The National Youth Conference in Ghana has been postponed over the last couple of years due to the COVID pandemic. Although it was possible last year, 2021, holding it would have been too risky for the church for social and health safety reasons. However, the Conference has been confirmed to come-off in October this year, and over 10,000 youth are expected nationwide to congregate at in Kumasi over 4 days.

As part of preparations towards this conference, Lead Apostle Oppong-Brenya sought to empower and encourage about 50 youth members that gathered at Dunkwa-Offin district, Dunkwa Apostle Area, in the Central Region of Ghana to participate in this service on Saturday July 9, 2022.

The bible text for the service was taken from John 15:9-11,

‘“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”’

The greatest love
The Lead Apostle first explained to the youth gathered, the grace and favour of God bestowed on mankind.  He intimated that God created man and woman because He wanted it that way, and also out of love, as He did in all His creation.

“You must be grateful to God that through His mercies, your parents have jealously nurtured you to this point; indeed, many of you present here today do not recall how you received baptism because at the time, you were just babies, very young and tender. Your parents vowed in the presence of many congregants to prepare you to be Godfearing, walking in the teachings of Christ and growing in the Apostles’ Ministry till you became youth.” 

“Thank God, also, because there are many of the youth all over the world who are in turmoil because they do not know Jesus Christ; knowing Christ is the source of your life, grace and blessings! God has dealt well with you and it is even more eminent through the sending of His Beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of our fore fathers so that you and future generations would be partakers of His knowledge, grace and life.”

He continued: “Jesus Christ truly loves us. His sacrifice on the cross, His death, His resurrection, His sitting at the right hand of God, His return and for the institution of the Apostles’ Ministry are all for our salvation’s sake.  Today, the bible text emphasises this love: that Jesus loves us as much as His Father loved Him”.

How do you abide in the love?
“So, the Father loved the Son, and the Son loved us, what should we do?” The Lead Apostle asked! “We must abide in the Son’s love”, He added.  “We can do this by:

• Bearing fruits: We are like seeds that a farmer plants in a fertile soil; it gets beautiful when it grows well and even more relishing when the farmer harvests more bountifully.  Similarly, as youth, you must stay put in the New Apostolic Church to continue to partake in the forgiveness of sins, prayer and the breaking of bread.  Abiding in Christ gives us protection and prepares us for His return. 
• Keeping the commandment: To be able to abide in Christ, you must first keep his commandment.  What is His commandment?  To love God with all our hearts, with soul, and mind. And also to love our neighbour as ourselves.” 

The Lead Apostle encouraged the youth to keep and practice three ways to keeping Christ’s commandment: “Firstly, let God lead in everything you do. Secondly, respect your family and the church, and thirdly, put yourself last”.

In his conclusion, the Lead Apostle admonished the youth to be diligent in all that they do, doing every work entrusted in their care as unto God. 

Apostle Benjamin Darko, District Elder Isaac Kingsford Ansah and Shepherd Robert Ennin supported the service.