Watts is a 2.12 square mile neighborhood in southern Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. that consolidated with the City of Los Angeles (LA) in 1926. Watts is one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in LA despite falling crime rates since the 1990s.
In the 1970s, as gangs gained strength, the level of violence in the area increased. From 1989 -2005, police reported more than 500 homicides in Watts, most of them gang-related and tied to wars over control of the lucrative illicit drug market. Four of Watts's influential gangs— Watts Cirkle City Piru, Grape Street Watts Crips, Bounty Hunter Watts Bloods, and PJ Watts Crips—formed a Peace Treaty, known as the Watts truce on April 26, 1992. Hallmarks of the pact continue to influence life in Watts today, with colors and territory having little to do with gang-related crime.
Population in the neighborhood was estimated at 41,028 in 2008. The median age was 21, making Watts the area in LA with the youngest population. Hispanics make up 61.6% of the population, blacks 37.1%, non-Hispanic whites 0.5%, Asian 0.2%, and others 0.5%. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common places of birth for the 34% of the residents who were born abroad.
St. Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Church is located at 10122 Compton Avenue. It also operates an accredited multi-lingual grade school named after the same patron saint. The church has six different choirs. It is pastored by Reverend Fathers Matthew Elshoff, Joseph Dederick, and Michael Ronayne, each of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, assisted by Reverend Deacons David Ortiz and Hector Ruelas.
“I am on the battlefield for my Lord,” was written by Estelle V. McKinley Banks and Sylvanna Bellare. The lyrics are based on the Book of Numbers 32:27: “but your servants will cross over, everyone armed for war, to do battle for the Lord, just as my Lord orders.”
Refrain:
I am on the battlefield for my Lord,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord;
And I promised him that I would serve him till I die.
I am on the battlefield for my Lord.
I was alone and idle,
I was a sinner too,
I heard a voice from heaven
Say there is work to do,
I took the Master's hand,
And I joined the Christian band,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]
I left my friends and kindred
Bound for the Promised Land,
The grace of God upon me,
The Bible in my hand,
In distant lands I trod,
Crying sinner come to God,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]
Now when I met my Savior,
I met Him with a smile,
He healed my wounded Spirit,
And owned me as his child,
Around the throne of grace,
He appoints my soul a place,
I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]
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