THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH –

GHANA
YOUTH MINISTRY
SYNOPSIS FOR YOUTH WEEK PROGRAM OUTLINE
Sunday 16th October, 2022: Launch at Local and National Levels
Synopsis

The focus for this day is to bring awareness to the uniqueness of the Youth Ministry in
general and the Youth Week in particular.
1. Mention to be made that in the past attention has been paid to all the generations in the
church except the youth and that cost us dearly as a church;
2. Mention to be made that contrary to the erstwhile Witness Movement which focused
mainly on an activity (radical evangelism), the Youth Ministry focuses on the people
expected to do the activity;
3. Mention to be made that most churches today focus largely on adult ministries and
sometimes little attention to children ministry but practically no attention to youth ministry
4. Mention to be made that this Youth Week will address the lack of information on Youth
ministry, identify who the stakeholders are for youth ministry and also discuss the role of all
stakeholders
5. Finally mention should be made about the activities outlined for the week, stressing the
fact that the content is designed for stakeholders more than the youth themselves and
therefore requires the full participation of the entire church.

Monday 17th October, 2022: Talk - The World of the 21st Century Youth
Synopsis
The primary objective for this day is to establish the fact the youth of today do not see the
world the way adults see it. Attention then should be drawn to the peculiarities of their world,
its challenges, dangers, deceptions, opportunities etc and how the youth are most likely
going to respond to them.
This is aimed at helping stakeholders appreciate their world, its challenges and learn how to
handle and disciple them into fruitful Christian adults.
The characteristics of the world of the 21st century youth include but not limited to:
a) A world of technology and its impact

Technology has seemly made life easier gradually getting many young people to become
lazy. Secondly, social media also allows strangers to even mentor the youth without the
knowledge of parents;
b) A world of dwindling absolutes and enhanced relativism

In the past society generally accepts and agrees on what is good and acceptable behavior.
Today. Good and bad depends on everyone and how they feel about issues.
c) A world of enhanced uncontrolled rights

The rights that people use to have were standard rights that protected the entire society.
Human rights have since grown wings and now permits many dangerous concepts that
have the capacity to destroy the youth of today; d) A world of materialis
Materialism is hailed in today’s world and young people are made to believe that money is
everything and one has to use every means to get it. This is detrimental to their holistic
development;
e) A world of abundant knowledge

Because of the internet and social media, young people today have access to all sorts of
material, positive an negative alike. Parents need to know from time-to-time what kind of
material their youth are feeding on, knowing very well that behavior is based on beliefs.

Tuesday 18th October 2022: Movie/Talk on the Youth and

Contemporary Challenges: i.e. Sex, Alcohol and Gambling
Synopsis
The day will be dedicated to watching a particular movie that shares lessons on the
deception and dangers of either of (or a combination of) the three leading social vices
among the youth of today i.e. Sex, Gambling and alcoholism. The movie will be followed by
discussions on the lessons learned from the movie.

Wednesday 19th October, 2022: Stakeholders Conference: Panel

Discussion Topic: Discipling the 21st Century Youth-The
Stakeholders, the Challenges and the Way Forward
Synopsis
Who are the stakeholders of youth ministry among Christians today? The Bible answers as
follows:
1. The family has the first and primary responsibility for the discipling of their children and
youth – Deut. 6:6-9, Prov. 22: 6, 2Tim. 1:3-5.

This responsibility can be shirked and abdicated to the church but the average local church
cannot have more than six hours a week for teaching and training the youth in their care.
Families should have more time with their youth and are expected by the scriptures to do
more than the church.
2. The church also has the responsibility to train and disciple the youth in its fold – Luke 2:
41-47.

The local church has the responsibility to educate the youth as part of their discipleship
journey. Conscious efforts must be made by the church not to ignore the most crucial
generation in the church structures and programming.
3. Peers of our youth also wield a great deal of power to influence them – Pro. 13:20; 27:17,
1 Cor. 15:33

As stakeholders, we need to be interested in who are the friends of our youth. We must
ensure we do the following:
a) Let us guide them to choose the right friends;
b) help in discipling their friends who do not know the Lord;
c) empower our youth to withstand peer pressure and
d) train them to evangelize their unbelieving friends.

4. Society as a whole and the culture within which we live can shape the belief system,
values and subsequently the behavior of the people including the youth – 2 Pet. 2:7,8.
We need educate the youth that society is not always right and that sin has engulfed much
of society. They must be taught well enough to distinguish right from wrong and be
empowered to speak against evils of society and to contribute towards righting the wrong.
Thursday 20th October, 2022: Talk - Becoming Influential Adults:
Today’s Choices
Synopsis
The objective of this talk is to help the youth to make the right choices today for a better
tomorrow.
The talk should touch on the following:
a) The fact that almost every youth today would want to be an influential adult tomorrow
b) That life is all about the choices we make and the repercussions of those choices; Gen.
8:22

Note that our state of life is always equal to our divine make up, plus our environment
(where we grew up) plus our choices. Since we cannot change our divine make-up and the
environment (because they are all in the past), the only control we have is to make the right
choices today.
c) The fact that our choices of today will determine our destinies tomorrow – Gal. 6:7
d) The life of Esau can be used as an illustration here – Hebrews 12:16, 17

Friday 21st October, 2022: An inter-generational church service and

Family Prayer Time
Topic: Creating a God-Centered home
The objective is to have an inter-generational church service (a church service where all the
generations - i.e. children, youth and adults - are present and play roles in the service) and
a special prayer time for the families. This requires that we expect all movements to be
present in the service and to be given specific roles to play. Parents of children and youth
who are not members of our church should be invited specially for this service.
Synopsis
The talk may cover the following areas:
1. What are the characteristics of a God-centered home? How can we tell whether a
particular home is a God-centered one or not? The following items may help: a. A God-
centered home is a home where Christ is always present and sought after – Luke 2:41-46.
We can do this by constant family prayer, Bible study and family devotion.
b. A God centered home is one that makes the commands of Christ central in decision
making
c. A God-centered home is a place where children are intentionally taught the ways of God
– Gen. 18:19;
d. A God-centered how is a home where parents are good examples for their children –
Prov. 22:6, 2Tim. 1:3-5,
e. A God-centered home is a home where only God-honoring content is allowed on
Television and on all electronic devices – 2Pet. 2:7,8, Deut. 6:6-9

2. How do we create a God-centered home?

Some important actions that lead to a God-centered home include:

a) Prioritize personal and family devotions.
b) Pray often! Even more than you think necessary.
c) Keep communication lines open. Ask specific questions.
d) Listen well. You will hear people’s hearts when you listen without an agenda.
e) Involve everyone. Make efforts to make each heart feel included, important & invaluable
to your family unit.
f) Smile a lot. Even more than you think necessary!
g) Unplug every day. Shut the phone off when everyone is home.
h) Look into your loved ones eyes. Really see them.
i) Use and over-use words like please, thank you, I’m sorry, and I love you. Say those
more than necessary.

Saturday 22nd October, 2022: Fun Games and/or Community Impact

Project
Various districts and locals can determine whether they have the capacity to do both events
or will focus on one of them.
Sunday 23rd October, 2022: Investing in the faith of the next
Generation
As much as practicable, the youth ministry should be allowed to run this service. The objective of
the message is to inform all stakeholders on what the youth needs today to flourish tomorrow.

NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK 2022

The Maiden Edition of the National Youth week has been scheduled to come off
from Monday 17th - Sunday 23rd October 2022.
The National Youth Week is expected to provide the opportunity for inter-
generational ministry, to showcase the ministry of the youth and provide a platform
for Stakeholders to make input into the ministry.
This maiden edition will be organized under the theme: “Investing in the faith of
the Next Generation”
Activities and Topics Date Activity and Topic
Sunday 16th Oct. Launch at Local level
Monday 17th Oct. Opening Talk: The World of the 21st
Century Youth
Tuesday 18th Oct. Talk/Movie on the Youth and Contemporary
Challenges: i.e. Sex, Alcohol and Gambling
Wed. 19th Oct. Stakeholders Conference: Panel
Discussion
Topic: Discipling the 21st Century Youth -
The Stakeholders, the Challenges and the
Way Forward
Thurs. 20th Oct. Talk: Becoming Influential Adults: Today’s
Choices
Friday 21st Oct. An Inter- generational church service:
Family Prayer Time
Topic: Creating a God-Centered home.
Sat. 22nd Oct.
a) Community project/Outreach to
Prisons/Orphanages/Borstal Institutes etc.
b) Fun Games, etc.

Sunday 23rd Oct. Topic: Investing in the faith of the next

generation
Climax to be run by Youth Ministry,
including Word Ministration where
practicable