THE YOUTH IN THE AFRICAN CHURCH By Rev. B.H. Kato, B.D., A.L.B.C.

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth..." Ecclesiastes 12:1a.

(1969 Typescript)

This great injunction presupposes that the youth has already got something to REMEMBER. Before we expect the youth to do his own part, therefore, the parents, the teachers, and other Christians responsible for bringing up children must be sure that they have given the youth something - the word of life which generates faith that accepts the free gift of eternal life. Here we want to see if the Church of Christ in Africa is fulfilling its task in filling the minds of the youth with something to remember. By the term youth in this paper we have in mind young people between the age of 13 and 24 in particular. That is, from the time a child goes to secondary or high school till the time he graduates from university. But this is by no means restrictive. The Importance of Youth A reliable survey has indicated that 75% of African 260, 000,000 population is under 20. If children and young people form the majority of our population then they deserve our whole attention. But it is not the size alone that makes this age group very significant. This is a very significant age for conversion. A survey in two colleges in Nigeria reveals that 70% of some 200 converted students of the colleges were saved between the age of 13 and 16. Youth of this age moreover, have a great influence in any democratic society. Most of the coup d'etat in Africa have been instigated or made successful by young army officers. University students have proved their power to influence the public in some countries through demonstrations and rioting. The youth can influence the public for good or for bad. Many mission bodies in Africa as Asia were started by young people. This period under review is a crucial one. It is a state from which a young person plunges into life for good or for bad. He decides for a life career. He chooses a life partner and begins a home where Christ or Satan reigns supreme. A lot depends on what the Church does in the earlier state.

The Challenge of Youth Work Urbanization is a necessary by-product of industrial political development. Dakar, Accra, Lagos, Brazzaville, Nairobi and Khartoum have emerged within a few years as large centres to serve as administrative centres. These are but a few. It is young people who swell up the cities. They want to see the new world. They have been told of cities flowing with milk and honey. But as they go to land of no return, they settle in the cities whatever hardship they discover. There you have vices that characterize most of the Western cities. A typical newspaper headline reads, "A girl of six raped." Such incredible things happen. Urbanization in many cases means that the village church is deserted. Unless something very appealing is done in the city church, the young people are not going to go to that either. Some young people don't necessarily drift to the towns but they lose interest in going to church either because the preaching is irrelevant or there is no suitable programme for young people in the church. A young man made this bitter attack on the church in a national newspaper recently under the caption "Why the church fails youth" - "The church lacks adequate understanding of the problems of the modern world. It scares the youth away by long, boring irrelevant sermons, the church sticks too dogmatically to archaic constitution and old traditions." This is only one of many instances of youth's attacks on church as an institution. Effort by the Church to meet the Challenge Many Christian organizations are doing a lot to meet the need of the young people. The Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship has helped many African students overseas find Christ and built them up in Him. As these students have returned to many key positions in their countries such as lawyers, doctors and lecturers, they have influenced the lives of other people too. Christian Unions have been established in African universities and colleges. The Scripture Union has done a lot in the secondary schools. The Fellowship of Christian Students in Northern States of Nigeria has wrought wonders in many colleges. Some mission and church bodies have seized great opportunities in teaching religious classes in government schools. The Sudan Interior Mission with Evangelical Churches of West Africa, for instance, gives instructions to about 5,000 students in about 50 government Institutions in Nigeria. So far the effort has been concentrated on helping the very few privileged elites who go to post-primary institutions.

For the bulk of youth, very little is done. Most churches in Africa don't even have a separate youth programme. A few others have them but they are not run efficiently, consequently, they would start a programme with a big enrolment, but gradually the number drops down to only a few faithful ones. While it is true that many successful campaigns have been held by Billy Graham Crusade, New Life For All, African Enterprise and other agencies, many of the young people whose hearts the Lord touched, have not continued as strong, active Christians because of very little continued youth programme in the church. Suggestions for Improved Ministry among the Youth A sound Christian Education programme in every local church should be pursued, A great deal of evangelism has done but very little teaching has followed. The great commission is "Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations... TEACHING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." A sound Christian Education would mobilize our young people into active participation of the church life. Many young people today feel neglected. It is a fact that some old pastors look at the youth as sinners who cannot have hands in the holy things of God. But "who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. 2:16). "If thou Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?" (Psa. 130:3). We should sympathize with our young people in their stormy period, bearing in mind that we were once in that stage. We should give our young people something to do after they have committed their lives to Christ. Sin, of course, must be dealt with. But let us avoid pharisaic attitude. Christian Education encourages the growth of various youth organizations in the church us well as those of the older people. A strong Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Boys' Brigade, Girls Brigade, Young Sword League, and other similar clubs that promote Christian teaching are given impetus by Christian Education. Occasionally too young people should be given chance, under good guidance to have youth Sunday during which they lead the service in the church. Now the problem of the youth who have never stepped into any church. Evangelism, which is the primary purpose of the church on earth, should be stressed in our churches. Young people in the different church clubs should be made to see their responsibility in bringing in "other sheep" which are not yet of the fold. Youth centres should be established in cities, and made open for all those wishing to come. Christian youths should use these as opportunities to interest young people in

Christian things. Big rallies and city campaigns should be held in large public places. But adequate preparations should be made ahead of time for absorbing the new converts into the life of the church. To pervade the church in Africa with a successful youth programme, pastors and other leaders to engage in the ministry must be trained. We should include and stress the subjects related to youth work in our Bible Colleges and Seminaries. If possible a specialized course should be planned for youth work in the urban areas. We should not by any means neglect youth work in the rural areas. That is why a course, general in nature, should be taught to all our pastors. But then some specialization be allowed for those going to work in the sophisticated urban areas. Whatever course is planned, that must not be done only in theory. Students must be given chance to practise what they learn in classroom, and credit should be given for their practical work. Whatever is said here to the local church, should be said to the family church. The African family is very much knit together. This is a great advantage. But is this utilized? Socrates said to the citizens of Greece, "What mean ye, fellow citizens, that scrape every stone to get wealth together, and take so little care of your children to whom ye must some day relinquish it all?" I am afraid this could be said of many Christian families in Africa today. How many people seek the salvation of their children? Family altar is not observed in many homes. A good Christian home should be the foundation of youth work. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. Thank God for wonderful methods and techniques for youth work today. They are barely touched here. But we must remember this, the secret of success of every Christian ministry is complete reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ who said, "Without me ye can do nothing." Only the Spirit of God can mold the young life "according to the pattern."

REPORTS OF DISCUSSIONS ON REV. KATO'S PAPER I. English Section.. A. Relation of the Scripture Union and the F.C.S. to the church. It was noted that these are not attached to any particular church and someone suggested that they should be connected like G.B. and B.B. to churches.

B. The problem which arises when the principal of a school does not approve of evangelism. The F.C.S. must try to win the principal to their side. C. The drinking of beer and wine. The following points were made: 1. Every Christian is a priest and as such must refrain from drinking. 2. No drunkard will enter the kingdom of God. 3. The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us to abstain. 4. We are God's temple and so must be holy. 5. Pro. 20:1, "Wine is a mocker." D. What can we do to attract the students to our churches? The following suggestions wore made: 1. Allow the young people to take part in church activities. 2. Prepare places such as a library for them so they can read. 5. Have a special Sunday in which they take part in the service. 4. Arrange social activities such as volley ball, football, etc. 5. Have special film shows. 6. Write to students while they are away, so that they know what is going on in the church. E. How can one start an F.C.S. in a catholic school? The question was to be referred to Mr. Ariko. F. Is it good to allow people to be secret believers? They should be encouraged to come out openly, but not necessarily immediately. The early church had a secret sign of the fish. G. The problem was discussed of those who pretend to be Christians while in school and then fall away afterwards. Too great a gap between teachers and students was deplored. The F.C.S. should try to ensure that the pretenders become real Christians. H. The problem of dancing. A personal decision must be made, but everything we do should be to the glory of God. Those who dance do it for self glory. I. The differences between F.C.S. and S.U. and S.C.M. All are separate organzations, but F.C.S. and S.U. are similar, because they are strongly Bible based. To become a member of F.C.S., one must sign a declaration of faith. S.C.M. has a much broader basis of membership, to include those who are interested, but not necessarily Christians. J. Can those who do evil be blamed if they are fulfilling God's plan? It was stated, clearly that God never calls us to do evil.

K. What can the church do to help those students who have problems getting work because they are unwilling to bribe or take part in immoral practices? The church can try to help them, if necessary, with money and should pray for them. Some church members or their own parents should try to help them find work. II. Hausa Section. A. How children in primary school can be led to Christ. The following advice was given: 1. Parents should teach their own children at home. 2. Parents should send their children to Sunday school. 3. Someone should be provided to give Christian teaching in primary schools. 4. Help should be given to those who do give Christian teaching in these primary schools. 5. Children should be encouraged to join the Young Sowers' League and do Bible searching. The gifts will encourage them. B. How those who go to post primary schools can be helped: 1. People from the church should write to them and enclose verses, tracts, etc. 2. Church members should pray for them. 3. They should be recognized publicly and included in public worship when they come home. III. Yoruba Section. A. Suggestion to N.E.F.: We have talked about youth centres and feel that each church cannot have one, and so we would like N.E.F. to establish youth centres in our large cities. B. Are the young people troublesome or not? Some are and some are not. Suggestions: 1. Let them know they really belong to the church. Do not just throw work at them, but discover their talents and use them. 2. Those who cannot be trusted with responsibility should be prayed for. C. The problem of those who work on shifts, and cannot go to the ordinary services. They should be visited by pastors, talked to and prayed for. D. The problem that many young people do not go to the evening service. Suggested solutions: 1. Pastors should make the morning service of moderate length. 2. Pastors messages should be up-to-date, without too many stories of the animal kingdom. 3. There should be interesting items included in the evening

service. E. Problem of rebuking. Since rebuking sometimes drives young ones away from church, they should be rebuked in love. It was stressed that the whole burden of the work should not fall upon the pastor alone. (Read at the First AEA General Assembly (Limuru, Kenya 1969) and at the Christian Leaders Conference, Ilorin, Nigeria, May 9-16, 1969.) Evangelical Conference: Morning Messages (1969)