Youth Spirituality

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Youth Spirituality

QUEENSTOWN

INTRODUCTION

It is a great pleasure for me to be afforded this moment to present the work of the Youth in the Queenstown district.

We are blessed to meet immediately after the most loved game hosted for the first time in our continent the FIFA SOCCER WORLD CUP, really we have felt it. We thank the highest God for making this tournament a huge success in our country and for making South Africa to shine over the world through hosting this tournament. We shall express words of gratitude to all those who were the organizers they have done extremely well.

YOUTH SPIRITUALITY

Co-ordinator Sir, the theme for the Queenstown District Youth in 2010 says “Let us worship God and be disciples. We have chosen this theme simply because most of the time the Youth involves themselves into many extra mural activities and forget the importance of Worshipping God and be God’s Disciples. This theme assists to deepen ourselves spiritually as we worship and to experience new things in worshiping God.

The Spirituality of the District Youth Sir is growing. It is witnessed by the way the Youth Worships and by the attendance that continues to grow in the Youth gatherings. In various Circuits in our District, Worship team and Intercessory Ministry is very active. Bible-studies play a vital role in cultivating the spirituality of young people in the church and it also assists young people to be rooted in God and in the doctrine of our Church.

HIV-AIDS

In reality, young people are the most infected & affected people by this epidemic, youth is trying its utmost best in the fight of this disease they are playing their role in terms of awareness, advocating about living positive life, establishing support groups and stigmatization of those infected is no more a problem. In the same tone there is a lot to be done to improve the status quo because the more we know, the more we educate people about this virus the more the numbers and rate of infected increases, WHY? It’s all in the mind and consciousness of each and every individual to practice what is right. We are too good in front of people’s eyes but behind the scene it’s a different story.

How do we expect the rate of infections to decrease whereas:

 School children spent whole nights at taverns drinking liquor and dance for juke box and become sex victims on a one night stand and, tomorrow she’ll be used by someone else  There’s escalating teenage pregnancy which results to high rate of school drop-outs These are just few notorious and appalling examples in our daily living. We still need to be more vigorous and vociferous in response to HIV-AIDS Working Strategy in our respective circuits and societies.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Many families throughout the country continue to live a destitute life whereas this leg (poverty alleviation) deteriorates in the work of young people.

The district Youth has contributed to the bursary fund with R30 000 this year and 15 young people are funded through this fund. After the consideration by the Youth synod that young people are doing nothing on this programme We resolved that the task team be formed to look at the strategies that will assist circuits to start the mission work as to eradicate the poverty escalating in our societies.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Coordinator, as Queenstown District we want to acknowledge the increase in the number of Guilders and males who are voluntarily offering themselves to render services in the Children's Ministry. We humbly appeal to all Sunday School Teachers to give the District Superintendent support in whatever initiatives she comes up with and to collectively build the brighter future of our future generation. The current syllabus needs a hands-on approach and we want to thank those Sunday School Teachers that are grasping it so that our children can be taught. There is still a challenge on the implementation of the Children’s Ministry Syllabus, we humbly appeal to all Ministers to guide and support Sunday School Teachers in this regard as they feel isolated sometimes. Sunday School is the future of our church so we humbly request that this ministry be centralized and seriously taken care of.

In our District Sunday School Teachers seminar we discussed our challenges, strengths and came up with strategies on how we can keep the Children's Ministry flame burning. We were also given a report from Connexion Sunday School Indaba on how we should tackle the ministry. We thank Rev. Matyumza for workshoping us on how to deal with those little ones and reminding us that to be a Sunday School Teacher is a divine calling.

YOUTH UNITY

a. What are the youth structures that operate within your district?

- Children’s Ministry and - Wesley guild

How do you operate in relation to one another?

b. All the events of the District accommodates both structures. Executive committee elected by the Youth synod comprises of the children’s ministry and Wesley guild, this make it easy to for the District to operate.

Are there any other programs peculiar to your district?

The Mvume Dandala Mission Fund was established during the reign of Rev Matyumza as the District Coordinator and Bro. Caba as the General Secretary.

The main objectives of the fund were described as follows:  Tertiary education for the disadvantaged /needy -Bursary Fund  Funding of Circuit Sustainable Projects  Assisting the Mission Programmes of the Church -Mission &Extension  Contribution towards education of the Clergy -Ministerial Student Fund

Out of the four objectives the fund has been mainly used for the Bursary Fund objective.

The Bursary Fund now is operated by a Board under the leadership of the District Bishop and is comprised of Departmental/Organizational Presidents/Coordinators and Secretaries and we currently contributed R30 000 towards the District Fund.

As the executive we come with the recommendation that the Mission Task Team to be elected by Youth Synod and should focus on how we achieve other objectives originally set for the fund. We also appeal to Circuits to embark on sustainable projects for funding, as it will help with the challenge of unemployment.

The Youth Synod 2010 has reviewed the Moral Regeneration task team that the Youth unit used to have. This committee is tasked to come up with programmes that will restore the morals and values that deteriorated in our country and in our churches. This team is convened by Rev. Nkosinathi Geja.

The District Youth Unit Sir has elected an Education task team led by Bro Sizwe Ngwendu. This team is tasked to do the following :  To organise an Education summit for the Province of Eastern Cape, to discuss ways of resuscitating the Education that is declining in our province.  To organise Winter and Summer school for all Grade 12 students in our Province/District using the skilled people of our church.  To organise the career exhibition for Eastern Cape Province/Queenstown District grade 12 & 11 learners  To identify the challenges faced by the Department of Education & to come up with the solutions for all those challenges.

What do you seek to achieve, what is your focus for 2009/2010?

 Spiritual growth

Resolutions to Synod

 The District Youth Consultation 2009 held in Mount Coke 315 as from 24 th to 27th September 2009, the Honourable MEC of the Department of Education Mr Mahlubandile Qwase addressed the Consultation on the issue of the current education system and the new curriculum (OBE & NCS)

An agreement was reached by the MEC and the Consultation at large that we need to organised an Education Summit as to discuss and engage further the alarming detoriation and declining state of education particularly in our Province, so as for the Church to establish what meaningful role and contribution we can play in rescucitating the importance interest and high standards of education in redressing the social imbalances of the past. Further noting the provocation of this matter by the District Youth Secretary in her report, requesting the church to once more take the centre stage around issues of education

The Youth Synod assembled in Centane 321 on the 19-20 March 2010 therefore resolves to request the District Synod to pursue further the organization of this education summit through the office of the Bishop. The Synod can further elect the Education Task Team to facilitate the process and logistics of organizing the summit. The motion was accepted by the Synod and the synod added members to serve in committee elected by the Youth Synod to organise this summit.

 The Youth Synod held in Centane Circuit 321 on the 19-20 March 2010 moves to the General Synod that, after we have seen that the Youth struggles to attend its Youth Synod and the Circuit hosting suffers in preparations of the Synod. We therefore move that the General Synod shall ensure that the Youth synod delegates costs be the responsibility of the circuit as it does to the General synod delegates.

1. How do you see Youth work developing in your District? (Strategies)

 Spirituality: People are inspired by the spiritual content of the programmes.

 Quantity: This is seen by the attendance in our District events and the

2. What are your challenges?  Unemployment  Lack of full commitment from other members.  Tithing  Discipline  Migration  Teenage Pregnancy and HIV and AIDS 3. Report on the following;

WESLEY GUILD: 4C;s for Christ are implemented and effective in our District: see Circuits Reports below:

Our 4c’s for Christ are slowly moving away from the stagnant approach that guilders used. Consecration is no longer focused on just preaching… we now have Bible verse talks, bible verse challenges, exams etc. Guilders have cropped out of their shells…we play hide and seek, fetch, singing competitions, hobo fashion shows, and other exciting activities. We don’t just do these with no purpose or rationale behind; they always unexpectedly come with a punch that makes you have introspection.

 Cultural day- In this event we were very much in touch with our heritage, we showcased our cultural talents, food and traditional attire.  We had a spectacular sports day that we all took part in which was in preparation for the Districts Sports day.  Our 4 C’s are somewhat active and effective as we have started evaluating them with quarterly reports from societies that has made us active in every manner.  Holistically we are growing but in a gradual rate.  In the Camp, we launched our flag. Everyone was amazed! “Xa uThixo engakuthi ngubani ongasichasayo”  As stated above, consecration is the main C that was excellently implemented. We also had a topic “journey with the Holy Spirit’, which was very moving! Also a speaker was invited who had the topic: A choice to say YES or NO.  Garden projects are also taking place in some Circuits as to fight poverty.

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