KwaSizabantu Youth Conference – 102 youth conferences later…

The vibrant KwaSizabantu Youth Conference, held from July 3 to 9 under the inspiring theme "Wake Up, O Sleeper!", brought together over 6,000 young people at the mission station in KwaZulu-Natal to be accommodated, kept busy, and provided with food. Over 10,000 attended on Thanksgiving Sunday, July 6. The auditorium can only accommodate around 10,000, and the overflow was accommodated in a tent located behind the auditorium.

This Christian event offers youth the opportunity to learn, grow, and uplift one another while deepening their connection to the Word of God and forming lasting friendships with like-minded peers. Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi from the Buthelezi Clang delivered the special message at the Thanksgiving event and topics such as drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, and teenage pregnancy were spot-on to deal with the current social issues the country grapples with. It was a truly enriching and memorable experience for all involved!

This biannual KwaSizabantu Youth Conference is a sustainable event, having hosted 102 conferences since its inception more than 50 years ago in 1974. It is an effective means of engaging young people, giving them a positive sense of self, teaching them self-control and decision-making skills, providing them with prosocial connections, and enriching their lives with a moral system of belief while sharing the gospel with them. The conferences have been a source of great blessings, providing hope for thousands of young people who have attended and have had their lives changed for the better.

The collaboration between various denominations, churches, schools, and other organisations backs the Youth Conference. Those who are unable to attend the conference can tune into Radio Kwezi, the Mission’s radio station, or use the streaming platform on its website. All daily services are broadcast in isiZulu, English, German, French, Sesotho, and Portuguese. Three services were held daily, excluding Sundays, on which the morning service would start at 11:00 a.m.  The youngsters could also participate in a sports day on Monday, and the games were designed so that all could participate in friendly competitions where outstandings participants were rewarded.

The logistics of the youth conference are enormous. Since Tuesday, 8 July, the buses started to drive across South Africa and even neighbouring countries to take the young people back to their various destinations. Given that the Mission held its 102nd youth conference, it is worth noting that the Mission's people have refined their event management logistics and can serve as an example and inspiration to others. Accommodating, feeding, and keeping thousands of young people busy for a week without any serious incident is a scary idea for most of us. At KwaSizabantu, the preparation and events run smoothly, and for every incident, there is an immediate outcome or solution – event management par excellence! The good part is that the youth conference is free for the participants because it is sponsored by the Mission and its business entity, aQuellé, the water bottling company, in totality.

(Information provided by Devoted magazine. Read inspiring articles from young people who have given their lives for the Lord on the website under Restored Lives and in various editions:

https://www.devotedmag.co.za/)