The Executive Mayor, Councillor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, who is charged with the overall responsibility of providing political leadership to the City of Tshwane, host city of the 3rd World congress of Youth and Community Service “IMPACT SA 2013,” called upon the youth and members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to pray for the first President of democratic South Africa, Dr Nelson Mandela. Dr Mandela, lay in hospital, just ten kilometers from the venue of the Youth Congress. The Seventh-day Adventist church continues to uphold the former President in their prayers and Dr Ratsara, president of the Southern Africa Indian Ocean Region, urged the 3500 strong gathering of young people, to pray for the world icon and beloved leader, Nelson Mandela.
In the opening ceremony, amidst the unspeakable excitement, Dr Gilbert Cangy, World Youth Director, before declaring the congress officially open, expressed thanks Dr Baraka Mugand for fifteen years of sterling service to young people and presented him with a citation prepared by the General Conference youth department.
Young people from more than 90 countries were in high spirits, united by the mission and purpose of the church. When The Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, ascended the podium, the audience of young people could not contain themselves as he boldly expressed his affiliation with the SDA church and thanked the church for their investment and values that was instilled in him, as a child and is evident in his current leadership.
David Asscherick, co-founder of ARISE and former pastor of the Troy Seventh-day Adventist Church in Troy, Michigan, in his presentation uplifted God who is indescribable in human terms, and called on the young people to embrace the TRUTH above all truths, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The 3rd world youth congress promises to be a life-changing event for thousands across the globe, including Seventh-day Adventists. On the opening night, almost 2000 people logged on to watch the live-streaming of the event.
Dr Paul Charles
SID Communication – We Connect…
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