Youth Department

The Adventist Youth Society is the action and fellowship organization for senior youth in the local church. Under the leadership of Onesisa Mkandla and Ernest Mzala Nkomo, young people are working together to develop a strong youth ministry which includes spiritual, mental, and physical development for each individual, Christian social interaction, and an active witnessing program which supports the general soul-winning plans of the local church. It is the goal of the Adventist Youth Society to involve all young people in meaningful activities which will tie them closer to the church and train them for useful service. Regular meetings are scheduled each week. Most of these meetings are held Sabbath afternoon and Sunday morning. Such meetings are held in homes of responsible church members or as larger public meetings in the church. Since the youth program should not be isolated from the rest of the church, the public Adventist Youth Society meetings are open to the entire church membership.

While a successful youth ministry program in the local church includes a strong youth Sabbath School, there must be a specific time and place for more interaction, fellowship, recreation, witnessing outreach, and leadership training, which are all a part of the concepts to be fostered in the Adventist Youth Society.
Mission Statement—The primary focus of youth ministry is the salvation of youth through Jesus Christ. We understand youth ministry to be that work of the church that is conducted for, with, and by young people.*
Our task is to:
1. Lead youth to understand their individual worth and to discover and develop their spiritual gifts and abilities.
2. Equip and empower youth for a life of service with God’s church and the community.
3. Ensure the integration of youth into all aspects of church life and leadership in order that they might be full participants in the mission of the church.

Objectives—In response to these inspired directives, the Youth Ministries Department was organized to give leadership training and to provide resource materials and evangelistic plans for the Adventist Youth Society in the local churches.