Pastor B’s Church Mentors Youth

Before Pastor Bwalya completed training with Possibilities Africa, there was no investment in the community’s youth. Therefore, the young people in the church were not participating in any programs. After the training, however, Pastor Bwalya’s mindset shifted to see and understand the value of mentoring the next generation. 

Pastor Bwalya appointed and coached a woman who was passionate about children, to serve as the children and youth ministry leader. Today, the ministry seeks to develop youth ages 8 to 21 and covers a multitude of topics during each group’s session including:

• Career talks: youth learn how to select a career based on strengths and weaknesses
• Social life: youth who are struggling with depression and rejection are ministered to
• Spiritual life: youth are discipled in topics like temptation, salvation, Bible study, and evangelism
• Health life: youth engage in conversations about drug and alcohol abuse, purity, and disease outbreak
• Cultural life: youth learn a Biblical perspective on cultural challenges like early child marriage and teen pregnancy

As a result of developing the youth ministry, youth engage in Bible Study during Sunday school, participate in scripture memorization, and have fun doing recreational sports. The church body has developed a larger vision for raising God-fearing youth to be future church leaders and individuals who know and understand Christianity and the Word of God.

Pastor Bwalya’s church exemplifies two significant results of training pastors. First, a domino effect happens as one pastor is trained, returns to their community, and influences or appoints one person who influences others. In this case, Pastor Bwalya was trained. Pastory Bwalya appointed a church member, who, in turn, developed programming for multiple children and youth. Imagine the impact this will have on the children’s children! 

Secondly, “Asset Mapping” is the process of identifying a community’s assets, resources, and strengths. Instead of asking what a community lacks, Asset Mapping asks what a community has available to leverage. Bwalya’s church already had a woman capable of leading, and who better to serve than someone who knows the community firsthand? 

As we consider the future of Pastor Bwalya’s church, join us in praying that the youth will: 

• Be fully engaged in church activities
• Have self-control to avoid harmful habits
• Have good decision-making and vision about future career paths
• Be loved and valued by their family, friends, church and community at large and in turn be an asset to the people around them