09 Dec Hundreds of African Youth Attend Annual Youth Camp

Once a year, Sierra Leone Conference holds a large camp for all United Brethren youth in Sierra Leone. Over 400 young people attended the 2013 youth camp, which was held in Bo, the country’s second-largest city (and the location of the conference headquarters).

The camps use workshops to train the youth in various areas. They also do in-the-field training. Bishop John Pessima (right) says, “We take them out two times during the camp to reach out to the community. They use tracts and the Bible. We also present the Jesus film to the community, wherever the camp is held. Then, after the film, the youth move around and talk to the people, and then bring for follow-up the names of people who accepted Christ.”

In 2014, says Bishop John Pessima, they’ll probably hold the camp in Mattru. “We tax the various churches to contribute to the youth camp,” says Bishop Pessima. “That is the only funding we have.”

Bishop Pessima says Sierra Leone Conference is working with AWANA, the Christian children’s program popular in the United States. In fact, Bishop Pessima is AWANA’s national chairman for all of Sierra Leone.

This fall, Bishop Pessima met with the regional African director, who has visiting Sierra Leone. “He has visited us three times now, and is working directly with us,” says Bishop Pessima. “AWANA is working very well for us. If we teach these young children and bring them up in the way of the Lord, it will change all of Siera Leone.”

He says there is also interest in reviving Christian Endeavor, which was once widely used in Sierra Leone. “Through it, some of us came to the Lord,” he says.