation seminars held in his neighborhood.

Smith says his past on the streets lends him credibility, but his lack of academic credentials makes entering and financing full-time ministry difficult. While he studied briefly at church-run Oakwood University in Alabama, United States, Smith dropped out when his father's painting business floundered and finances evaporated.

His efforts to enlist the support of local churches in his ministry earned him a March 30 front-page feature in Bermuda's national newspaper, The Royal Gazette. By the next day, Smith says he'd gotten 50 calls, most from concerned parents in the community.

"They'll say, 'Scott, can you help me? I have a son who's involved in a gang. Can you go talk to him?'" Smith says.

He's happy to provide spiritual support and, when he can, advocacy, Smith says. He has vouched for numerous former gang members seeking employment, matching several with area employers.

Talking is free, but Smith hopes local churches will contribute resources toward his ministry to help provide the tangible needs -- such as food, clothing, shelter and education -- community members face.

Smith's pastor, Stefan Burton Schnüll, applauds his passion, but says closing Pembroke Adventist Church's doors for a month may not be the answer. Many church members are ill equipped to work with gang members and a months' show of support may be just that -- a short-lived gesture rather than a sustained effort. Schnüll said he would prefer devoting an entire Sabbath every other month to ministry in gang-affected communities.

Meanwhile, Pembroke is partnering with local Anglican and Catholic congregations to organize an Easter weekend event to commemorate victims of gun violence and offer services such as counseling, prayer, food and music to community members.

"Of course, this is only one event. We need a regular presence in the community," Schnüll said. "Scott is right about that."

William Dejaun Tull, who pastors the Somerset Adventist Church, calls Smith a friend and says he plans to set up a meeting with Adventist Church administration in Bermuda to see how the church can better support his ministry.

"We are aware of the growing gang problem in Bermuda, we support what he's doing and we are looking for ways to help, but as a pastor, I need to be careful that I don't put unrealistic expectations on my members," Tull says. "A lot of them are very unsure how to minister to the gang community."

If Smith wants to present his ministry to members on Sabbath morning, Tull says he would make time during services.

Smith says he would welcome the opportunity to speak at area Adventist churches. He has previously accepted invitations to share his ministry in several area schools and businesses, as well as Bermuda's Senate chamber.

He now serves on a chamber committee brainstorming ideas for community improvement.