Training for Godly Leadership

The Melanesian Evangelical Churches of Christ (MECOC) are holding their Annual General Meeting this week (July 26-29) at Yar village. The theme is ‘Churches Arise and Make a Positive Difference’. The Gandep Bible College lecturers are the guest speakers.

 

A Youth Camp held at Gandep Training Centre from July 5 -11 followed a similar theme, titled ‘Youth Arise and Make a Positive Difference’. It was an important event being the first camp for Church of Christ youth in Papua New Guinea for nine years. Hopes were high for something wonderful to happen.

 

Steven Yamok and Anton Odama, two of the key staff at Gandep Bible College, were the guest speakers leading studies based on Judges 6 & 7. Other sessions included teaching on Stewardship, Worship, and HIV/AIDS awareness. The afternoons were devoted to ball games and recreation. Out of more than three hundred youth who attended the camp, 106 committed (or recommitted) their lives to Christ and 22 were baptised.

 

Richard Ruri, the Director of Youth, has a keen vision and commitment to develop future leadership for MECOC. This camp was an encouraging start. The prayer of the MECOC leadership team is that their youth will rise up to become effective, reliable and godly leaders. Next year the aim is to host two youth camps in two different locations while in 2012 the plan is to host a combined camp involving youth across the whole region of Conference. The long term goal is to motivate and challenge young people to see the potential they have in ministry, and to contribute to the changes and the development of the Conference of Churches of Christ in Papua New Guinea.