From 19 to 25 June, the KwaSizabantu Mission commemorated 50 years of youth conferences, celebrating the remarkable success of two youth conferences annually for 50 years. The theme of the celebratory week-long event was derived from 1 Chronicles 16:8: “O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make his deeds known among the peoples.” This year, nearly 7,000 registered for the conference, with a packed auditorium and overflow of over 12,000 attendees on Sunday, June 23, during the Thanksgiving event.
Esteemed guests, including representatives from the Royal House, the Office of the Premier of KZN, and the Mayors of Ilembe and uMzinyathi District Municipalities graced the Thanksgiving event. Their presence underscored the wide-ranging support for the youth conferences. “The support of our guests is deeply appreciated and valued”, said Dirk Combrink, spokesperson of the Mission.
Dr Peter Hammond, a distinguished keynote speaker from Frontline Mission in Cape Town, delivered a powerful and thought-provoking message at the beginning of the conference that deeply resonated with the theme. His words left a lasting impact on the audience, inspiring them to reflect and take action. He said, “We live in an age of entitlement, arrogance, and pride. People selfishly litter and vandalise. The graffiti and pollution in many urban areas testify to this lack of gratitude and selfish sense of entitlement. As a result, whole groups and movements are demanding their rights, looting, and burning down schools, shops and public buildings. How about a month of humility instead of a Pride Month?”
Among the many memorable moments, the fireworks display on Friday evening, 21 June, was a visual testament to the 50 years of youth conferences. Equally impactful were the personal testimonies of young men during some of the services, who credited the youth services with inspiring transformative changes in their lives. On the sports day, all the youngsters had the opportunity to participate and burn off excess energy. The different sports activities were put together so everyone could choose to join in, and no one was overlooked. They could participate in fun and healthy competitions, from healthy games to soccer matches.
The workers, co-workers and volunteers made the event a huge success, doing whatever they could to make it a memorable event for the attendees. One of the oldest regular helpers and residents is Greama Kwela. She had the privilege of helping during all those conferences and has seen the blessings that came from it. She said, “I was here from the beginning when Rev Erlo Stegen started KwaSizabantu, and I was here when they started with the youth conferences fifty years ago. It has grown, and I am thankful I can still be part of it.”
Another regular helper and resident is Dr Elsa Bosman. She and her family started to visit the Mission in 1976 but came to live on the Mission in 2007. She has ample experience at the KwaSizabantu youth conferences and has helped over the years wherever she was needed. “I've helped at many other events, even church events, and what makes this one stand out is the logistics and the attitude of the people helping during the youth conferences. To host thousands of children at a time and to make things run like a well-oiled machine takes hard work and dedication. Everybody does what their hands find to do and do it with love and dedication.”
Since its inception in 1974, the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal, has been a beacon of hope for the local youth, hosting youth conferences twice yearly. The KwaSizabantu Youth Conference has grown in size and impact, with record numbers of children and young people attending these exceptional events. This growth in the KwaSizabantu Youth Conference is a testament to the unwavering support and commitment of the community members and supporters.
WEBSITES: www.ksb.org.za // www.khwezi.org.za
Commenti