Gang member ditches Mob for Destiny Church

A former gang member has gone viral after handing in his patches in exchange for a Destiny Church Man Up t-shirt. Photo / Facebook

A former Mongrel Mob member has gone viral after posting a video removing his gang patch and replacing it with a Destiny Church Tu Tangata Man Up t-shirt.

In a post on Facebook, the former Mob member and a friend are seen talking to the camera telling viewers it is "time to make changes" and "get rid of the old and take on the new".

"This is what's happening. One of our brothers is handing in all the t-shirts that he's held, gang-related and time to grab our new t-shirts Man Up Tu Tangata," one of the men said.

"We're handing these back (Mongrel Mob patches) to where they belong because they don't belong on our journey.

"We have a new journey, and its Tu Tangata Man Up brotherhood, that's what we're all about."

A former gang member has gone viral after handing in his patches in exchange for a Destiny Church Man Up t-shirt. Photo / Facebook

The Man Up programme, run by Destiny Church, helps men deal with issues including crime, violence, drugs, alcohol and depression.

Speaking earlier this year, Destiny Church co-founder Brian Tamaki said former gang members are among thousands of men being helped in 93 weekly groups across New Zealand and Australia.

"With one Man-Up group at a time we will spread across the nation - and healing will come to our nation," he said.

"Heal the man - Heal the family. Heal the family - Heal the community. Heal the community - Heal the city. Heal the city - Heal the nation."

Destiny Church says its "Man-Up" programme is helping thousands of men, including former gang members, improve social behaviour and help tackle domestic violence. Photo / Destiny

While gang members are usually discouraged from attending the church while wearing patches, Destiny made an exception in April to allow gang members who were interested in hearing the message of "god" to attend.

On Sunday, Hannah Tamaki tweeted an image of husband Brian hosting an event called "Gangsta for Jesus".

pic.twitter.com/M67wfztdHP

— Hannah Tamaki (@hrhtamaki) November 12, 2017

The men who handed in their mongrel mob patches have been praised online with many encouraging the men to continue on their positive path of change.

"Mean my bro...keep it up hopefully your journey will inspire our younger ones to follow. This is a far cry from the bro I knew back in the days," one wrote.

"Awesome bro, proud of your decision, massive breakthrough. Mean example from you. One of many lives transformed. another said."