Participants of the Global Young Reformers Network meeting in Moshi, Tanzania. Photo: LWF/Nengida L. Johanes
Young African Reformers determined to emulate Martin Luther
As the Lutheran communion in Africa gathers in Moshi, Tanzania, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1955 Marangu conference when African Lutherans met for the first time as a communion, it is inspiring to see the determination of the young people to emulate Dr Martin Luther by reforming not only their churches but also their communities.
The youth have agreed to share their faith through their network of Lutheran youth to counter prosperity and other erroneous teachings misleading fellow youth on the continent. They also reaffirmed their mission to be the salt of the earth and light of the world and thereby influence the communities around them.
To demonstrate their commitment to this goal, they sent a team of young but experienced climbers on a four-day hike to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro with the message “Creation not for Sale.” This, they say, is one way for them to take up their role of stewardship of the environment and of sensitizing others to do the same.
In response to the human trafficking crisis on the continent, the repercussions of which have been recently witnessed in the misery of immigrants on the Mediterranean Sea as well the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the youth are calling upon their churches to concretely intervene to address this problem that has primarily affected the youth.
They expressed their excitement at the opportunity to meet on the sidelines of the Marangu Consultation as youth from various parts of the continent to add their voices to the Lutheran communion. They have further called for closer and stronger cooperation of the sub-regional offices in future to help them strengthen their network and enable be more effective by linking them to the youth in the member churches in each sub-region.
Afram Pete is a member of the African Lutheran Communication and Information Network
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author, and not necessarily representative of Lutheran World Federation policy.
