Youth Leadership: Actual Responsibility

Facilitators: 
OLUGBENGA Micheal Sarumi (A)
FUNMILAYO Odusoga (B)

Feb. 2021 @MCN Lagos Road, Ayotayo Shopping Complex, One Oriya, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Part (A)| 

A Leadership training program focused on the responsibilities of the Youth in securing the future of the church and an in depth analysis of the unwritten but trend - demanded roles of constituted authorities of the youth fellowship (Youth Excos).

INTRODUCTION:

The Methodist Youth Fellowship as an arm of the church is so important that one can refer to it as the life of the church.

You may be quick to ask how, because you feel there is almost no indication that the youths of our church carry such importance as scripted above. Nonetheless, this is a fact, because whatever we do, whoever we are now and whatever we plan or intend being (future) will have great impact on the church.

Taking Nigeria as an example, what we’ve seen recently is the tussle for political power by young people against the older ones. It is obvious that a very high and significant percentage of these bulk seeking political power do not have basic leadership knowledge, experience, nor lessons that could have actually prepared them for the task ahead ‘if’ they eventually get there. Now, imagine that they get into power unprepared. We can have an assurance of steady failure. As though, some leaders with experience and plans still experience setbacks that made a whole system collapse, talk less of young people without experience and no actual plan.

In simplified term, such nation is going to experience greater mess beyond her bargain. In essence, if Methodist Youths do not get themselves ready, learn, unlearn, relearn; strategize’, be deliberate about taking up responsibilities of first moving ourselves forward and becoming better people, there will be problem.

However, if youths will understand that there is no better time than RIGHT NOW to start taking responsibilities as leaders called into the light that cannot be hidden. Understand that, the future is determined by no one but the one that looks at you in the mirror, no one but we the youth will take larger percent of what the future beholds. And whatever it beholds, will be a fruit of what we (you and I) gave for it.

Today, the Diocese of Ikorodu Youth (DIY) Fellowship holds this workshop, to re-orientate, and re-brand our mindset about the given responsibilities of Youths, the demands of present and preparation for the constantly changing times into the future. These are values that will help us move forward in life, first as individuals and then as a fellowship which is the actual church.

But without an open mind, we may never realize our major responsibility in moving the church forward. We need to be abreast of the needs to be servant leaders, open minded to understand that there is a system here, open minded to see service and tasks as opportunities to shape the future, open minded to read lines not written even in the guidelines, laws and workshop materials as this in your hand.

We need to know that in doing our part even when we are not in the forefront of the system, we are leaders and therefore have a responsibility of getting up and making things happen, excelling and helping other youths and younger ones become better even as we transition into adulthood; and in  respect to the church system, we will graduate into either parts of the Women Fellowships & Men Fellowships respectively and there we won’t stop being good ambassadors of Christ because we did not fail to be servant leaders when it mattered the most i.e. at our youthful age.

To be continued.

Watch this page for an update!