Picture credit: Bible Society / Andrew Boyd
The African Biblical Leadership Initiative Forum (ABLI) got underway with a rousing call to young people to stop fleeing the continent. Rather they should stay, live their dreams, and work for change.
British peer Lord Paul Boeteng was addressing the Youth Forum on the first day of ABLI in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).
He made an impassioned plea for the youth of Africa to stay in their nations and live to change them from within.
No need to flee
‘We begin with you – the young people,’ he told the many gathered for ABLI. ‘We are the youngest continent, the richest continent. Too many of our young people are fleeing this continent. There is no need to flee, because there is no need to fear.’
Jesus, he said, shed his blood for each of us so that everyone could contribute to His kingdom coming on this earth.
‘60 per cent of Africa are aged between 15 and 25. Just think what that represents – all that potential in our world! Think of Gideon, David and Mary – all of them responded to God’s call as young people.
'Live your dreams!'
‘When we put aside corruption and greed and put in its place our relationship with God and his risen Son; when we open ourselves to His love, there is absolutely nothing we cannot achieve.
‘Our coming together at ABLI is about opening ourselves up to the love of God and the power that love brings into the world. It is about opening ourselves up to that love to make a difference in our lives and the lives of the communities in which we live.
‘So, live your dreams! We begin this week of transformation for Africa and the world with you, so that you may live your dreams here in Africa now.’
The youth of Africa
Six out of ten Africans are under the age of 25 and more than 40 per cent are below the age of 15.
In 1950, the population of Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 180m – just a third of the population of Europe, according to the Economist. Within 100 years, Africa’s population is set to reach 2.2bn – three times that of Europe. And by 2100, the UN estimates that number will have risen to 4bn. (Sources: Gates Foundation, The Economist)
ENDS
Picture credit: Bible Society / Andrew Boyd
Andrew Boyd
