At the AOG National Youth Ministries (NYM) Conclave 2022, youth leaders across Guyana gathered to explore some of the challenges facing the nation’s youth, both in the fellowship and communities as well as how to bring about change.
Over three hundred youths were trained under the theme “LeaderSHIFT” with certificates of participation awarded over three nights of engagement from 11th – 13th March 2022. This annual event was hosted in a hybrid model with in-person attendance topping 150 at People’s Assembly of God Church, Industry on the East Coast of Demerara alongside a virtual audience via Facebook live streaming.
Leadership Blueprint
The event was opened by Rev. Winston Assanah who held the dual roles of event host [NYM Director] and keynote speaker. He engaged the audience on the need to “think soberly and lead with zeal” as they navigate a world of ‘vices’ that could impact negatively upon their leadership assignment. He also referenced the blueprint described in Romans 12 as a guide for life and leadership, prefaced by the admonition that “life is not a game!” A lively panel discussion followed as a precursor to the second night, where keynote speaker Bishop Dr Murtland Raphael Massiah delivered the challenge for youths to be “creative, spiritual and community leaders.”
Impact in Virtual and Corporate Spaces
There was a charge for the audience to contemplate a creative leader as an innovator, one with an acute discernment of God’s will for the present time and their country [1 Chronicles 12:32]. Bishop Massiah also expounded on the reality of God being concerned with communities based on Scripture in John 1:14. The event closed on the third night with a keynote address by Bishop Balram Jadubal. His presentation was full of humour and personal experiences, used as the mosaic to explore the session headline – “The Greatest ‘L’ in Leadership.” Youths discovered the need to lead with love [the greatest ‘L’] as they manage or evangelise persons in corporate and sacred spaces. Rev. Desmond Glasgow, the AOG Section 5 presbyter was in attendance and the panellists over three nights were Rev. Michael Singh, Rev. Shawn Wilson, Pas. Coleen Singh, Dr Wilbert Lee, Pas. Denise Harris, Pas. Akini Cummings, Pas. Shane Moses, Min. Karen Assanah & Sis. Candacy Duke.
The AOG National Youth Ministries leadership has been pushing the boundaries of evangelism leveraging social media as an early pioneer in hosting virtual events during the pandemic. This has yielded Facebook reach metrics of over 9,600 over three nights. The event also attracted corporate sponsorship from companies such as Fruta [gold sponsor], Forrester’s Lumber and Building Complex [gold sponsor], and Dr Shiwnandan’s Clinic [silver sponsor]. Other corporate sponsors included Glory Realm
Creations, Ishiri and Sons Welding and Fabricating Shop, Junior’s BBQ Grill & Burgers, Mangal Auto Spares & Tyre Mart, Print Craft, Seagib Branding and Zoë Perissos Business Services; giving the opportunity for these companies to demonstrate corporate social responsibility in supporting community-led youth-empowerment activities. They are also able to deepen customer connections within the NYM network and generate a platform for training potential employees.
The growing overseas audience demonstrates the impact of well-designed programmes with a virtual component, focusing on five pillars of youth leadership: (1) worship, (2) ministry [“every member is a minister”], (3) missions, (4) fellowship and (5) discipleship [“teaching every member how to share their faith”]. We say kudos to the National Youth Ministries leadership for their continued innovation and drive to deliver quality leadership training opportunities to the nation’s youth.
