22 Aug 2023

Elders should be engaged in the Faith Community Youth Dialogue on Mind-set Change because that was key to behavioural change for all ages.

Unbecoming behaviour of some elders was a concern and as such, the forum was appropriate for them.

Kgosi Lucas Nshakazhogwe of Nshakazhogwe ward said during Mind-set Change for Faith Community Youth Dialogue.

He urged responsible authority to ensure that a similar dialogue be organised for elders who could easily cascade mind set to the youth as some of the key issues were easier led by elders.

Kgosi Nshakazhogwe said the behaviour of some elders nowadays was inappropriate to the extent that instead of reprimanding the youths they led them into temptations.

Some of the contributions from the youth during the dialogue was that they should take this as a spiritual warfare, adding that youth in churches have to use Mind-set Change as an opportunity to drive more members of the community to churches.

They were implored to use churches and the Bible to drive mind-set change, to drive people out of the bars and change lives. The youths exchanged notes and encouraged one another to be role models and disengage from things such as drugs and adultery.

They encouraged one another to be in the forefront in acquiring government financial schemes, to demonstrate that they could be successful and become recognised leaders.

Kgosi Samson Mpenya of Masunga ward warned them against homosexuality and its marriage and called for it to be discontinued. Contributors to the issue on homosexuality said while churches were advocating to make the world a better, habitable place, some people were busy approving motions that were inhuman.

They were of the notion that homosexuality was a way of destabilising the community, likely to  be a limitation to population growth in future as same sex would not give birth.

Others said this would increase the ever-rising number of family breakdowns as married men would cheat their wives for other men.

As such they said it was high time they integrate all churches and stop working in silos.

They suggested conducting a joint event of all churches by organising a chosen event such as faith based tournament, wellness day, race, sports, and tug of war to reach out to a broader populace.

They also advised that youth be engaged and be trained on Mind-set Change instead of government officers who were always on the lead to spread the Mind-set Change gospel among the communities.

Pastor Themba Brown of Assemblies of God aligned Mind-set Change with the word embedded in Roman 12:2 which reads “and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that you may prove that which is good, acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Pastor Brown said the objective was to introduce Mind-set Change campaign to the youth in the faith based communities and get their perception on mind-set change and based on the President’s speech during the launch at Zutshwa.

He said the other objective was to discuss best practices to share information on mind-set change post launch and discuss the challenges and opportunities in reaching remote and marginalised youth. ends