Let the youth of today speak for themselves - Rev. Kodjo

Accra, July 5, GNA - The Reverend Peter Maugbi Kodjo, District Minister,

Osu Presbyterian Church on Saturday said the youth ministry in the church must

be designed and manned by the young people themselves. "The aim of youth work must be to assist young men and women to become

mature human beings after the image of Christ as they grapple with life issues today."

Rev Kodjo gave the advice at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Union of Presbyterian Students of Ghana (NUPSG) with the theme: "The past, the present and the future." He said what the country needed was not "youth workers" who attempt to herd the youth into what they believe was the ideal, but mentors who accompany

the young people as they grapple with life issues. The District Minister stated that with the Youth Policy of the church published in 2000 under the General Secretary, Rev. Opuni-Frimpong provides

the framework for what happens in the youth ministry today. Rev Kodjo said adolescence representation on the General Assembly Council has resulted in a new youth expression which does not limit their participation to

their own organizations. "Lessons learned since 1980 indicate that youth work does not take place by

chance, unless clear objectives are set in a policy framework, what happens cannot be evaluated in any scientific way," he added. "With the participation of the young people themselves a new vision for

youth work has emerged in the church. "The youth in church evangelism programme has aroused in today's youth a

new commitment to evangelism, and a sense of ownership as far as church

evangelistic programmes are concerned," he said. He said often "generation gap" was used by adults to isolate the young

people and perpetuate their own understanding of life which was often different

from the perspective of the youth themselves and therefore it was important to

bridge that gap between the generations from a new understanding of life. Rev Kodjo made a number of proposals that the NUPSG should be a student

union led by the students themselves, full-time chaplains should be appointed for

every Presbytery and adequately resourced to accompany the students. State universities should have Presbyterian chaplains to support and help promote the initiatives of the students, adding, "this is the age of competition and we cannot leave this ministry to chance." Rev Kofi Amfo-Akonnor, Director, Church Life and Nurture, in a goodwill message urged members of the NUPSG to resolve to abide by the dictates of true Christian values since they owe it an obligation to themselves, family, church

and society to live above reproach. He said the change that the young people want could be realized through

constructive suggestions at the various courts of the church and most

importantly through their commitment to the course of the church The NUPSG is a platform on which the young people of the church are nurtured and give solid foundation through Christian training on campuses so as

to enable them take up their places in the future of the country and the church. Activities lined up for the celebration include HIV/AIDS awareness, building

of capacity of youth leaders in various universities, blood donation and presentation of items.