By Adeola Ogunlade
Pastor Andrew Umoru, a Senior Pastor in the Deeper Life Bible Church, (DLBC) has urged churches to actively empower youth by giving them a voice, emphasizing that that when young people feel heard and valued, they are more likely to stay connected and committed to God.
Umuro said this recently at the two-days Faith Fire Conference organised by Deeper Life Bible Church, Faith District held recently at the University of Lagos.
Tagged: With the Holy Ghost and Power brought together hundreds of youths from parts of the country. It featured prayers, song rendition, bible teachings, and prophetic ministration.
He expressed concern over the growing disconnect and loss of direction among young people, attributing it to the older generation’s, including church leaders’, failure to provide proper mentorship.
“The youth are the powerhouse of the nation,” Umoru stated, citing historical and biblical examples of young leaders making significant contributions. He stressed the importance of giving young people responsibilities within the church and society is to foster a sense of belonging and accountability.
Umoru also addressed the issue of young pastors who may lack depth in God’s Word but are eager to lead, said there must be a balance between respecting the wisdom of elders and allowing the youths to pursue their God-given visions, warning against discouraging those who feel called to serve.
Umoru urged the youths to stay resilient and patient, emphasizing that their time to lead will come. He also encouraged church leaders and elders to support the youths in fulfilling their potentials, as both generations are essential for the nation’s spiritual and social growth.
The Pastor of DLBC, Faith District, Akoka, Pastor Tobe Nnadozie shared his vision for the programme, stating that it’s basically to create an avenue where young people from various denominations can come and be refreshed by the Spirit of God. It’s a time of prayer, work, that makes you renewed, refreshed, and touched by the fire.
He noted that the need for today’s youths to be on fire for God is so apt so that they can realize their potentials in God and live their passion.
“It is also about succession. The fathers of faith today will go one day, and some of them are going. If we don’t have young people that will step in with that fire, then there will be a gap, there will be a generation gap”, he said.