The clergy, MEYO Leadership, brothers and sisters, Shalom!

Today is a great day for the church. It is a day that reignites the hope in us that we are destined for a bright future. As we conclude the MEYO camp, we have a lot to thank Elohim for. He has been gracious enough to give us children who are determined to serve and live for him. The verse in Proverbs 22:6 can never be more meaningful than in this occasion. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. We are happy and grateful to Elohim for giving us a wonderful program where our young adults can be shaped for a better future. I would like to appreciate the efforts from our MEYO teachers. The teachers here in church have invested a lot of their time and resources to support these children. You might not realize it but most of the time, the efforts done by other people behind the scenes, do propel us forward. Picture this, how would you feel if you turned up for your AGM and found no teacher around to facilitate your stay here? In this regard then, let us appreciate these teachers by giving them a round of applause because they deserve it. May Elohim bless our teachers for their commitment and dedication to shape the lives of hundreds of MEYO members across the country. They are not on payroll but they do it out of love to shape their lives for greatness.

Brothers and sisters, I am blessed to inform you confidently that whatever we are enjoying and witnessing today was just a dream in the early 1980s. MEYO has grown tremendously to become a significant pillar in the church. This year’s attendance recorded over 30 percent increase in number compared to last year. I believe this has been achieved through collaborative efforts from parents, the clergy and MEYO leaders who have vigorously campaigned to see to it that more teenagers attend the camp. However, we are not yet there. There is still more work to be done to strengthen this organization for a better and stronger church in future. I am aware that we have had a number of challenges such as inadequate number of teachers during the camp, unavailability of some villages from various parts of the country. I’m confident that through consultations and collaborative efforts from each one of us, we will achieve more in less time.

Allow me to appreciate the parents for their immeasurable support they offer in this process. More and more parents across the country are seeing the need to enroll their teenagers for the one week MEYO camp. It is a very remarkable move. Thank you for always being willing to support this noble course. It is through this program that we manage to nurture leaders and professionals for the next generation. However, enrolling and facilitating your children for the MEYO camp is not enough. The way we relate with them while at home matters a lot. Yes it does matter because children care about what their parents think about them. Encourage and motivate your teenagers to be the best they can ever be. Encourage them to take calculated risks, to explore and creatively use their God-given talents and skills. Encourage them to think outside the box so as to adapt to the current and emerging socio economic trends. Above all, hearten them to trust in God and to walk in His ways.

To the teenagers seated here today, MEYO Hoiyee!! Today I want to focus more on the young people because this is your day! I’m aware that most of you are in high school and others have just concluded their secondary education. Wherever you are, the church and the society needs you. Your parents have invested a lot of resources in your schooling. You are very special people and that’s why the church organizes such a great event –just for you. We have a lot of faith in you for you are the future of our church. The entire congregation gathered here, parents, relatives and friends have come to support you on this day. The question I want every one of you to ask himself or herself is; why am I here? What am I expected to do? What am I going to do with all this love shown to me?

If there is one thing that a young person has in plenty it's time. When someone said that you should give the best of what you have, it literally meant the resources at your disposal. What are you doing with the time that you have? Right now I can’t ask you to give money because you don’t have it in plenty. But you have time, so give the best out of your time. Invest your time doing the things that matter- like doing studies, or acquiring a new skill such as learning how to play a guitar, or a piano, volunteering in church activities, charity etc. Make sure you learn something new every day, because that is what it means to grow. Any living organism grows, if you aren’t growing, what are you?

Do what you feel passionate about. What is your dream? Don’t play small, dream big because you can never outgrow the size of your dreams. Some of you want to become surgeons, engineers, pilots, lawyers, programmers, real estate developers etc. Whatever you want to become, remember that a dream without a realistic goal is just a dream. You must set realistic goals. Set yearly or long-term goals such as pursuing a degree course, then narrow down to monthly, weekly and daily goals. It is the small things you do on daily basis that determine whether you will achieve your dreams or not. Something as simple as choosing not to stay up late chatting with friends on WhatsApp and Facebook, but instead sleeping early so as to wake up early to study can yield significant results over time. It means that to achieve these goals, you have to be disciplined and consistent. Work hard and work smart because that is what successful people do. Above all, be prayerful at all times. There is no single person who leaned on God and ended up disappointed. He is a faithful God. Provers 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”

As I conclude, I want to call upon every one of us to actively involve himself in activities that are meant to build our church. Elohim has this church at heart and He means good for every one of us who will diligently seek him.

God bless MEYO and may He shine His countenance on every one of us. Shalom!