The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion organized a Delegate Youth Leadership Summit held at the Church National Secretariat; St Matthias House, Gudu, Abuja on Friday, January 15th through Sunday, January 17th, 2021 with the theme “Ablaze for Christ in the Decade of the Reign of God (2 TIM.1:6-7, ISAIAH 52:1-10).
The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, His grace, the Most Rev Henry C. Ndukuba while addressing the delegates at the Summit charged the Youths to pursue holiness as without which, no one can see God. He encouraged the youths to shun what he described as unhealthy competition amongst the various youth groups in the church of God but charged them to be good ambassador for Christ like the Biblical Daniel, John the Baptist who against all odds spoke truth to power in one voice.
He prayed that the retreat which is aimed at having a stronger youth body in the Anglican Church will birth a generation that will be known as The Joshua Generation. A generation that will conquer territories for Christ, a generation that will see Christ bigger than any problem and a generation that will bring about the needed Revival in the Church and the world at large.
The Primate who also noted that the National conference is not aimed at disbanding or collapsing any of the youth groups currently running in the Church, but to strengthen the ties for the proclamation of the gospel and to bring back the lost glories of the Anglican youths who have found themselves in other new denominations.
He noted that youths must be empowered economically, and helped out of poverty and unemployment so that they will take their God-given place in leadership both in Church and society.
The Primate stated that his mission is to build the Children and youth mission that will mobilize them unto the word, prayer, worship, witness, and outreach. “We want to raise the Joshua generation who shall conquer their generation for the Lord and Saviour and outreach.
The Retreat featured amongst other things, Corporate Devotion, worship, Discussions and workshop and in attendance were the following; The Rt Rev Alosius E Agbo, (Bishop of Nsukka and the Coordinator of the Joshua Generation TaskForce), Rt Rev Jolly E Oyekpen (Bishop of Akoko-Edo and National Coordinator of Anglican Youth Fellowship Nigeria), Rt Rev Foreman Nedison (Bishop of Jalingo), The Ven. Dr. Paul G. Dajur (Church of Nigeria General Secretary), Bro Billy Birungi (Major Resource Person, Uganda), Ven Dr Olayemi Fatusi (PA to the Primate), Ven Dr Ben Idume (Director of Youths, Church of Nigeria), Bro Lloyd A. H. Brown (National President, Anglican Youth Fellowship Nigeria), Members of the Joshua Generation Task Force, Engr. Korede Akintunde (General Manager of ACNN TV), Members of the Anglican Youth Fellowship Excos, Members of Anglican Corppers Fellowship, Members of Anglican Students Fellowship, Prof. Chinonso Achebe and Members of EFAC, Staff of Primate’s Office and others.
At the end of the Three Days Summit, the Church resolved to gather all her Youths to a conference tagged “The Joshua Generation International Youth Conference” to be held at the Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan, Oyo State from April 5th to 9th, 2021.
