What role will the youth play?

The ministry of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa is about to change - forever - for the better. With the Growing the Church Launch, just a few days away, we are embarking on a process of re-aligning the ministry of the Church to encapsulate a greater focus on GROWTH.

Our vision is to be: a vibrant God-Centred Church which is clearly growing spiritually, numerically and holistically

Fundimental to this noble vision is the inclusion and integration of the children, youth and young adults. My challenge to you, is the following : What role will the young people play in "Growing the Church"?
Why not post as many ideas as possible by clicking on the "Comments" button, below.

Youth at Lambeth says it all

Opportunity was given for a cross-section of young students, who had served as volunteers at the Lambeth Conference, to address the bishops and ask and answer questions.

Asked how the bishops could help the students, a young man replied:

'You can guide us so we don't make the same mistakes you have made.. We want to be part of the Church and there is nothing you can do to chase us out!'

This is the crux of mentoring - the handing down of experience and wisdom from one generation to another.

But I am more impressed with the student's determination to be part of the Church - a common expression I have heard across our Province of Southern Africa.

Would you agree with this student?

Praise God for a Blessed Conference - 2008

We praise our Lord God for a very successful Provincial Youth Conference - considered to be an unprecidented event in our Province. Over 50 participants from 21 of our 26 Diocese around the Province, attended - the broadest representation ever in the life of PYC.

The Conference focussed heavily on the ministry to the Young People and how we should equip ourselves to be able to meet this clear objective. God's vision emerged for us which will help us to focus our energies.

In a nutshell, here are some of the highlights :

1. There was a strong need for vision that will drive the ministry. Some of the vision components are listed below.

2. One of the highest priorities is for effective Youth Ministry Leadership training and development. Training programmes are already in development and the Diocesan Youth Co-ordinators and Workers and Chaplains will be the first to be trained.

3. There is a need to fully integrate the young people and Youth Ministry into ALL aspects of Church life instead of seeing them as just an add-on optional organisation. The youth is not just another organisation, they are The Church.

4. There is a need to provide a Conversation/Communication platform that will allow ANYBODY (and especially the young people), to participate in stimulating conversation interaction and learning. A more dynamic web site is being planned which will include features like this blog, Facebook, resource libraries, Youth Magazines, picture walls, information sharing bulletin boards, etc. Alongside this we will be developing an SMS and Cell Phone Ministry (what a way to reach the young people - they ALL have cell phones!!).

5. And then there was a melting pot of other initiatives : Full involvement in the Growing the Church initiative, the possibility of 2009 being declared The Year of the Young (to coincide with 2009 being the Year of the Child), the 2009 Youth Convention, Re-Commissioning the Youth Ministry in September, and lots more. Please return to this blog often as we roll out more aspects of this ministry.

Thank you for your prayer support. The Lord has certainly been very gracious to us as we experienced His blessings and guidance throughout the weekend.

Please continue to pray for all the Youth Leaders around the province and especially for the newly elected Council who has been tasked to lead the Youth to new levels of ministry effecacy.

Warm blessings to all.

Tony Lawrence
Provincial Youth Co-ordinator

PS - why not add your prayers and encouragements by clicking on "Comments" below. Thanks :)

New Provincial Youth Executive Council

Front (l to R) : Vukile Mkhize - Deputy Chairperson (Highveld); Fr Jack Kudumela - Chaplain (St Mark's); Nonhlahla Shezi - Chairperson (Natal); Nasson Paruque - Member (Lebombo);
Grant Damoes - Secretary (Cape Town)
Back (l to R) : Sandra Hendricks - Member (Mpumalanga); Bishop Fungi Mbhele - Liaison Bishop; Sello Mahlonoko - Treasurer (Christ the King); Fr Sipho Zulu - outgoing Chaplain, and
Tony Lawrence - Provincial Youth Co-ordinator.

Please pray for the new Provincial Youth Executive Council as they embark on serving the various Dioceses around the Province.

Why not click on "Comments" below and add your personal prayer encouragement for the Council. Thank you.

Youth Ministry Re-commissioning at GtC

As a recognition of the importance of the Ministry to Young People, it was agreed to re-Commission the Youth Ministry and to encourage them to greater depth of commitment and ministry delivery. The Youth ministry consists of it's mentor, Provincial Youth Council, and Youth oriented ministries such as ASF, AYF, Sunday School, all the Guilds, Hope Africa, Siyafundisa, and all other organisations that deliver a ministry of sorts to the young people of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa.
This event will happen at the Provincial launch of Growing the Church on Friday 19 September 2008 in Johannesburg. The entire Synod of Bishops will be in attendance as well as Provincial Standing Committee.
All young people are encouraged to participate in activities and events initiated locally in their respective Dioceses via their GtC Implementation Teams.
For information about this event and any other aspect of Growing the Church, could you please contact the Growing the Church office at : Phone : (021) 712 0408 or email office@growingthe church.co.za.

Diocese of the Free State hosts : Leadership of Youth 2008

The Youth Department of the Diocese of the Free State is hosting a Leadership of Youth 2008 Conference from 1 to 3 August 2008.

BRING BACK THE ARK

‘A call to Youth Leaders for total surrender and re-commitment’ 2 SAMUEL 6 ‘...so David brought back the ark...’

African Enterprise together with the Church hope to host a weekend of workshops, discussions, interaction and plenary sessions with speakers and facilitators that we trust from longstanding relationships over the years, to start this process or strengthen this process of empowering youth leaders/ Pastors for the better Africa we all want to live in.
For full details, contact Lindi Mdhluli on (051) 447 3684 or 073 780 8955 or email lindiwe@dsc.co.za.

Upward Sport is a Children’s Sports Ministry

Upward Sport focuses on boys and girls between the age of 5 and 13 using Soccer and Cricket. Their goal is to train and equip the local church to use sport as a tool for evangelism. They are hosting Vision Lunches in Cape Town and Johannesburg where they will be sharing a bit more about who Upward is and what they do.
You are welcome to contact Mike Gilmour on (021) 705 7784 or 073-914 1215 or email mgilmour@upward.org.za.