Music can put youths on right path: Official

Faith

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
PAPUA New Guinean youths are vulnerable to changes introduced into our societies, however, through music, they can be brought back onto the right path, an official says.
Evangelical Lutheran church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) youth division director Robert Martin said music could be used to help youths develop Godly principles.
“Youths in Papua New Guinea have diversified gifts and potential that need nurturing so that they utilise these gifts and potential positively and productively,” he said.
“Youths are the greater assets for nation building.
“They are not leaders for tomorrow but leaders for today that can make drastic changes if given any chance.”
Martin said the church’s youth division had helped to develop youths through a programme called “ELCPNG youth 5 star programme”.
“The programme is geared to developing a youth integrally with each programme star focusing on certain areas of life; it covers the body, soul/mental and spirit.”

  • Star 1: Christian faith building;
  • star 2: Stewardship;
  • star 3: Capacity building;
  • star 4: Evangelism; and,
  • Star 5: Christian cocial activity.

ELCPNG national youth advisor and German missionary Matthias Troeger said PNG had a long way to go to support its youths, especially in the rural areas.
“The division has set up satellite music schools in the 17 church districts, to teach music and to help train youth leaders on basic skills to manage the youth groups,” Troeger, who would be leaving PNG in February, said.
“There is a very high population of youths who are out there.
“They need skills in business and financing and even trainings to support church or mission work because the church is already there in remote places.”
He said many youths had strong faith, and they needed support to be good citizens of the society.