Young people celebrate global connection, hear challenges
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Asanda Gidyana and Neliswa Mafatse, members of
the South African United Methodist Youth Fellowship, sing during the
Global Young People's Convocation. A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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By Kathy L. Gilbert*
Jan. 11, 2007 | JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (UMNS)
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More than 250 United Methodist youth and young
adults from around the world celebrated New Year's Eve together at the
global meeting for young people.
A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, more than 250 United
Methodist youth and young adults from around the world rocked a ballroom
in South Africa in a testimony to global unity.
"It was an amazing thing to see - the cultures and different
backgrounds coming together," said Monalisa Siofele, a member of Aiea
(Hawaii) United Methodist Church. "We were all communicating through
music and dance. It allowed me to see we are a globally connected
church."
The first ever United Methodist global meeting for young people was
held Dec. 28-Jan. 1 in Johannesburg. It was sponsored by the Division on
Ministries with Young People, which was created by action of the
church's 2004 General Conference and placed under the United Methodist
Board of Discipleship.
Participants worshipped together, drafted legislation to send to the
2008 General Conference, visited programs that care for people infected
with HIV/AIDS, learned about South Africa's struggle with apartheid and
celebrated the beginning of 2007.
Seeing a miracle
One afternoon was spent touring Nelson Mandela's home, the Apartheid
Museum and the Hector Peterson House, which enshrines the memory of a
schoolboy whose death galvanized the anti-apartheid movement.
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Sarah Crawford-Browne is the keynote speaker for the opening worship.
A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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Sarah Crawford-Browne, a clinical social worker with the Institute for
Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town, South Africa, was the keynote
speaker for the opening worship.
"I learned two lessons from growing up in South Africa," she said.
"The first is that God loves us all equally and I am called to love
everyone equally also. And second, of all the ingredients needed to
reflect God's world, the greatest is love."
She added, "Love isn't a soft, Hallmark emotion; it is a decision to respect one another."
Today's South Africa is a miracle, she said. A dark cloud loomed over
the country for many years, and three groups were responsible for
moving the cloud: young people, religious leaders and individuals in the
international community.
She asked the participants to find space to love and listen to each other and "create the world we all want."
Followers of Jesus
Other keynote speakers urged participants to share and learn from one another.
Beauty Rosebery Maenzanise, dean for the Faculty of Theology at
United Methodist-related Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, led two
Bible studies. Speaking on Acts 2, she told the young people the Holy
Spirit would fill them with "a new talkativeness, liveliness and
fearlessness."
"God will make it possible for you to understand each other if you allow the Holy Spirit to lead," she said.
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, leader of the denomination's Germany Area, told participants "this is a time to make friends."
"Take part in shaping God's world," she said. "Share God's love with everybody."
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Nicki Spencer plays with one of the children living at the Orlando
Children's Home, an institution for abandoned or orphaned children in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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The Rev. Liberato Bautista, staff executive for United Nations and
International Affairs at the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society, spoke to the young people about advocacy for social justice.
"Social justice advocacy is advocacy in the public square," he said.
"This is a specially blessed day!" he continued. "It is blessed by
your presence - coming as it were from many places around the world.
Even more blessed is our presence in a place whose people have shown
that allegiance to God makes possible the dawning of justice and peace
even in a time of political oppression, economic exploitation and
cultural marginalization."
Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, leader of the church's Zimbabwe Area, echoed
the words that Jesus used when referring to John the Baptist.
"What have you come here to see?" he asked the young people. He
challenged them to not share Jesus with "second-hand information."
"Young people, you are important leaders of today and tomorrow, but you must be followers of Jesus," he said.
Getting fired up
The co-chair people of the Division for Ministries with Young People,
Violet Mango and Theon Johnson III, closed the event with the final
worship service.
"You make us proud of our continent," said Mango, a member of Murewa
Howard Memorial United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. "My vision is for
young people all over the world to stand up and take leadership. The
world needs us."
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The Africa University Choir provides spirited
inspiration through song during the Global Young People's Convocation in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert.
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"This assembly was ordained," Johnson said. "It is my prayer that we go
out fired up for Jesus. I am confident in every leader I see here
today."
The Africa University Choir provided inspiration through song each
day, and members of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship in South
Africa were gracious hosts for the gathering.
"I can't even believe this myself - I have been surrounded by people
whom I didn't know and have learned to love," said Piwe Dangazele, a
young adult from Pretoria United Methodist Church in Cape Town. "I am
glad they came to my country. We are making history. God is great!"
Luthando Kwananzi, part of the South African youth fellowship, said
he learned a lot about The United Methodist Church from the youth at the
event.
"We are new in The United Methodist Church, and now we have been
exposed to the global nature of the church. I have learned new ideas and
will take them back to my church."
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Photo Slideshow
A visual journey through the Global Young People's Convocation
Related audio
Africa University Choir: "The World Will Be Saved"
Monalisa Siofele: "All come together as one."
Pieve Dangazele: "I can't even believe it."
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Resources
Global Young People's Convocation
Division on Ministries with Young People |