June 2019
Revival Radio FM, a Christian radio station, hosted an Inter-Denomination Youth Camp at Boontjieskraal Farm; during the June school holidays. One hundred and fourty delegates from the Sol Plaatje Municipality attended. The camp attracted a few members of the notorious Destruction Boys from Galeshewe, they were praised for exchanging their weapons for the Bible.
The theme was, “This too, I shall overcome”.
Revival Radio FM CEO, Mzimasi Makaphela, explained that the high rate of complaints and prayer requests from parents and guardians to the radio station lead to this initiative.
“The purpose was to create an environment wherein youth can address their issues on a neutral ground. In the presence of their peers because they might be facing similar challenges”, said Mzimasi.
According to Mzimasi, this also allowed the youth to experience life without distractions, such as TV or social media. There were no TVs and were instructed not to use their cell phones until the day of the departure.
Pastors Neo Legoshe, Theodore Nteshe and others facilitated the program.
“To proved that the right candidates, not saints and angels, attended the camp,” commented, Legoshe, when they found dagga on one of the delegates. Another boy stole a cell phone on the first day. However, the holy spirit worked and touched the culprit. He confessed and returned the phone the following day.
It was a tender moment when one of the facilitators handed over the stolen phone to the rightful owner. She spontaneously hugged the culprit and said, “I forgive you”. On hearing the news about the recovery, the girl’s mother surprised the culprit with a brand new cell phone when learning that he didn’t have one. On arrival at the Tourism Centre, the boy was excited to receive a brand new cell phone.
It was given to him when the bus arrived at the Tourism Centre.
Pastors provided prayers, counseling and guidance to delegates. Public and private confessions, as well as testimonies, were heard. The Pastors’ observation was that most children are harbouring anger due to death, rape, divorced and family conflicts.
The camp did not only focus on spirituality but also touched on economic empowerment, physical and mental fitness. Representatives from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Department of Labour made presentations about their services. Vuyo Tshabalala, an Aerobics Instructor, spoke about healthy living and the benefits of exercising.
The Premier, Doctor Zamani Saul, graced the camp with his presence. The delegates did not spare him. “The youth vigorously interrogated him about service delivery issues”, mentioned Mzimasi.
Mzimasi’s wife, Moipone Makaphela, spoke about the absence of youth in churches. She posed the question, “where are the Christian radicals who are standing up for the word of God”?
In closing, Mzimasi outlined the way forward. They have divided the youth into groups of twenty each to form a home cell. A leader leads each group, a What’s App account is created, including parents. The facilitators will monitor discussions in the chat group.
The Radio Station intends to have a follow-up camp towards the end of the year to maintain the momentum.
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