18-25 February 2024
Youth & Children’s Ministry Coordinator Rev M. Chiwara
Youth Presidents Simbarashe H. Sinamani and Patricia Matemera
Theme: Ambassadors for Christ: 2 Corinthians 5 vs 20a
The Presiding Bishop, Rev George Mawire’s message for Youth Week 2024:
The Youth and Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Rev M Chiwara, delivers the message at the Connexional Launch of Youth Week 2024:
[Click/tap on the day of your choice below to jump down the page to the devotions for that day.]
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Special appreciation goes to the team of former and current Youth Presidents who diligently prepared the Youth Week 2024 material. We thank the inaugural Youth President Ms. Audrey Muzavazi (nee Moyo) (1994-1996), as well as Rev T Gwanzura, former Youth President, and our current Youth Presidents Simbarashe H Sinamani and Patricia Matemera for their immeasurable contribution in the preparation of the Youth Week 2024 material.
We also wish to thank the MCZ Community and all those who continually support the Youth Department. The Department will forever cherish the support from The Presiding Bishop, General Secretary and Mission Director. We remain indebted to, all the MCZ Schools, MCZ Diaspora Fellowships, Societies, Districts, Organisations, Youth Pastors and Advisors for their support as we endeavour “to raise and nurture” the young Christian believers.
May God bless the people called Methodists!
PREAMBLE
Our theme for this year is “AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines an ambassador as an important official who represents his or her government in a foreign country. Ambassadors are deployed by their sending countries – their governments – to take certain positions on policy and ideology. Our theme this year equates us to such officials!
Youth Week is a time set apart to celebrate the place and role of young people in the Mission of the Church and the Mission of God. The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe cherishes the Doctrine of Priesthood of Believers. It is from this conviction that all are equally called by God, that we as young people, respond to the call to be “Ambassadors for Christ”.
The proposition “for” denotes that, we are to be the same representatives of Christ, acting on his behalf, as well as, acting “in His stead” in the world.
The bible teaches us that, through the ages God has always inspired young men and women, who have stood up against the odds and represented His Kingdom. One common factor among the young people whom God used is that it was never easy. Some had to lose their families and friends and some had to stand firm in foreign lands. Think of Daniel and his friends, young Joseph in Egypt and Esther as the young Queen of Persia! All of them made history in foreign lands!
The young people of our generation are not an exception! Each young person has been deployed in this life to take a certain position. We are to take God’s position in fundamental issues that affect human life, in church, politics social and personal affairs.
I therefore charge you to see your life as a deployment on earth, no young person is here by accident but all were strategically deployed by God, to be His Ambassador!
Arise “Young Emissaries” and represent Christ.
Rev Marry Chiwara CONNEXIONAL YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S MINISTRY COORDINATOR
DAY 1 AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST – 2 Corinthians 5: 20
An ambassador is a person appointed and sent by one sovereign nation to represent it in another nation. Jesus Christ came and lived among mankind as an ambassador of our Sovereign God. He declared the will of the Father and His love to the fallen world. Likewise, when He ascended to heaven, He left us to declare His will to mankind (Mathew 25:19-20). We are thus ambassadors for Christ.
Christ has sent us with a message to appeal to mankind to be reconciled to Him as He showed His love for the mortals through His sacrificial death on the cross. We have His authority to preach the gospel of love and forgiveness of sins to everyone regardless of colour, creed, race, age, financial or social status. It is for us to proclaim that Christ hung on the cross and died a painful death that all may live. The loss of His life was mankind’s richest gain.
As Ambassadors for Christ, we take after Him who appointed us. In all meekness let us beseech the world to be reconciled to God, to flee from sin and live a life of righteousness. Christ Himself must be seen and heard through us. Let us convey this message of Christ’s amazing love to those we come in contact with at home and away. Our confidence is that He who sent us is with us! (Mathew 28: 20)
Rev John Wesley in the first of his Four All’s says, “All need to be saved.” It is our duty as young people who are servants of the cross to go out into the world and spread the message of salvation. If people can have a perfect relationship with their Maker, then we can rest assured that we have performed our ambassadorial duty diligently.
As Young people we need to know that we are equally called. Paul says to the young man Timothy, “let no one despise you because of your youth but set an example for the believers…” It is our responsibility as young people to go all out and fish men and women for the Kingdom of God so that at the end of our tenure on earth we may proudly present ourselves before the one who sent us knowing that we did not sleep on duty.
Discussion
1.What challenges do we face as young people in performing our duty as ambassadors for Christ?
2.What tools and skills do we need to better equip ourselves to execute our appointment?
Prayer: Our heavenly Father, thank you for appointing us as ambassadors of Christ on earth. We ask for strength and courage to boldly declare the gospel of love and reconciliation to the world. May we be true representatives of your Son Jesus Christ. May His love and grace be seen and felt by many through us so that they may be won for your Kingdom. Amen.
DAY 2 ATTRIBUTES OF GOOD AMBASSADORS
On DAY 1 we were reminded of the Commission and Duty that we have, that is to be “Ambassadors for Christ”. Today we shall discuss on the things that make us good representatives of the Kingdom of God.
• Have a clear understanding of the one who is sending you. Philippians 3:10, 2 Peter 3:18
A clear demonstration of the understanding of the Word of God will be beneficial in executing an ambassador’s mission. No one can effectively represent the Sovereign Lord without knowing His Word. It would be embarrassing to try and court mankind for a Kingdom one knows nothing about or for a Master who seems to be foreign to the representative.
• Make use of every available opportunity. Galatians 6:10a.
A good ambassador will always make use of every available opportunity to share the gospel of Christ to people around him/her be it at school, work, on a bus or even at a party whether by word or by action.
• Be articulate in conveying your message Acts 18:4, Acts 17:2-4; Romans 12:1
The work of an ambassador is way different from that of a warrior. The former’s task is to be executed by persuasion while the latter is a man/woman at war and must have great fighting skills. The language of an ambassador must be sweet yet convincing to the hearer The apostle Paul while preaching to both the Jews and the gentiles he always used persuasion as a skill. Our language should not be intimidating in any way. Share the goodness of the love of God instead of scaring people with the wrath which comes to the unbelievers.
• Be prayerful
A good ambassador must live a prayerful life so as to keep in touch with the one who sent him/her on the mission. This is where he/she draws strength and vision to move on with the divine appointment. Prayer is a communication line which keeps an ambassador connected with Christ. Prayer will adorn one with the humility and patience needed to spread the good news to people who may be hostile to the gospel. The success of the mission greatly depends on the power of God and the unrelenting efforts of the ambassador.
• Maintain a good and attractive character. Romans 12:2; John 17:16-17
As a representative of Christ, one must be found among the targets, but must not behave the same as they do. This helps one to understand their culture and craft effective means to lure them to Christ. One must maintain a good and attractive character. Faithfulness and integrity must always be part of a good ambassador’s conduct. Living according to worldly standards will dilute the effectiveness of one’s mission. We mustn’t live in conformance to worldly standards, instead, our minds must be renewed so that we always let the will of the Lord Jesus be known to all mankind without any fear or blame. Jesus Christ must be reflected in the way we speak, in our behaviour and how we treat others around us.
Discussion: The love of character of Christ, must be mirrored in every one of His ambassadors without any effort to explain who they are. What other attributes of Christ that we must have in order to represent Him well?
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father I pray that you may mould me to mirror the person of Jesus Christ. Help me to use this likeness to find the lost souls whom you so much loved that you gave us your Son as atonement for sin and a dear price for salvation. Please give me the strength to work among them but keep me away from all that is evil. Amen.
DAY 3 SHARING THE KINGDOM CULTURE – Daniel 1, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, Matthew 5:16
Ambassadors are representatives of the values and culture of the countries that send them. They live temporarily in a foreign country to represent the interests, culture, and values of the sending entity. They obey the laws of the host country but are ultimately subject to the authority and direction of the sending country. Christ-followers are similar in several ways. This world is not our home. We live “in it” but we are not “of it.” (John 17)
In Scripture, we are told that we are children of God living on earth only temporarily until a day when we will finish the race set before us and return to our true home in heaven. French philosopher Teilhard de Chardin said it this way: “We are not physical beings who have occasional spiritual experiences, we are spirit beings who are having a temporary physical experience.” Young People are being called to be “Ambassadors for Christ.” The Epistle to Timothy that we have read says that we have been called according to His own “purpose and grace”. As an earthly ambassador represents the values and culture of the sending country, we are called to represent the values and culture of the Kingdom of God in Christ.
The words of Christ in Mathew 5:16 compel us to shine so bright, such that men will see our good works and ultimately glorify the Father. The role of an ambassador, therefore, is to lead people to the kingdom of heaven.
An ambassador stands for the interest of the sending country, not the host country. In our case as young people who have been commissioned according to his purpose, we need to stand for the interest of He who has sent us.
So as young people living in a world full of sin, challenges and temptations, we should always bear in mind that we are ambassadors of Christ and no matter what the world throws at us we will not abandon the word of God.
We face pressure through drug and substance use, fornication, engaging in illegal deals to make a living. Like Daniel and his friends, we need to remember that we belong to the kingdom of God. Daniel and his friends refused to compromise their Jewish culture hence they held on to their faith even in a strange world. They demonstrated that even though they were in Babylon that did not make them Babylonians.
Similarly, our chant for today as Christian youths should be: “we are in the world but we are not of this world”.
Thought of the Day: In what ways can we share the Kingdom culture? If the laws changed and it became illegal to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
DAY 4 AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST DEFEND THEIR FAITH IN AN UNTOWARD WORLD – 2 Corinthians 5:20, Acts 17: 16-34
Today we draw our lesson from the experience of the Apostle Paul at Athens. The city of Athens was known for its idolatry and philosophical diversity. Paul demonstrates what those who follow Christ are commissioned to do. Instead of reacting with hostility or judgement, Paul observes their culture and engages with the Athenians in a respectful and intelligent manner. He uses their own religious beliefs and cultural references to bridge a connection and share the message of the gospel. Paul starts by acknowledging their religious practices and even commends their devotion. He then introduces them to the “unknown God” they worshipped and explains that this God is the true Creator and Saviour. Paul presents the gospel in a way that resonates with their cultural context using their own poets and philosophers to support his message.
Similar to the city of Athens, the world that we live in is being invaded by strange cultures, homosexualism and lesbianism, unacceptable passions like drug and substance use and terrible indoctrinations. The principles and values of Christianity are slowly being relegated to the margin. One may feel hopeless, pressured or defeated. However, it is in times like these that our LORD and SAVIOUR Jesus Christ, is calling all faithful young persons in the Methodist community to be His Ambassadors.
As followers of Christ, we have been entrusted with the role of representing the kingdom of Heaven in the midst of a sinful world. As an ambassador for Christ, you have to defend your faith by living with integrity, showing love and compassion as well as sharing the gospel of Christ. Endeavour to seek unity and reconciliation in our broken and divided community by being a peacemaker. Pray for your peers and parents including those who may be hostile or difficult to love. As you defend your faith in Jesus, stand firm in the truth. Be rooted in the scripture and let it guide your beliefs and actions. Do not compromise on biblical truths even if they are unpopular or challenged by society.
Today’s word challenges us as ambassadors for Christ to move out of our comfort zones invade “the streets” and represent God. As Young people we use the term “mastreets” to refer to the social media handles and any other spaces that spend most of their time and socialize with our peers. The word of God, through the example compels us to go out and spread the word of God in all the unchurched spaces… “muma streets”.
Discussion:
• Give strategies for effectively sharing the gospel of Christ in a diverse, everchanging cultural context and those with different belief or opinion.
• State the challenges of standing firm in biblical truth in the face of opposition or societal pressure.
Prayer: May the love of God dwell in my heart and enable me to be bold while defending my faith in a world that is struggling with sin. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
DAY 5 BE JUST: REPRESENTING THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH FAIR AND ETHICAL PRACTICES – Leviticus 19:35-37, Proverbs 16: 11, Proverbs 22: 16
One of the attributes of God is that He is a God of Justice, this therefore means that his sons and daughters should carry the chromosome of justice. Yesterday we spoke about spreading the culture of God’s Kingdom, and during Youth in Action 2023 there was a call for young people to be entrepreneurial. Zimbabwe has transcended or evolved into an entrepreneurial society therefore the young Ambassadors of Christ are not exempted from temptation being defeated by the vices of unethical business practices. Our lesson today draws on representing God through fair and ethical practices.
“Do All the good you can, by All the means you can, in All the ways you can, in All the places you can, to All the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
The above statement is a clarion call from one of the founders of Methodism, Rev John Wesley. He urges us to be good people who are willing to give themselves diligently to all they do. This is the first step to becoming Just in a merciless ailing economy grossly mismanaged by the politico-economic elites.
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD all the weights are in his bag. The writer of Proverbs had an ethical revelation on how to conduct our business justly thus conscientizing us on being wary of becoming economic oppressors.
A Christian should be transparent in business practices including financial transactions, decision making processes and communication with stakeholders. This fosters trust and accountability. Our business models should offer fair wages and benefits thus ensuring that employees are paid fair wages that align with their skills and contributions. An Ambassador of Christ should operate a business that provides equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of their race, gender or religion. Our businesses should be non-discriminatory in hiring or promotion practices.
The Business model of a Christian who is an ambassador of Christ should adopt ethical sourcing of materials. The materials and resources used in business operations should be obtained through ethical means such as avoiding child labour, supporting fair trade and respecting human rights. It is of utmost importance that our businesses as young ambassadors should have sound ethical marketing practices. It is unacceptable for a Christian to use insinuating nude marketing as well as misleading adverts that have no respect for consumer privacy. We should have ethical leadership by setting a positive example in our communities. Promote a culture of integrity as well as holding oneself and others accountable for their ethical behaviours.
Discussion: Examine biblical teachings on the dangers of consumerism and materialism. Discuss on how businesses can promote responsible consumption and prioritize values beyond profit.
DAY 6 CLIMATE CHANGE: AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST ARE DUTY BOUND TO CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT – Reading: Genesis 1: 28, Genesis 2: 15, Leviticus 25: 1-7, Romans 1: 20
Do we ever take time to observe nature to observe weather patterns? What actions are we taking to protect nature? What is our obligation with regards to the world around us? Perhaps we rarely concern ourselves with issues of science and natural phenomena. Our lesson today seeks to remind us of our God-given mandate as representatives of God with regards to taking care of the world around us.
The scriptures that we have read from Genesis, gives us the instruction that we are the stewards of the environment. What this essentially means is that we have a God-given duty to protect our environment, not to abuse it. Stewardship of the environment is a key virtue for those who follow and represent Christ. As Ambassadors for Christ, we are duty-bound by the creator to safeguard nature. In the book of Leviticus, God gave them the instruction concerning the Sabbath of the Land, that land should rest in the sabbath year. Our Creator is concerned with the environment.
Our world is facing many challenges that result mostly from our actions. One such challenge is CLIMATE CHANGE. Climate change, by definition, is the significant variation of average weather conditions becoming, for example, warmer, wetter, or drier, over several decades or even longer.
What causes this phenomenon, and why should we care? What is our role as young people in this phenomenon? Climate Change is mainly caused by our actions. Think about your routine today, how much contact have you made with the environment?
The way we conduct our day-to-day business, particularly the way we dispose of waste, does contribute to damage to the natural ecosystem, as we pollute the atmosphere. We often pay a blind eye to the nexus between Christianity and environmental management. Yet the word of God today in Romans 1:20, teaches us that creation reveals the glory of God!
As our theme for 2024 says: “We are Ambassadors for Christ” and so as God willed it, and instructed it, in Genesis 1:28, it is our duty to do good and advocate for justice in the environment so that we play our role in curbing further climate change. Taking care of the environment is a requirement of our faith.
Action/Discussion points:
1. what is our role as young ambassadors in taking care of the environment?
2. What are some of the bad habits that we need to change in our communities that negatively impact the environment
3. How do changes to the climate affect us as Christians and community members?
DAY 7 COMMUNITY SERVICE: LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE! – Readings: Proverbs 3: 27; Titus 3: 8; John 15: 12
Young people should organize themselves and represent God through acts of service. The works of an ambassador should be seen through Action. God whom we are representing gets glory when we are selfless in volunteering and serving others. Putting our faith into action makes the love of God which we have experienced radiate to those we will serve through community service. Today is the day that we go out into the world and make the love of God known through Action!!!!
Activity: Identify places like rehabilitation centres, prisons, children’s homes, geriatric homes or families and individuals in your community who are in need. Visit them and offer some form of Christian Service as per their need, find time to be with them, socialize and share the Word of God with them.
DAY 8 WORSHIP SERVICE: A FAITHFUL AMBASSADOR BRINGS HEALING – READINGS: Proverbs 13: 17; 2 Kings 5: 2-3; 2 Corinthians 5: 20.
The little Israelite servant in Naaman’s palace seized the opportunity to preach about her Miracle-working God even in the foreign lands, her master was healed and ultimately God revered in the lands of Syria.
Today we seize the opportunity as young ambassadors, to testify to the goodness of the Lord so our churches, communities, families and nation may be held through the word of our testimony.
CONCLUSION:
• As we conclude Youth Week 2024, we are also reminded that Youth Week is a time to raise funds for the Youth and Children’s Ministry Department. The young people through the youth charter have this commitment: “We commit ourselves to personal giving to raise funds for the MCZ Youth & Children’s Ministry and to contribute an additional amount to the Sunday’s income being given by the church in Youth Week each year to sustain this ministry”. We are therefore reminded to faithfully uphold the spirit of the Youth Charter by endeavouring to reach our Youth Week 2024 targets.
• The Adult MCZ community pledged that…We commit ourselves to personal giving to contribute to the financial support of youth and children’s work in the Circuit and District and to send the equivalent of at least one Sunday’s full income per year to the Methodist Church to sustain this ministry. The method of raising this amount is to be determined by each Society. Sunday Offering Collections for the last Sunday are to be submitted to the Connexional Youth Account, and they are not part of our Youth Week targets.
• All Youth Week Funds to be banked into the following Account
Account Name: Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Youth
Bank: Banc ABC
Branch: Heritage Branch
Branch Code: 125
Account Number: 12873696633189
Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 
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