Walking with the Young: A Theology of Youth Ministry in Africa


Christian Youth Ministry is a faith-journey of accompanying young people towards an experience of Christ. Accompanying is a process; it is not sporadic interventions of activities done for the young.  It is walking with the young.  In this essay, I would like to reflect on the theological implications of the process of accompanying young people, in the African context.  Taking the cue from the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24: 13-35), I would like to present Jesus as the prototype of a youth minister, thus also to trace the progressive stages in youth ministry.
The two disciples are on the road to Emmaus.  Why are they on the road?  It is Easter Sunday – “that very same day”, and these disciples are running away from Jerusalem – the epicentre of the great event!  They have […]

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Scaffoldings: Training young people in Christian lifeskills

Scaffoldings: Training Young People in Christian Life Skills. Nairobi: PaulinesAfrica, 2008.
It is a Training Programme for Building Christian Life Skills among the Young People of Africa. The title Scaffoldings alludes to the concept that at the beginning of learning, learners need a great deal of support; gradually, this support is taken away to allow the young people to try their independence.  It is the same in the growth process of a young person as a Christian.  Scaffoldings translates the Catechism into life-skills, and accompanies them in the process of life-skills building. The manual contains 4 sessions each on 20 themes as listed below.
It also has a student handbook.  Copies of both volumes are available from Paulines, Nairobi; DBYES, Karen, Kenya; DBYES, Upanga, Tangaza.
This is not just a book but a […]

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Vijana Leo

UTUME KWA VIJANA 1
Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB
Hali ya Vijana wa Siku Hizi: Ukweli na Uwongo
 
“Vijana wa siku hizi… hatuelewani nao!  Kizazi hiki kimepotea!  Dunia imechafuka!”  Malalamiko ya watu wazima kuhusu vijana ndiyo haya.  Hata vijana wanaweza kukubali kirahisi na sentensi zifuatazo:
 

Vijana wanaonekana kuwa waasi.
Vijana wa siku hizi hawajali dini.
Vijana hawaelewani na wazazi wao.
Vijana wanapendelea zaidi kusoma makala za burudani, vitabu vya hadithi (riwaya) na kutazama TV na Filamu.
Asilimia kubwa ya vijana wa mijini hawajijali, na hutumia madawa ya kulevya.
Vijana wa siku hizi wanapenda kupiga kelele nyingi, wakorofi, na wasumbufu.
Vijana wanatarajia kupata burudani tu kutoka kwenye vituo vya vijana.
Vijana siku hizi wanakosa maadili na msimamo wa […]

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Yesu na Utume kwa Vijana

UTUME KWA VIJANA 2
Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB
Yesu : Mfano Bora wa Utume kwa Vijana

 

Vijana wenyewe si matatizo, bali wanaweza kuwa na matatizo.  Ni wajibu wa wanakanisa kuwasindikiza vijana na kuwasaidia ili wenyewe watatue matatizo yao. Huu ndio utume kwa vijana.  Aliyetoa mfano mzuri kwa utume huu kwa vijana ni Yesu mwenyewe.  Katika makala hii tutafakari jinsi Yesu mwenyewe alivyowasaidia vijana wawili, waliokuwa wamekata tamaa, kujenga matumaini na wenyewe kuwa mitume kwa vijana (wafuasi) wengine.
Tunapata mfano huu katika tukio la “Safari ya Kwenda Emau” (Lk 24:13-35)
 
Siku hiyohiyo, wawili kati ya wafuasi wake Yesu wakawa wanakwenda katika kijiji kimoja kiitwacho Emau, umbali wa kilomita kumi na moja kutoka Yerusalemu.  Wakawa wanazungumza juu ya hayo yote yaliyotukia. (Lk 24: 13-14, Tafsiri ya Ushirikiano wa Makanisa.)
 
Ningependa kufikiria kwamba hawa wafuasi wawili walikuwa vijana.  Kadiri ya Sera ya Maendeleo ya Vijana katika nchi nyingi kama Tanzania, kijana ni mtu yeyote mwenye umri ya miaka […]

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Malezi Jumla

UTUME KWA VIJANA 3
Sahaya G. Selvam, SDB
Malezi jumla kwa Vijana
 
Naye Yesu Akakua…
 
Mtoto Yesu alipoanza kuingia katika ujana wake, akiwa na umri wa miaka kumi na miwili, alianza kutafuta maana ya maisha yake.  Alitaka uhuru zaidi kutimiza malengo ya maisha yake.  Ndiyo maana alikuwa amepotea hekaluni. Alianza kutambua kwamba ilikuwa inampasa kuwa katika nyumba ya Baba yake!  Lakini mwinjili Luka anatuambia kwamba baada ya wazazi wake kumwona,
“Basi, akarudi pamoja nao hadi Nazareti, akawa anawatii…. Naye Yesu akaendelea kukua katika hekima, na kimo; akazidi kupendwa na Mungu na watu.” (Lk 2:51-52)
Nafsi ya kila binadamu ina vipengele vinne.  Hivi ni Mwili, Akili, Hisia (Moyo) na Roho. Vipengele hivi vinaendana na mahitaji manne makuu ya binadamu.  Sisi binadamu tunataka kuishi; tunatafuta usalama na raha ya kimwili.  Ya pili, tunataka kujifunza mambo mapya, yaani kukuza akili zetu.  Ya tatu, daima binadamu hutafuta uhusiano na watu; tunataka kuwapenda watu na kupendwa na watu; ndiyo haya mahitaji […]

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