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At the final day of the Lusaka Green Anglicans Conference, the young people , gathered from nine Southern African Countries have begun to form a network for change. Naomi Foxwood of Tearfund shared how research shows that the most effective way for change to happen is via networks made up of small actions taking place. This is exactly the role of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, to link together activists who are doing small butsignificant actions in their own context, so that they can support and inspire one another. Without the support of such a network, they will burn and lose heart. Young people are ideally supported to encourage each other through the use of social media. The young people then began to develop their action plans for the next six months and beyond, firstly identifying partners and then looking at what their actions will be and who are the influential figures that they need to connect with in order to open doors… The conference ended with a wonderful service with the Archbishop of Central Africa , he told the young people that they are not the leaders of the future, they are the church now and the leaders now. The conference is over, the journey has begun… pray for these young people as they strive for the dream of a Greener Africa.

The Archbishop of Canterbury visited the Green Anglicans conference in Lusaka for over two hours this afternoon. The Young People made presentations on the Environmental Challenges they face in Southern Africa, water, waste, deforestation, air pollution, soil erosion, poor farming methods. They used music, drama, interviews and pictures to explain the challenges. They asked the Archbishop to take these issues to ACC and to take up these issues in the Anglican Communion. Archbishop Justin said that the young people see things that so many people especially the older people are refusing to see, they are the prophetic eyes. He said that the two key issues that the world faces are Environmental Challenges and Interfaith Violence. If we do not tackle these issues then we will leave a destroyed world for our children and grandchildren. He proudly sported a Green Anglican tshirt

Day Two : Lusaka Green Anglicans Conference. We began to look at our response to the environmental challenges we face. Advocacy is the method by which we challenge ourselves and our leaders to take actions for justice and the climate. Fr Bob Sihuba lead us in a session looking at the qualities of leadership that we require as young people to make a difference ,to influence others and develop leadership in the Green movement. Then in our action groups: water, waste, deforestation, mining etc, we looked at the “Problem Tree”. firstly, what are the roots of the problem and then what does it cause (branches and leaves). If we only tackle the results of the problem and not its causes then we cannot make a difference. We then looked at the qualities of a young green Anglican leader. We must walk the walk and not just talk the talk, young people are inspired by their peers and quick to spot hypocrisy!. We cannot say A and do B… Worship today was led by Botswana and Lesotho.. Excitement is building as we will be visited by the Archbishop of Canterbury tomorrow.

The Green Anglicans conference in Lusaka started today. We enjoyed a vibrant Eucharist service with a sermon by Canon John Kafwanka from the Anglican Communion office, who shared about the Christian Social Justice story. He then shared about intentional discipleship and the role of young people in building the church and Gods Kingdom From there we moved into the challenges of the Fifth Mark of Mission – to care for Creation Rev Rachel Mash, Environmental Coordinator of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa shared the environmental challenges facing Southern Africa. We then discussed the issues we face in our different nine countries.. These were identified as deforestation, water, air pollution, mining, waste, renewable energy. We divided into groups to discuss how we can change people’s hearts in terms of these different issues. We heard inspiring stories from several Dioceses such as Harare and Swaziland which are doing amazing things along with others. Ncumisa Magadla and Margie Jansen then begin the Change makers program where we started by looking at ‘Our story” how has God touched our heart for the environment. And we made new friends and shared some wonderful worship! May God be praised

The Green Anglican event was held at All Saints Anglican Church- Ledig in Rustenburg on the 30th of April 2016. The main purpose of this event was to celebrate and honor Arbour Day which is celebrated every year on the last Friday of April and to teach the community of Ledig to live a green lifestyle. A presentation was made to teach them about the importance of care for creation and what Green Anglicans is. A task was given to the young people of Rustenburg Archdeaconry to prepare an attire, using litter for a girl and a boy, which will be presented at the conference in September. Issues affecting the Ledig community included: mines polluting the air and rivers nearby, constant electrical blackouts resulting to the community cutting down trees to make fire to cook with as well the increase of litter in the community.  They were advised to start recycling, use electricity wisely by switching off lights at rooms where there isn’t any person, plant trees and teach rest of the community about the importance of tress. The community was motivated to write a letter to the mines expressing their concerns. Practical Activities Garden: A vegetable garden was started on the day: onions, carrot and spinach were planted. The significance of making a vegetable garden is to bring the people of God together  Unity: to work as one unit, seeds planted will produce food to assist the church when having events and assist the community. A prayer for planting a seed:  This week, dear Lord. We will plant the seeds of……….. That you have given us. Bless them and watch over them, bring them to the full growth and rich harvest that you wish to bless us with. Amen Tree Planting The 13 trees were planted in different locations as follows: 7 trees were planted at different homes in Ledig at families that have lapsed at Motseng family section planted 2 trees. at RD Maimane Selosesha section planted 2 trees. at Matshitse Khalayoni section planted 1 tree at Ngondo Khalayoni planted 2 trees.   2 trees were planted inside the church premises. 1 tree was as a gift to the church warden 3 trees where given to the priests that were present :The Ven J. Dhladhla, Regional Dean, and Rev Selinah The tree planting ceremony symbolised having hope in the Lord, it also represents growth in our faith. May they bring growth upon our lives and our faith be rooted in Christ and have hope, believe in Christ. Order of Service for planting a trees Prayer God of heaven and earth, the work of your hands made known in your beautiful creation and in the lives of those who faithfully live their lives in your grace.  May this tree speak the power of your life in our midst, deeply rooted and ever growing in all creation, through Jesus Christ Amen Scripture reading: Jeremiah 17:8 Blessing of the tree Creator of life and sustainer of seed and soil of the tree………….you have created in this world and all that lives in it. Deepen the roots of these trees that we are planting today. Make them to grow in order to beautify and glorify the land with all of the other trees of Israel. Strengthen, too, our roots in the land. Connect our faith to be rooted in Christ and bless us together with these trees and through us, all the families of the earth. Amen Closing Benediction Closing song: We shall not be moved. Just like a tree, planted by the waters We shall not be moved.   -The Green Team ya Pitori  

  The Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Environmental Network (Green Anglicans) together with the Anglican Province of Central Africa, will host 75 young participants on a week-long conference in Zambia. Beginning on the 4th of April to the 11th of April 2016, the conference will be held at the Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. Participants were chosen by their diocese as movers and shakers on care for creation, to learn on how to grow environmental ministry further in their regions. Dioceses represented include: Angola, Free State, Highveld, Johannesburg, Lebombo, Lesotho, Namibia, Natal, Niassa, Pretoria, Saldanah Bay, Swaziland. The purpose of the conference is to equip young people across the Anglican Church in Southern Africa, with methods of advocacy, behavioural changes, research and design thinking. All of this will assist the young people in building a care for creation movement back in their dioceses.  Working with the Green Anglicans Provincial team and diocesan coordinators, they will be required to create a plan that will work for their regions as they from different parts of the province which are affected differently by climate change. In one of the sessions the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, will be present to speak to them and listen to their plan of actions. The conference will be before the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), therefore all participants will attend the opening service for ACC on Sunday the 10th of April. One participant will be chosen to report to ACC, on the plans and decisions taken by the young people during their conference. The rest of group will travel via Livingston to visit Victoria Falls, and Sons of Thunder which environmental site by GreenPop. They are set to arrive back on the 13th of April. May you please pray for these young people to have clear minds as they will be involved in environmental ministry in our churches in response to climate change.