Youth Report 2023
Annual Youth Church Report, 2023
Foursquare Riverdale Church
Introduction
We give thanks to God for the unwavering faithfulness and kindness bestowed upon the lives of all the youths through the year 2023. This year, we successfully established the youth church as an integral part of our Sunday services, significantly enriching the foundational aspects of the church. Teachings and curricula activities have been tailored to foster development in key domains of the youths’ lives, encompassing mental, physical, spiritual, scholastic, emotional, and financial growth.
To the glory of God, there has been remarkable growth in our youth congregation, with new individuals joining us. We started with an average of eight members, we’re now averaging 15. Spiritually, there has been an increase in maturity amongst the youth, as evidenced by personal testimonies. Individuals who once were reserved and hesitant to participate in the things of God now stand not only embracing God’s word, but leading the teaching of the scriptures, guiding prayers, and conducting interactive Bible study sessions.
With these, we would like to share some of our events during the year.
Virtual Fellowship
We started a virtual fellowship on Saturdays during the year as an avenue for further engagement with our brethren, especially those who are either out of state or in school that cannot fellowship with us in the sanctuary during the Sunday services. Due to logistical reasons, it was adjusted to by-monthly in September. The attendance has not been encouraging as desired, but we hope to grow and improve this during the coming year by God’s grace.
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Strength |
Weaknesses |
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• There is a yearning in the hearts of our members to learn the Word of God and to pray.
• There are opportunities for development for our youth by engaging them to lead in various aspects.
• Openness to empowering opportunities in certificate programs.
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• Attendance is largely dependent on parents since most don’t drive.
• The need to train more instrumentalists among us and will appreciate it if the church can arrange a professional to train those interested among them.
• Apathy towards the virtual fellowship as most are either working or sleeping at the time.
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Annual Events Recap
Graduation Ceremony
We are grateful to the Lord for the academic achievements among our youth this year, including Hephzibah Adesegun who completed her Associate program in Mass Communication at Georgia Military College, Praise Sowunmi who graduated from high school, and Dayo Idowu who earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Georgia State University.
L.H.S: The youth church represented by the youth president, Seyifunmi Adeboboye, attending Dayo’s graduation. R.H.S: Praise Sowunmi Graduation.
Back to School/Youth Conference Programme
Over the summer, on July 29th, 2023, from 12 PM to 3 PM, we hosted our Youth Summer Conference and Back to School event. The program was packed with enjoyable activities and was a delight to be a part of. We welcomed Olajide Olugbade, a doctoral candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, who enlightened us on the topic of ‘Unveiling Your Potentials’. In line with this theme, we delved into discussions and conducted multiple interactive sessions focused on how the youths could harness their strengths in ways that honor their faith. These sessions were designed to empower our young members to recognize and develop their inherent talents with guidance rooted in spiritual values. The event was further animated with a variety of enjoyable pursuits including music, sumptuous food and beverages, creative crafts, and interactive sessions. The young ones demonstrated their athletic skills in racing events, and we included a humorous and spirited balloon-bursting game for the mothers that generated much laughter and joy.
Top: Youth Summer Conference/ Back to School Program. Lower left: Our very own “David Adesegun” anchoring the event. Lower right: : Our very own “Debo Deru” distributing back to school materials to elementary as well as college students.
Bi-weekly Talk Shows
One key element of our Sunday service is the “Talk Show,” a segment where we invite spiritual leaders such as pastors, deacons, and elders to share their insights with the youth, followed by a Q&A session with the guest speaker. This program touches upon every facet of youthful life, including physical, spiritual, academic, emotional, and financial aspects, and is set to continue in 2024.
We’ve covered a wide range of topics, from establishing and maintaining virtuous relationships to overcoming life’s hurdles. Church leaders and respected members, including Mrs. Oparinde, Mr. and Mrs. Owoyemi, Pst. Adesegun, and Deacon Alabi have shared their personal journeys and experiences, detailing the trials they’ve faced and overcome through divine grace. Their testimonies have been a source of guidance and inspiration, offering advice and words of encouragement to bolster our spirits and support us as young believers growing in our faith day by day.
End of the year activity, movie day, love feast, exchange of gifts
As the year drew to a close on December 17, 2023, our youth group gathered for a Movie Day, an event that fostered bonding among us. We watched a Christian film entitled “Blue Miracle,” which not only entertained but also offered us valuable lessons in faith and perseverance. In the spirit of togetherness and the festive season, we enjoyed various snacks and meals while delighting in the exchange of Christmas presents. This gathering was a heartwarming conclusion to our year, strengthening our sense of community and leaving us with cherished memories as we celebrated the holiday season.
Top: Christmas gift exchange amongst the youths. Lower L.H.S and R.H.S: Youth’s enjoying the movie.