By YSP Africa
The Heavenly Parent’s Holy Community Africa, Western Subregion’s Youth and Student’s Department under the able guidance of the special envoy, Mr. Godson Joon-hwa Ogurie, organized the third edition of the Hyojeong Youth Worship Festival as online event; Just like the previous edition, the Youth Festival was attended as a General Regional Sunday Service. It was a well anticipated event which wowed the audiences with some novel features like the Couple interview session, Cartoon display and diverse musical renditions which were marked as very relevant according to Feedbacks.
There was both participants in person at our church center and online and onsite. Our participants were:
- ZOOM-559 individuals
- Facebook (ENGLISH)-194 individuals
- Facebook (PORTUGUESE)-110 individuals
- Facebook (FRENCH)-446 Individuals
- Total Number of Participation-1309 Individuals
And the event was also streamed widely on Facebook by participants who could have access to zoom.
Our program commenced at 09:00 AM GMT with two beautiful performances from the Sun Hak Choir of Benin. “You are my sunshine/Love changes everything” which lit up the atmosphere. There were other performances by the Sun Hak Choir, “Avant Toi” by Sunflower band of Nigeria, “I won’t give up” by Miss Jee-hyea Grace of Liberia which at the Coordination of the able and enthusiastic MCs: Mr. Dae-jin and Miss Smath prepared everyone to receive the message of the day.
The festival kicked-off with the Opening prayer by Rev. Bokkun Nonguierma, the National Leader of Burkina Faso. Then, Rev. Jean Pierre Kadima, Regional President (FFWPU), Shin-Africa gave a warm welcome: He appreciated the massive participation, acknowledging everyone in their sub-regions and nations although having different tastes, relinquished such to attend the festival. He wished a Sunday of all taste and that everyone come to possess the same tastes of love, unite, and bring about the true taste of true love which will bequeath true life to the next generation
Upon such prepared atmosphere, Mr. Kenta Kishi, Regional Secretary General (IAYSP) gave a rousing message of guidance on the Theme, “Bitter Love, Sour Love, both makes us Sweet! He expounded on the importance of the Marriage Blessing/Conjugal love which is Heavenly Parents’ precious gift to inherit the right of Co-creatorship, the path that leads to a harmonious union centered on God and how to maintain such an exalted living.
Other highlights of the festival included the Youth TV, which revealed to the audience all the youth activities within the last four months; The Couple Interview session, a distill of practical experiences and successful navigations in the conjugal life of selected Elderly and younger couples; The Cartoon display which clarified the secrets of a successful marriage beginning from harmony between parents and children. Towards the close of the Festival, Rev. Richard Beugre, Regional BFD Director, rendered the announcements on the status of Blessing preparation as a whole Region, urging everyone to contribute a little more to reach the blessing goal.
The festival concluded with a family picture and chant affirmation to become the sparks that light up this dark world. After the distinct event, youths gathered in high spirits for After-service activities to promote good inter-personal relationship in their different church centers.
This Youth Festival is part of the activities for mobilization on the blessing undertaken by the Regional and Sub-regional Leadership, in preparation of the April 16, Hyojeong Cosmic Blessing, apart from the 2nd Generation 2-Day Regional workshop on the importance of the blessing which held on the 4th and 5th of March.
Reflections
Angela Okafor: It was very inspiring. Especially the animated cartoon. It really made me understand why I should keep my purity and the importance of our parent’s love.
Afiketchi Kalama: Seeing the different young couples talking about their experiences and helping guide us was very inspiring for me. The play was beautiful and had a good message about uniting with family/parents. (2nd Generation, YSD Secretary General Sub-region East)
Jee-won M. Arkoi: Do not focus on the negative aspects of your partner but rather on the good. I learned this from the National Leader of Benin’s interview (2nd Generation, YSD Coordinator Liberia)
Wambette Ivan: The animation was so exciting and educative. It would even be a very good tool for witnessing since majority of the young people are not so good at reading, so such a method is more youth friendly for sharing the principle. Mr. Kenta Kishi’s presentation was also very educative for those of us who are blessing candidates. It helped me to have a more realistic picture about the Blessing and life after the Blessing.
ETOUH Kim Myung Godwin Emmanuel: I really appreciate the effort put into revealing the lessons in relation to the theme and I also think that as 2nd generation we need to be role models in some way by forming ideal families, which of course can only be done by going through the path of the blessing. So, the theme better prepares us for our pre- and post-blessing responsibilities. (2nd Generation, Benin)
Sedzro Mawuli: I had the honor to learn from the testimonies of some and others how to live as a couple (1st Generation, Togo)