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Progress On Youth Evangelism in Nigeria

From Bukie Coast-Ufeli, National Director

Praise God with us on the progress made in reaching young people across the nation of Nigeria. We want to solicit your prayers more than ever before as we strive for more results in our ministry to young people in our country.

 

A Significant Milestone

I was in Owerri for the 22nd Super Reunion Conference of past and present volunteers, staff and young people in July, which signified the consistent ministry that has been ongoing in that centre for 23 years. The centre coordinator who had served for most of those years said the ministry has reached over 500,000 young people during the years of existence.

Also the theme of the Conference ‘In times like this’ was chosen to motivate the participants to rise up to the challenge of youth evangelism and proclamation of the gospel in fresh ways to the young people. It was a great time of rejuvenation as I listened to some of the Alumni on the history of Youth for Christ in the region. They shared the great exploits of what God has done over the years. Many of the ‘ex-YFCers’ are in leadership positions in various churches as Bishops and Ministry Presidents.

 

Vocational Training & Discipleship

The Vocational Skill Acquisition program organised by the Ondo state team in Akure has registered over 600 secondary school students to address unemployment amongst the young people. At present 25 of them are going through a weekly Discipleship program, using Youth for Christ’s Journey series. Pray for these young people as they go through their vocational training and Discipleship classes that the power of the Holy Spirit will teach them all they need to know in order to be the disciples of Christ indeed.

 

New Coordinator in Lagos

In Lagos, Tunde Aiyegbusi, the new Coordinator had taken over from Sola, who served in the ministry for 10 years in that ministry centre. They have continued ministry to schools and had an outreach at Corona Secondary school where they ministered to the entire school population. 23 students made decisions for Jesus and many re-dedicated their lives. The newly printed tracts on ‘Sex-Worth waiting for’ and ‘Self Esteem’ were distributed to the students who are a fraction of the over 1 million young people Youth for Christ plans to reach across the country.

Pray for the ministry work in Lagos, a mega city of over 14 million population. Pray for Tunde as he follows God’s leading. Pray for new volunteers who God will raise to carry out His ministry. Pray for effective follow up and Discipleship program for these young people in schools and clubs across the state.

 

Sexual Abstinence Program

The “Youth Alive” project, a Sexual Abstinence campaign had reached over 1,600 students in primary and secondary schools in 2 Local government areas of Ondo state. 42 Teachers were trained as TOTs on Family Life Health Education (FLHE) for ongoing training and counseling.

Also 50 parents were taken through training sessions on parent/teen communication for effective follow up on sexual abstinence and purity at the home front. This is in line with our comprehensive package to reach the caretakers in the lives of the young people such as teachers, pastors/youth pastors and parents. The approach is to create an enabling environment to surround the young people with the right message from various influencers in their lives.

The objective of the 2nd stage of the project is to reach about 25 youth groups which consist of out-of-school youths. This will involve vocational skill training to address the unemployment issue facing the youth population in Nigeria. Pray for the salvation of these young people as we proclaim Christ using the avenue of the regular contact with the youth groups.

 

Ministry to Orphans

Youth for Christ is one of the Non-government organizations (NGOs) implementing the Global Fund Project reaching Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Nigeria. We have enrolled over 140 children in this category with over 50 of them being supported with educational materials, school fees, uniforms and sandals.

We plan to go into partnership with Donor agencies, other NGOs, state governments and local government authorities to raise funds to set up orphanages/schools for the children in 3 states -Ondo, Nasarawa & Imo states.

In Nasarawa, Youth for Christ has been working with the orphans since 2010 when School materials were distributed to over 500 pupils who had no exercise books, school sandals though they were enrolled in schools. This year they had a program at the orphanage in Gudun-Beje orphanage on 17th July.

 

Please also pray for the upcoming Challenge camp on 28-30 October, being held in Ubomiri Girls Secondary school, Owerri where 150 young people will be reached.