Adventist Youth Congress ends in grand style

By Joe Etokudor

Sunday 15^th to Sunday 22^nd of August 2010, will ever remain indelible and historic in the minds of the young people in Eastern Nigeria Union Mission (ENUM) of the seventh day Adventist Church.

The Youth Congress which is the second since the inception of Eastern Nigeria Union Mission aptly tagged “YOUTH STUDY CAMP 2010” with the theme “EMPOWERED TO LEAD” was held in GRUNDTVIG INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL-OBA in Anambra State. It would be recalled that this is the year of leading in the Youth ministry marking the end of this quinquennium. It is an important year in the history of the church a year that saw the emergence of a new world President for the church, Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson and a new World Youth Director for the Church, Pastor Gilbert R. Cangy.

Young people of Eastern Nigeria Union Mission (ENUM) Comprising Abia, Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Anambra States and representatives from the 5 Constituent Conferences:-East Nigeria Conference, (ENC) Rivers Conference (RC) South-East Conference (SEC) East Central Conference (ECC) and Anambra-Imo Conference (AIC) attended the event which was celebrated in a very spectacular way by the youths. The venue was one of the most conducive centres for such programmes like this, with a very serene environment.

According to the Union Youth Director, Pastor Festus N. Awuloha, “The Congress was a time to regroup, re-energize and refocus our priorities, to reflect all the ideals of the Adventist Youth Ministries:

The Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Lady Chinwe Anowai in collaboration with the President of Eastern Nigeria Union Mission, Pastor G. C. Nwaogwugwu declared the Congress opened. A detachment of the Adventist Youth (Christ Soldiers) mounted a guard of honour ably commanded by master Guide Aguwamba from Anambra-Imo conference. Music was supplied by the Great East Nigeria Conference youth Band, in collaboration with other Youth Band from East Central Conference and Anambra-Imo conference respectively there was march past by platoon A.F.

In her opening speech, the Governor’s representative thanked the Seventh - day Adventist Church for being able to sponsor such programmes that could change the lives of the youths for good. She said that youths are precious gifts from God to parents as such they deserve patronage to develop their intellect, they should be aided to discover the three segments (aspects) of the body-the body, the soul and the mind which she described as “man’s tripod stand.”

“By discovering oneself, one should be able to imbibe education which in turn redefines life” she added.  She challenged the youths to find something doing which they know very well, think positively, make straight their paths by being self employed as these would automatically lead to empowerment. As the slogan, No youths, no nation” goes, “the Anambra state government she said, has embarked on a programme that would be useful to the youths-the life process programme (L.P.P) she added, would make the youths discover themselves, thus becoming  agents of progress which will ginger them to contribute positively to the development of the state. Finally she appreciated the seventh day Adventist church and promised the youths of prompt attention by the Anambra State government any time they would come for assistance of any kind. Gift items were presented to the governor by the youths.

In his own speech, the principal of Grundtvig Internatioanl Secondary School Oba, Mr. Amosen Amofe applauded the initiators of the youth Congress for choosing his school as their venue and urged the youths to take all the lectures, workshops and trainings they would receive here seriously and finally commended the seventh-day Adeventist youths whom he described as “best behaved youths”. He promised to keep an open door for Adventist youths any other time they had activities and programmes.

In his homily during the divine worship which attracted other worshippers from  different nooks and cranny of Anambra State, the Guest speaker- (The President of Eastern Nigeria Union Mission and pro-chancellor of Babcock University, Pastor Gideon C. Nwaogwugwu challenged the youths to always live a godly life by obeying the commandments of God and the church. Speaking on the theme, “Look at us” Pastor Nwaogwugwu emphasized that as strangers here on earth each of us should be good ambassadors of the church to which we belong.  Citing the books of Acts of the Apostles chapter 4 verses 13 and Jeremiah 35 versed 1-6, the man of God told the youths to borrow a leaf from Apostle Peter and others and the sons of Rechabite, who could not compromise with the world, nor were easily persuaded by even higher authorities to recant or deny their faith, but rather, were holding tenaciously on to what their father taught them even in strange land. He charged the youths to be proud of themselves, always having the boldness to tell anybody, their neighbours and even the world that evil is bd. “Like Peter and other Apostles who met the lame mar at the Beautiful gate-we have no silver nor gold to give to you, but Look at us”. The sons of rechobite when they were forced to drink wine, badly told the people, “We shall not drink’, so look at us” As Adventist Youths, by our character, we should be able to tell the world “Look at us” High points of the congress include choir rendision, choruses, lectures, workshops march past, drama  presentation, prayer sessions, Bible studies, skill acquisition, share your faith, physical fitness; in-depth study of the various areas of the youth Ministry, leadership training etc.

“The theme “Empowered to lead’ is quite appropriate for a gathering of young people especially in our society where there are crimes, drug abuse, kidnapping and all kinds of vices engaged by the young people. The youths were there to be trained to be good leader not only in the church but in the society at large.

Other dignitaries in attendance were the president of the host conference-Anambra-Imo conference, Pastor E.U.  Okpulor; the Anambra-Imo Conference youth Director, Engr. K.N. Nwaigwe; East Nigeria Youth Director, pastor H.U. Anaba; Rivers Conference Youth Director; pastor G. Oru; South-East Conference Youth Director, Pastor Goodluck G. Alozie; East Central Conference Youth Director, Pastor U. Alphaeus.

The Congress curtain on activities was drawn on the Sabbath evening of August 21, 2010 on a very high note of satisfaction of being catalysts of change with rekindled hope in the young people to work for the Lord’s soon return as they have been empowered to lead fellow youths to Christ by the Holy Spirit. About 400 people attended the youth congress.

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