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By Jide Afolabi, Jos
The National President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention Youth Conference, NBCYC, Pastor Onajite Enunuaye has lamented over the state of insecurity in Nigeria urging government to be alive to their constitutional responsibility.
Enunuaye at the ongoing 49th Annual National Conference of the NBCYC holding at Foursquare Church Camp Ground, Ajebo, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday said that the insecurity in the country has badly affected the economy and sent many youths out of job.
He said, “The times we are in this nation is witnessing the height of insecurity, political conundrum and instability in the economy. Don’t be shaken, we are overcoming by the grace of God. We have received disturbing news threatening our collective existence and peace as a people of faith, the confidence we have, is that all these will pass, they won’t last forever. Therefore, I charge all youths to be vigilant, prepare for any eventuality and trust God more for preservation”.
Speaking on the Conference theme, the President said “Taking over territories is a wake up call to all Baptist Youths in Nigeria and the world over to understand that no longer should we fold our arms and allow wickedness drive us away from the land God has given us to possess. I dare every Baptist Youth to rise and take over what rightfully belong to you. We are presently faced with myriad challenges in our world, it will take those who understand the times to know what to do like the children of Issachar The religious, economic, political space has been occupied by those who do not belong to the fold, those who pride themselves about God, those who enjoy meting out suffering with reckless abandon, those whose interest is their stomach, the ugly ones who have refused to die.”
“Beloved, God has given us all it takes to take over these territories surrounding us for the reign of God, therefore arise, shine for your light has come, the glory of God will rise upon us in this conference to put us in charge. We are the “take over generation, nothing can stop us, if you are led to enter the political space, take courage in the promises of the Lord, advance, you will take it by grace. Are you led to enter the religious and economic space? Wait no longer, save us from this quagmire. We must be ready to resolve from this conference to go home and take a stand for the Lord. Lift your right hand up and declare with me five times, ‘we are taking over'”.
Presenting his stewardship in the last two years in office, he said that while COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the level of progress that would have been made, however, notable achievements have been recorded.
He said:
“By the grace of God we were able to give out small token as palliative to ease the burden of the stay at home order on some of our youths. This leadership has taken steps to bring into reality, the long awaited mission bus which was dedicated at the youth night in April. We have been able to register a business name for NBCYC to make our investment drive robust.
“By the grace of God we have been able to visit about 20 conferences out of the 35 conferences we have in the convention. We are in good relationship with the ministry of youths and sports of the Federation headed by a Baptist, we are in the process of having a football club registered for the convention. We have met with the Minister and we have the mandate to send in our proposal for approval by the Minister. We enjoy you to always visit www.nova.org or like the page of the ministry on Facebook and get latest information that will benefit you. We are glad to inform you that the latest training announced by the ministry of youths and sports over 50 Baptist youths benefited. We are grateful to the beneficiaries who received the information and responded,
“We were able to equip the secretariat with a laptop and a printer which helps us to manage our printings.
“Our camp at Busari needs urgent development and to avoid being encroached into by invaders, we sort to start a fencing project but the cost we cannot afford at the moment so we decided to plant economic trees like palm tree along the boundaries, we have been able to plant 150 stands and hope to improve with time. These trees will become source of income for the NBCYC in the future,
“In mission, we visited Sinawu mission field in Baruten local government of Kwara state in 2019, we dug a well for them by God’s grace, we bought a generator and the native drum for the church in the community”.
Enunuaye said that the NBCYC is the largest Conference co-operating with the All Africa Baptist Youth Fellowship, AABYF, stressing that they have received commendation for always being part of the activities of the body. He encouraged the youths to continue to pray for the Fellowship as they prepares to elect another set of leaders at the Congress holding later in the month which would be hosted by the Ghana Baptist Convention.
On the 50th National Conference, he said that, “history will be made as we prepare to celebrate the 50 national conference of the NBCYC in 2022. We have started plans in this regard. We hope to have in attendance all our past labourers who at one time or the other built on what we are enjoying today, whatever idea you have to help us have a worthwhile celebration, do not hesitate to bring it to us.”
He urged Baptist youths to remain in Baptist denomination and take responsibility for building it together. He admonished them to be relevant, responsible and reliable in their various Churches, Associations, Conferences and Convention.
The President advised Baptist youths to identify with other Christian bodies like Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN, Youth Wing of the Christian Council of Nigeria, YOWICCN, and the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, to advance the gospel bodies.
He added that Nigerian Baptist Convention Youth Conference Hall of Fame would be introduced at the Conference in recognition of the service of individuals who over the years have been instrumental to the growth of the Youths of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.