wfn.org | Resend Struggles, Strengths of African Youth, Women Noted

[cfouke@ncccusa.org]

For Immediate Release
AACC Media Team: (011) 237 966 3059 or 3063

STRUGGLES, STRENGTHS OF YOUTH, WOMEN NOTED AT PRE-ASSEMBLY

Yaounde, Cameroon - Calls to recognize the importance of Africa's women 
and youth in church and society marked the joint opening ceremony Nov. 19 
of two pre-assemblies to the All Africa Conference of Churches 8th 
Assembly, to meet here Nov. 22-27.

 "Youth aren't just tomorrow's Africa, they are Africa today," said the 
Rev. Dr. Mbangue Eboa, Chairman of the 8th Assembly's Local Organizing 
Committee.  "African women are no more just women who feed the babies at 
home.  They are wives, mothers, citizens, companions, employers, 
employees, founders of societies."

For their part, "youth have to struggle with the earth, the forest, the 
sea to find what to eat," he said.  "They also have to struggle with 
scissors, computers and hammers in order to have a better future.  They 
struggle to get better training and to get jobs commensurate with their 
training."

The ceremonies were hosted by the Messa II Presbyterian Church in Yaounde, 
where the Women's Pre-Assembly continues through Friday (Nov. 21).  The 
Youth Pre-Assembly moves to the nearby Briqueterie I Evangelical Church 
for the balance of its three-day meeting.

As participants arrived, at sunset, for Wednesday evening's ceremonies, 
they were greeted in the church's spacious courtyard by more than 200 
members of the Association of Christian Women of Marie Gocker Presbyterian 
Church in downtown Yaounde.

Accompanied by drummers, they sang, danced, blew whistles, whooped and 
pulled people out of the audience one by one to dance, then as they filed 
out two by two, other Christian women's associations took turns singing 
their welcomed to all who had gathered.

"In Cameroon, we are in the heart of Africa.  In these coming days the 
heart of Africa will vibrate!," proclaimed the Rev. Dr. Andrew Karamaga of 
the newly formed Alliance of Reformed Churches in Africa as the opening 
ceremonies moved into the church.

The evening's speakers brought both greetings and challenges to those 
assembled.  The AACC's President, the Rev. Dr. Kwesi Dickson, said, "The 
church is growing very, very fast in Africa.  We keep saying that the 
center of Christianity is shifting from the (global) north to the (global) 
south.	You are all aware of that fact.

"It is important that we should assess this development very carefully.  
We should constantly examine what we are holding dear as Christians.  Are 
we convinced in our daily living that we hold dear to Christ and not to 
any other being?"

The AACC's General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala, said that 
without women, most churches would close down. 

"There is great universal truth in the saying 'the hand that rocks the 
cradle, rocks the world' - more especially so in Africa," he said, going 
on to affirm the progress being made by more churches that are beginning 
to recognize the need to allow women their rightful place in the life of 
the church as ordained clergy and leaders. 

Reminding the youth present that leaders like Nelson Mandela, Julius 
Nyerere and Patrice Lumumba - in the quest for Africa's liberation - 
started their work as young people, he urged that they too should have a 
vision for Africa and a plan for the realization thereof.  At the same 
time, he warned that effort and commitment would be required of them.  
(See related story for more from Dr. Dandala's address.)

Mrs. Madeleine Sarah Tiki-Koum, President of the Women's Department of the 
Federation of Churches and Protestant Missions of Cameroon, challenged 
women to work so that "we, our brothers and sisters, our churches and our 
continent are always respected.  I ask the AACC to always think of and 
include women."

For all coming to the AACC Assembly, she said, "May your work be supported 
by the three Ps - Peace, God's peace in you so that you may be artisans of 
peace; Partnership, so men and women join forces for reconstruction at all 
levels, and Prosperity, that your sojourn in Cameroon will be prosperous 
in happy events for you, your churches, your countries and the whole 
world."

Mr. Maxim Ledoux Tapoko, President of the Cameroon church federation's 
Youth Department, offered a challenge: "Churches of Africa have a choice," 
he said, "to embrace Africa and work for her good, or cross their arms and 
stand aside.  Sickness, AIDS, poverty, and misery can't continue."  The 
AACC's 8th Assembly "takes place just when Africa needs it," he said.

Carol Fouke   AACC

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