Plans and Projections of the National Youth Director

1. Plans and Projections of the National Youth Director

2. Mission It is the mission of the National Youth Director to bring substance to and develop the members of the youth of the Church of God in Jamaica, through a holistic framework. The intent is to bring stability to and develop the spiritual, emotional and intellectual aspects of every young man and woman, through diverse activities such as the arts, seminars, workshops and mentorship programmes.

3. The National Youth Director in collaboration with members of the National youth body, will not only see to the implementation of this mission, but will also seek to be interactive in the lives of every young person that is encountered.

4. Vision It is the vision of the National Youth Director to see qualitative and quantitative growth among the young people of the Church of God in Jamaica. It is hoped that their talents and gifts will be utilized through the length and breadth of the Church of God in Jamaica and by extension the wider nation.

5. It is also the desire of the National Youth Director to see lives moulded and transformed, for the purpose and intent of the future leadership of the Church of God as a revolutionary but biblically grounded movement.

6. Problems Observed

7. Communication It has been a challenge to get as many of the young persons from the regions on board the various events as would have hoped. This may be partly due to the lack of access of the contact information of persons, or just the mere lack of interest of persons to participate. As a result, the desired number of persons for the various activities has not been achieved.

8. Interaction There is not enough one on one interaction that is taking place between the older members and the younger members of the church. There also seems to be a distance between the leadership of the church and the younger generation on a personal level. More needs to be done in this department to harness good rapport and continuity.

9. Youth Development The youths have been left to be nurtured by every other medium except the church. This is partly due to the fact that the church has failed to capitalize on moulding, equipping and dare I even say indoctrinating our youths on the basic tenets of our faith.

10. As a result, there are several persons who have left and are leaving the church because of the churches inability to fully tap into the psyche and schema of our youths.

11. Solutions to problems observed

12. Solution Social Development There are certain fundamental issues that face our young people on a regular basis and these issues if not addressed, could affect the progress and effectiveness of the church in the future. These fundamental issues include: • Sex and relationship • Understanding of one’s self and purpose • Faith and doctrines of the Bible • Morality and value systems

13. It is important therefore that plans be put in place to address these challenges using not just a biblical framework, but also to infuse the intuitive and emotive element to it as well, as a means of combining both faith and intellect as complimentary components

14. Talent Development As a national youth body that is spread across 6 regions, there is a talent development framework that is already in place, through the medium of National Talent Hunt and National Sports Competitions; both of which have nurtured and developed most of our pastors, deacons and church leaders that we see today.

15. However, there is a lot more that can be done to improve not only the effectiveness, but also the exposure that exist within our youth fellowships. Many of our young people are talented, but not many are being exposed and there are various avenues that exposure can be realized.

16. In the artistic and theatrical department, the avenues to be considered are:  • JCDC Speech and Drama festival • JCDC Gospel Song Competition • Ministry with the National Board of Evangelism and Missions • Ministry in the Annual General Assembly • Participation in the devotions held by the Ardenne group of schools • Inter-denominational Competitions

17. The progression from the youth competitions within the Church of God to the areas mentioned above will see not only exposure but development and spiritual maturity also taking place within the lives of our young people.

18. From a sporting standpoint, many of our young athletes have been performing extremely well on the track, but due to little exposure, some of their dreams have not been realized.

19. There are young people within our church who participate at our national sports day, and have also done well for themselves, even at the VMBS Boys and Gils Athletic Championships.

20. With reguards to this therefore, it is suggested that at each sport day, someone from the sporting arena or some media personality, come to look at the talent that exist in our church. In so doing, we may not only get the exposure but also the funding that is needed for our youth development.

21. Character and Personality Development Another crucial component is that of mentorship for our young people. Mentorship is vital not only for the development of our young people but also aids in the continuity of the church.

22. Character and Personality Development One of the sore points at the youth level is that there is no desire to work in various positions that may be up for nomination; this is simply due to the fact that persons don’t consider themselves equipped, or good enough to fill a post.

23. This all comes back to the older guiding and mentoring the younger. There needs to be a consistent and ongoing mentorship programme which will include: • Older brother/sister younger brother/sister relationship

24. Interaction of the mature Christians with new believers through sporting activities • In - cooperating younger believers in the ministry of the wider church

25. When this is done, it not only brings harmony and cohesiveness with the young and the old, but it also fosters growth and brings a well needed interaction that has been lacking within the church of God for a long time.

26. Intellectual Development It is stated that people perish due to a lack of knowledge, but they do not perish simply on the lack of knowledge, but also on the understanding and application of same.

27. Intellectual Development As National Youth Director it is the intent to bring the cognitive/intellectual balance to what is reguarded as a faith based institution (The Church).

28. There are too many young Christians who are unaware of what they believe and why they believe. As a result the implementation of workshops and seminars to facilitate intellectual growth will address issues such as: • Church History • Church Doctrine

29. God’s Existence • Practical Theology • Church and Christian Ethics

30. These will be done continuously in the various fellowships across the 111 congregations in an attempt to inform as well as remove any pre conceived notion about the church and its belief systems.

31. Interaction One of the ways in which the communication system between the wider church and the youth can be built, is through social media networks. Having a facebook page and also a twitter account is vital, and having the Mass Communication board being integral in this process is also a good step in bridging the gap.

32. The world has gone global and as a church so must we, if we hope to achieve the desired outcome we want to have.

33. Resource Personnel

34. Chaplaincy of the Ardenne High School

35. When Ms. Claire Gayle coined the motto “With God as guide, we seek the best”, it must have been her intention that everything that the school does must reflect God in some shape or form and that the effective running of the school should be God led and inspired.

36. With this in mind, the Ardenne group of schools is in need of urgent attention on various levels.

37. Being a past student of the school and also having participated in their spiritual emphasis week at the High, preparatory and Extension level, I have seen where the students are in need of urgent attention. Having heard their concerns and conversations, the following issues must be addressed: • The Existence of God

38. Dealing with peer pressure • Influence of music on your life • Sex and the emotional trauma • Suicide

39. All these areas must be dealt with and dealt with through the ministers of the church of God, the guidance counsellors, as well as outside personnel who are specifically trained in the different areas. This however should not just be during Christian emphasis week, but possibly a bi-monthly or quarterly programme.

40. A Fusion of both worlds One of the aims of the National Youth Director is to fuse the talents of the Ardenne group of schools and the Church of God youth, and use it even as a tool for witnessing and evangelism.

41. A Fusion of both worlds Ardenne High School over the years has been gifted in the arts, especially in speech and drama, through their well known group Tableaux.

42. The Preparatory School also has a very talented drumming group and the extension has excelled in the JCDC speech festival. What can be done is to fuse the talents by having these groups participate in some of our various activities and functions that we may have.

43. That way, the students from the Ardenne group of schools will not only be fully acquainted with us, but in the process, our talents can be an inspiration or motivation for some of the students.

44. Financial Summary/Estimate for the first 12 months in office 1st Year Income $   Fundraiser 200,000 Sponsorship 150,000 Grants 50,000 Gifts 80,000 Total480,000 Expenditure Resource Persons 150,000 Materials for workshops 160,000 Travelling 90,000 Facility 50,000 Total450,000 Variance 30,000