Youth urged to play positive role in changing Africa
Described as a movement of young activists and social entrepreneurs, Youth Mentors Collaborating for Change (YMC2) was launched at Fountains of Life Church, on August 6.
Among the invited guests was African Christian Democratic Party ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe.
Speaking before a packed audience, founder Pastor Desire Peters said the movement is for those who are willing to get beyond comfortable and privatised faith in representing God and to act on his behalf in playing a role to change the fate of Africa as “we” know it.
She said the initiative addresses a social and restorative justice strategy, through the hands of young adults who dare to be nation builders, city takers and global agents of change.
The movement, she explained, came as a results of the inescapable tragedies that surrounds “us”.
“Children are starving, human beings are being sold into slavery, millions are dying from preventable diseases and still millions have no place to call their home.
“Suffocating poverty lives next to untold riches, some families are experiencing devastating hunger, while others have abundance to waste,” said Peters.
According to her, people do not have to dig deep to see that all of mankind is essentially broken and that there is no better time in history for the gospel of Jesus Christ to matter than it does now.
“There is no better time in history for the church to play its part than now,” she added.
“So, if you ask me where this began – it began with an overwhelming burden for the poor, the forgotten and the voiceless, and a very deep irritation and annoyance at the indifference and apathy we were displaying as a church of Christ.”
Peters told the audience that there’s a need to develop a new approach to overcoming poverty.
“We must be concerned with the temporal and eternal conditions of the people we are called to serve.
“Our ministry must be that spectrum of focus. We must share the good news of the kingdom and be concerned with eternal conditions of a man (spiritual/salvation), as well as the temporal (food, freedom and shelter),” she said.
She further urged the audience to challenge the idea that faith is private.
“When faith is private then wealth, power and violence remain unchallenged, because religion isn’t understood to be about things.
“In fact, privatised faith is an asset to injustice – the world wants our faith to be private, so that the church and the faithful are kept complacent or just quiet about such issues,” said Peters.
Fountain of Life founder Pastor Jan de Rouwe weighed in, calling on the church to rise up in society (just like Daniel and Joseph) and to take the challenge, as “no social movement can succeed without the involvement of the church”.
The pastor urged the youth to fulfil the kingdom mandate, which is righteousness, joy and peace.
“YMC2 prepares our young people to become a crossover generation, to carry forward the Word of God. It brings hope and deliverance to many in our society
“Youth should take advantage of this movement and influence government, business, education, media, families, religion, arts and culture and entertainment to serve the will of God,” said de Rouwe.
ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe took to the platform to add his voice.
He urged the youth to be responsible, because “God has placed in us the responsibility of what happens in the our country”.
Meshoe said many governments around the world do not succeed in bringing transformation to society.
“The problem is they try to bring it from the outside, whereas transformations should start from within a person,” he explained.
“Every change must start from within and, without God, we cannot make it.”
He urged the audience to transform, rather than conform.
Meshoe went on to say that Jesus was concerned with the total person and urged the audience to concern themselves with such.
He told youngsters to embrace the values of respect and accountability.
Turning to the charismatic churches, he said they can’t just concern themselves with “casting out demons” and leave the rest of the gospel, such as feeding the poor, to the Catholics.
In closing he told the audience: “Let your light so shine before men so they may see your good works”.
The movement can be contacted through their social media pages, on Facebook and Twitter @Youth Mentors Collaborating for Change (YMC2).
