YOUTH

Alpha Youth Camp transforming lives

THE Alpha Youth Camp held annually in the second term school holiday at Rocky Hill, 17-mMile, continues to bring immense change in the lives of many young people.
Organised by the 4th Man Ministry, the camp this year saw more than 100 participants from Gerehu United Church CYM, God’s General youths, Simona Fellowship, Grace Ministry (Edai Town) and, Solomon Ministry (Taikone) attend.
The objective of the Alpha Camp is about bringing young people closer to God and to build a relationship between them and Jesus, as well as strengthening their faith.
Speakers at the camp were Shirley Piwen, Iru Ora, Kiva Mekere, Evangelist Bonniphas Womola and Rev Meata Lai.
With the camp theme ‘Holy Spirit’, the youths took this opportunity to make fresh commitment to God.
All these youths went through three months of Alpha Classes mainly teaching them the basic principles of following Jesus Christ.
The main sessions during the camp consisted of who the Holy Spirit is, functions of the Holy Spirit, what the Holy Spirit does and how one can be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Led by founder of the 4th Man Ministry Evangelist Kulu Ora, the youths took this time off to re-evaluate their lives.
“Youths are the most vulnerable group and their lives need to be touched by God if they are going to bring about changes in this society,” he said.
Many participants showed satisfaction indicating that they were happy to have attended the camp because it had helped them grow in their spiritual lives.
It was a time of surrendering their lives to God and many youths made fresh commitments.
Evangelist Ora emphasised that youths needed God in their lives to bring about changes in society.
“As the theme of the camp had stressed, we all need the Holy Spirit to help us in our walk with God. And the youths need the Holy Spirit to guide them especially when their age groups are the most affected in terms of peer pressure,” he said.
He said this year’s turnout was good and he was grateful to the parents who let their children attend the camp.
He said the camp had an impact on the youths as their lives were touched by God in his own special way.
There were also group sharing, healing sessions, Faith in Action (FIA), and Journey to Unity.
Evangelist Ora said, through the camp many youths have changed to be better persons and stronger in their faith.
“The Alpha Youth Camp is designed for children ranging from 12 to 20-year-olds”
“Our goal is to create an exciting and fun environment that produces Kingdom connection and friendships,” he said.
Evangelist Ora said they wanted to provide these groups of people the opportunity to experience the life-changing power of God, learn biblical truths, and make a deeper commitment to follow Christ.
“The campers also took part in sports, powerful morning devotions, a dynamic nightly worship service and building life-long relationships.”
The Alpha camp gives children a sense of community and belonging that they can find other people their age going through similar situations, and they can find peace together through the Lord and build strong Godly connections and friendships with one another that last for a lifetime.”
In touch with God and nature
The camp is a great format to get youths away from the distractions of everyday life and get them in touch with nature and experience God in a whole new way.”
Evangelist Ora said the Alpha Camp has been changing so many youths since its inception and we are excited to share this experience, with other communities going forward.
He said young people would only be empowered and transformed if they spent time to study the word of God.
“We are the future leaders of this Christian nation,” he said.
“We have to play our part in church and community activities to improve our spiritual standards,” he said.
“Youths of today must become the agent of change not only in the church but in the community.”
Evangelist Ora encouraged mores youths from other denominations to be part of the camp next year.
“I also would like to encourage churches to work in unity for mission and provide resources, advice and support to young people, because we are called for this very reason to reach out and make discipleship,” he said.
As a body of Christ we need each other because individually it is extremely difficult, often impossible to do what can be done by a group of people collectively.
Psalm 133:1 tells us; ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’
When we live and work together in unity, God commands a blessing.
Meanwhile, Evangelist Ora and wife Florence Peni are planning to run next year’s Alpha Camp for a week.

-Story and pictures supplied

Tau campaigns against substance abuse

By PETER ESILA
LAWRENCE Tau is doing his best to ensure youths find a life free from alcohol and drug abuse.
Years back, the man from Tubusereia village, Central, in search of employment, was given an opportunity by CHM (Chin H Meen) Super Sounds Studios as an artist and bands liaisons officer.
“Whilst working in the studio, there was a vacancy available for interested talents to host the CHM 100 per cent Super Hits programme aired on 93 Yumi FM. So auditions were made in search of hosting the country’s nambawan weekend radio show. I went for auditions and that’s where my talent was discovered and it led me to be the host of the programme from 2002 to 2008.
“Radio made my voice popular which gave me the upper hand to become a public figure and transcendent master of ceremonies for many occasions upon invitations and requests.
“Out of the many MC gigs I did, the only organisation that saw my talent and decided to reward me with an employment opportunity was the National Narcotics Bureau. With the National Narcotics Bureau, I was awarded a contract to be the education and awareness officer, with the role to address and combat illicit drugs and abuse of substance.That was the threshold of bringing to the center stage and to address drug and alcohol issues.
“I am Year 10 school leaver but made my way up.

“I am a joke teller, a self-taught musician, a master of ceremonies, radio DJ,” Tau said.
His job has enabled him to be out there to tell youths to look after their health and live a positive life.
“The prevalence of illicit drugs, alcohol and abuse has become a tragedy to humans (the action of today, the consequences of tomorrow).
“Move over, you drink, you smoke to get high today. But you will live with the pain tomorrow.
“PNG is now at the post-explosion phase, where we are now seeing many of our young people with learning and physical disabilities, the damages to their internal organs are irreversible. People can suffer mental disorders and evern death.
“Our young people have to be the better version of themselves, must know their identity in God, realise their potential and become contributing members to their communities and societies.
“In doing so they will not get influenced so easily and will not quickly photocopy what the world is doing at a snap of a finger.
“They cannot end their youthfulness and education by throwing their lives to drugs and cheap alcohol which are of little importance but the damages they cause are permanent which lead to death.
“They have a long way to go, they are now at the starting point of their lives. They cannot trade their lives for drugs.”
Tau said the issue was of national importance and needed government attention to reduce the problem of drugs.
State-led support with a multi-sectoral approach is the way forward, he says.
On the issue of cheap alcohol and cigarettes sold on the streets, he said: “The problem lies with the user, they must know the strength and volume. They cshouldn’t abuse it, rather drink to your limit.
“The above comments are mine and not from the organisation that I work with.”