RENEWING THE RIVERS OF GOD IN ANGOLA
On the 2-4 May 2019 The Anglican Diocese of Angola Youth hosted their Diocesan youth assembly at Luanda .
The Provincial Green Anglicans formed part of the program as the country is currently under risk of water shortage and deforestation with high traffic volume on the national and local roads. The assembly saw 103 registered delegates from different parishes in the Diocese.
The Bishop opened that assembly with a powerful message saying young people should take up the leading role in the Diocese as young people can make things happen.
As the day went by the Green Anglicans was afforded an opportunity to dialog with the delegates and together we reflected on Revelation 22:1-3
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3
Many people have good memories of rivers with clean water where they played as children, but the question was asked whether our children ever get to see what it looked like so that they can be able to imagine it as per reading? And the answer from the assembly was “no”. Our children have grown up only knowing what a dirty river looks like.
Which meant that we continue to rob our own children from the beauty of God’s creation. And the time has now arrived for us as young people to be courageous by taking the lead of renewing the earth, even if we do not do it for ourselves but we need to do it of our children , so that they too can experience the joy of God’s creation.
The Diocesan youth assembly has made a declaration that they promise to do all in their power in renewing God’s creation and that the new Diocesan Youth President Joaquim Massala
will be working hand in hand with the Provincial Green Anglicans office in achieving this call of renewal.
Bino Makalanyane – Green Anglicans Youth Coordinator