The Northern Ghana Union Conference and the Southern Ghana Union Conference combined forces to hold a joint national senior youth congress in the country’s capital of Accra from May 3 to 7, 2023, under the theme, “On Mission.” The majority of attendees were senior youth, who represented three ministries— Ambassadors (ages 16–21), Young Adults (ages 22–30), and Public Campus (ages 16–30+). Total attendance (youth, pastors, and elders) was approximately 1,000.

Alfred Kwasi Asiem, the West-Central Africa Division (WAD) youth director, fired up the attendees for the mission. He explained how the early church grew and presented implications for young people’s response to the mission and the opportunities that the present offers. The division’s goal is to top one million members by the end of the year. Given the zeal and commitment shown by the attendees, this is possible.

On Sabbath, Pako E. Mokgwane, associate youth director for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, invited young people to stay on the mission. The attendees committed to redemptively love fellow students, workmates, and friends by attending to their needs. They also resolved to present Jesus actively through their lifestyles and in their proclamation of the three angels’ messages.

Mokgwane also challenged the local church pastors and elders to ensure that every local church has a Public Campus Ministry (PCM) leader. Such a move would significantly boost the PCM agenda and increase the visibility and function of the PCM leader. Both unions have directors who focus solely on PCM. No wonder there is so much PCM activity, a positive vibe in the country, and such dedication and commitment by students.

It was reported that 137 people were baptized during a campaign led by students in the Tano community, Ashanti Region, in February 2023. Moreover, students are supported by the church to the extent that some chapters have buses. The unions, conferences, and local churches contribute significantly toward acquiring the buses. This is an important form of support for the PCM operations and makes the students on public campuses feel that they matter.

Pako E. Mokgwane (PhD, Organizational Leadership, Adventist University of Africa, Kenya) is Associate Director of the Youth Department at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected].

Recommended Citation

Pako E. Mokgwane, "Ghana Union Conferences Hold National Senior Youth Congress Convention," Dialogue 35:3 (2023): 27-28