Bishop JS Moyo addresses youths at Highfield Lutheran Church in Harare, Zimbabwe. 7/6/2009. Pic by Boldwill Hungwe

By Boldwill Hungwe

As economic hardships continue to hit hard on most Zimbabweans with an unemployment rate above 80 percent, the youths are always at the receiving end of the crisis. It is from this context that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) – eastern diocese has chosen to hold a seminar that centres on empowering the youths.Thanks to a donation by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the church channelled the funds towards the seminar which was held at Highfield Lutheran church in the capital city of Harare. The seminar touched on a variety of topics that include career guidance and developing entrepreneurship skills which was being facilitated by Mr Martin Tanyanyiwa from the Zimbabwe Council of Churches ZCC.

Tanyanyiwa advised the youths to start small when they think of starting a business, like for example picking up scrap metal for sell. He said, the youths need to look for opportunities, research, consult, and look at competitors when they want to engage themselves in any kind of business.

In his opening remarks, the Bishop of the Eastern diocese Rev JS Moyo read from 2 Corintians5:20 from where he spoke on the subject of being true ambassadors of Christ. “We are ambassadors of Christ and our bible should be our constitution” he said.

He said, God has entrusted us to bear fruits and the youths should not be found wanting when Christ approaches us to account of our deeds, like what he did to the fig tree in Matthew 21:18, 19.

Rev Rudo Nyoni who was one of the organisers of the seminar said, the programme was one of their first initiatives as he assumes his new role as a youth pastor. “This area of working with youths is a highly demanding one because most of societal problems affect them most” Nyoni said.

“To alleviate these problems we have to introduce such vital workshops like the one we have today meant to impart entrepreneurial skills in our youths. They need to be self reliant and by empowering them we are also empowering the church” He said. “This is part of grooming them into future leadership roles in the church and society”.

About 20 youths managed to attend the seminar. McDonald Hove, one of the youths and organisers applauded the effectiveness of such a workshop. “This seminar is going to open my mind and give me the necessary knowledge and skills to start my own business” he said. “As a youth that the only platform I get education for free”.

This weblog seeks to diarise the pastor’s activities with youths in and outside the Lutheran church and furthermore provide stories about other activities (outside the church) that affect the youths. This blog will be a pivot of information and communication that will allow youths within and outside the ELCZ to interact, learn from each other, encourage one another and help in shaping their future.

We believe youths should have knowledge of their purpose, potential, resources, source, value, ability, uniquness, creator and protection, for them to lead a successful life. They (Youths) need to face the future with confidence in the midst of challenges they are facing. Nothing in life is instant. Young people have to work hard to achieve their goals even in the upliftment of their spiritual lives. “God has given us the ability to do certain things…..”Rom 12:6. Whether their life succeeds or fails its up to them. The future is the end trapped in their beginning.

Address: ELCZ YOUTHS IN ACTION, P O Box CY3132, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe

Email: elczyouths@gmail.com

Tel: +263 912454355/+263 11523934

Mr Boldwill Hungwe

When Rev Nyoni approached me to let me know that he has been selected to be a Youth Pastor and wants my help in trying to drive his vision further I said “here I am” lets go multimedia. I have known him for the last 20 years especially the days when both of us were involved in leadership roles as youth leaders during high school period (at a Lutheran School). I share his vision about the youths and can’t wait to see the success of this noble cause.

We named this blog “Youths in Action” because we believe in an active young person. Young people are there to solve problems contrary to the popular belief that they are part of the major problems in society. If given sound advice and some work to do they can tremendously contribute towards the upliftment of our communities. The energy in them (youths) cannot lie idle and there is no excuse for non- productivity. It’s possible for youths to be successful failures and outstanding achievers. There is something that God wants done on earth through young people. The youths need to act (action) in their individual capacities or groups and avoid being caught dormant as society clamours for positive change. In other words an active youth is a productive youth.

Rev Rudo Nyoni 14/05/2009

Rev Rudo Nyoni RN (31) is a youth pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) and one of the brains behind the ‘youth in action’ weblog. He talks to his co-partner and weblog editor Boldwill Hungwe BH, on a variety of issues regarding his calling and aspirations.

 BH: You were entrusted whish such a big role of being a youth Pastor by the church. Was it a surprise to be given such a role?

RN: It was a humbling experience. Although it came as a surprise it was in another way an answer to my prayer, a fulfilment of a childhood dream that centred on pastoral work that touches on youths and development. When I was a teenager at Chegato High School (one of the leading Lutheran schools in Zimbabwe) in the 90s the Church and School authorities entrusted me with leadership roles and now I realise it was God preparing me for this work at hand.

BH: What will be your main focus as you engage the youths?

RN: I want to help in empowering the youths in Zimbabwe, Africa and even the rest of the world spiritually and physically. This is in fulfilment of my calling that say go and make disciples of all nations and this goal has to reach the ends of the earth. Youths need to take action, get involved in shaping the destiny of their communities and nations by fulfilling their purpose and utilising their potential.

 BH: Is that achievable?

RN: I am an optimist. I believe in my Lord Jesus Christ’s leadership qualities that saw no boundaries in pursuing its goals.

 BH: How do you define purpose-because its sounds too big a word according to your explanation?

RN: Purpose is the reason why a thing exists. As human beings we have to be proactive.

 BH: How are you going to engage the youths in practically driving this agenda?

RN: I have to look at the wealth deposits in my youths, that is, their intellectual capacities, skills and talents. Many young people are ready to exercise their potential be it in church or their surroundings but lack motivation, guidance and resources. I have to help them move a step forward. If as communities and as nations are able to create an enabling environment for our youths we will avoid brain drain, in third world countries and limit their involvement in illegal activities.

 BH: I gather your father is a Lutheran pastor. Are you not following his footsteps?

RN: Yes! He is a man who believes in the upliftment of people spiritually and physically. He left a heritage for me but I hope I will go further than what he did.

BH: How is the weblog going to drive your agenda forward?

RN: It’s a God given opportunity for us to reach out to as many youths as possible in Zimbabwe, Africa and the rest of the world. It’s a call to say lets interact, let’s share ideas, let’s learn from each other’s cultures and experiences. We want to compile information about the needs, concerns and stories about successes of youths in their immediate communities. In other words the weblog is a voice of the youths. Let them be heard. It’s their time. It’s their world

 BH: Who is your hero?

RN: Martin Luther Jr

 BH: What is your motto?

RN: Develop the youths and you develop a nation.