Church and its youth remain important in advancing economic freedom – North West MEC of Local Government and Human Settlements Collen Maine
North West MEC of Local Government and Human Settlements Collen Maine says the church and youth have an important role to play to advance economic freedom in our lifetime, guided by the philosophical construct of Saam-Trek Saam-Werk, which seeks to Rebrand, Reposition and Renew Bokone Bophirima Province. MEC Maine was addressing the National Youth Conference of the Apostolic Faith Mission Church of South Africa - AFM Church, hosted at University of North West in Mahikeng Campus, over the weekend.
The church which is led by its International President Professor Frank Chikane and its National President Dr Isak Burger hosted a Youth conference which was attended by over five thousand young delegates from all corners of the country. The conference took just before the completion of a Youth Month dedicated to highlight challenges facing young people and a day after the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Charter (26 June 2015).
He said the collective role of the church and the youth in achieving economic freedom cannot be overemphasised. “The church, primarily and correctly positioned as the custodian of the spiritual wellbeing of our society, knows too well the challenges and opportunities that characterise our society, given the socio-economic dynamics of our congregants. It is primarily from these dynamics of our congregants and the experiences of the communities we come from, that we must be both concerned and inspired, to do all in our might, to bring about positive change, which our country is in so much need of” said MEC Maine.
He continued that the youth of the church are not immune from the current challenges such as substance abuse; unemployment, particularly youth unemployment; crime; race and class inequality on access to higher education; food insecurity; death from curable diseases and therefore the church have the responsibility to define for themselves a role in combating all of these challenges.
“The Church must also play an important role of mobilising the youth of our country to take advantage of encouraging possibilities in the fields of entrepreneurship, agriculture, media, public service administration and leadership, private sector leadership, civil society, human rights, law, macro-economics, social policy, technology and so on so that we change the lives of young people”, said MEC Maine.
He concluded that the current generation will be betraying the 1976 young women and men who laid down their lives to achieve our democracy, if they do not take charge of their future. “You are equal to the task of liberating this nation from economic and spiritual clutches, just as the youth of 1976 and the men and women who crafted the Freedom Charter took upon them the historical roles they were designated. This nation has faith in you, you dare not betray your historic role” concluded Maine.
Amongst others the conference discussed the contribution the church will make in improving socio-economic status of the citizens of the province and contribute to the education of young people through youth bursaries schemes.
Apostolic Faith Mission Church was formed in 1908 and has played a role a significant role in uniting our people, black and white, as equals in communion of worship.
For enquiries:
Mr Ben Bole
(Spokesperson)
Tel: 018 388 4824
Cell: 071 566 1399
Fax: 018 391 0328
Email: MSBole@nwpg.gov.za
