PHOTO: Some of the youths who attended the forum
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
A five-day youth conference organized by the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in collaboration with the Mission Africa International has been taking place in Brewersville outside Monrovia, with a prominent Liberian cleric, Bishop Kortu Brown saying that the Church cannot afford to neglect the youths.
The conference, which brought 300 youths and facilitators from United States, Nigeria and Liberia, is aimed at discussing the role of the church in preparing the youths for the future and their responsibilities to the society .
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Bishop of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church, Dr. Kortu Brown, said the conference is intended to let the young people know that they are the future leaders in the country.
“This conference is about letting you know that the church will not let you down anymore,” he said; adding: “we want to have a future in Liberia where the youths will know Christ.”
“Because any attempt to neglect you will become problem for us tomorrow and it is based on this background that we want you to know the teaching of the gospel.”
“It is through some of these conferences and teachings that we can use to transform your lives into taking responsibilities after we have turned the gavel of authority to you.”
Bishop Brown, who is the immediate
Bishop Brown, who is the immediate past President of the Liberia Council of Churches, commended the organizers and facilitators who abandoned their other schedules in their various localities to attend the conference.
According to him, the church cannot afford to neglect the roles that young people will have to play in running the affairs of the state, the church and the community
In remarks, the Executive Director of the Mission Africa International, Reverend Doctor, Sayo Ajiboye, who is also the chief facilitator, said the time has come for young people to think globally .
He spoke of the need for young people to think out of the box by engaging in ventures that will make them acquire knowledge for the betterment of the nations and communities.
According to him, 75 percent of the population of Africa comprised young people and there will be a major challenge if they are not prepared for future tasks.
Dr. Ajiboye
Dr. Ajiboye added that preparing the young people for the future is to make them to know the importance of God’s power in changing the world.
The conference will take the youths in two locations in western and north central parts of the country on outreach so as to interact with their counterparts.
The conference is expected to end with the launching of the Dr. Sayo Ajiboye Children Scholarship Fund Drive purposely to assist needed students in their academic endeavors.