Methodist Youth urged to stem social vices

Cape Coast, June 5, GNA - The 21st Century would be distinct if the contemporary Christian youth are to combine efforts to stem social evils and be truthful witnesses of Christ Jesus.

Mrs. Grace Aboagye-Mensah, wife of the immediate past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, said this at the Fifth Biennial and 45th Connexional Conference of the Ghana Methodist Students Union (GHAMSU) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Friday. The three-day conference attended by hundreds of students nationwide was on the theme; "Integrity: a True Virtue of an Ambassador for Greater Impact in the 21st Century".

Mrs Aboagye-Mensah said integrity had become an issue of great concern not only in the circular world but also in the Church because people failed to be reliable and truthful as they portrayed duplicity, dishonesty and deception.

She explained that genuine integrity was the combination of character and competence and therefore the youth should work hard to prove themselves as worthy ambassadors. Mrs Aboagye-Mensah said moral integrity went hand in hand with skills and training and it was imperative that they developed themselves to attain greater heights in their education. She noted that if they should unite with singleness of purpose, intent and will, they would be able to achieve the unimaginable and make an impact on the 21st Century to fit the description "a better world". She charged the participants to endeavour to lead honest and truthful lives and eschew sexual immorality, greed, anger, rage and other evil desires that would bring their integrity into disrepute. Mr James Agyemin-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Information, who was the guest of honour, expressed concern over the gradually eroding value system of the country, particularly cultural and Christian a result of media influence.

He urged the youth to direct their energies to the good of their communities and the country at large in order not to waste their talent and mar their future. Mr Agyemin-Boateng gave the assurance that the government was nurturing the Ghanaian economy to attain the needed level of growth to help achieve the "better Ghana agenda".

He said the youth was high on that agenda and so government would continue to invest in them so as to achieve their aspirations for nation building. Reverend Dr Isaac Nana Abaka, Director of the Youth Ministries Division of the Methodist Church, said the division launched a project three years ago dubbed; "Vision 2010" to help the youth to cultivate the integrity to stem out impunity, greed and abuse of office. He said their vision was to reposition the youth to adopt Christ-like attitudes and that as young people they should let the transformational realities of the gospel be seen in them to fulfill their mission of saving lives.

The Connexional President of GHAMSU, Mr Eric Gyan, said the youth were diplomats representing Christ on earth hence they should live above reproach to enable them to influence the world positively.