Triennial Youth Conference 2017 Report

Triennial Youth Conference 2017
“... and he has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Cor.  5: 19
With the aim of passing this ministry of reconciliation to the next generation, the Triennial Youth Conference of 2017 started from the 3rd of September in Sabha Headquarters Manjadi Thiruvalla. The Inaugural session was presided over by Bishop Dr. T. C. Cherian and was inaugurated by the President of Youth Board, Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Abraham.Youth Board Secretary Rev.Achenkunju George welcomed the distinguished guests and the participants. Sabha secretary Rev.Mathews Abraham, Diocesan youth Secretaries Mr.Jose Manjavilakom,Mr.Jain Mathew Konni,Mr.Mathews Abraham Kumbanad,and Mr.Gibin George Keezhillam  addressed the audience with their felicitations.Rev.Anish Mathew pronounced the vote of thanks for the inaugural session.  Over 600 young people stayed in accommodation arranged in different places and more than700 people attended the conference.
Dr P.C.Mathew, Director, Urban India Ministries Bangalore led the conference and shed light on the theme “Reconciled to Reconcile.”He has given equal importance to both the need of reconciliation of a person with the Lord and their fellow being. He also inspired to take up the responsibility of the ministry of reconciliation in order to bring people to the Lord. As a family, they also took a seminar on the topic “Biblical Perspective of Marriage and Family”.It really opened the young minds with regard to the Christian principles of love, sex, and marriage. They emphasised the necessity of keeping purity of our body, mind and soul before and even after the marriage.  Apart from these there were seminars taken by the experts in their fields. The seminar on “Modern Trends among Youth” was taken by Prof. Viji Thomas,Trivandrum. When the students in campuses deny the existence of God, the seminar “God and Man” by Rev. Aniyankunju Joy,Bangalore found its relevance. As debates constantly exist on ‘creation or evolution’ the seminar on “Science and the Bible” taken by Mr. John T. Mathai, Hydrabad proved that there is a divine architect behind the existence of this universe. Rev. Alexander Iype,Chattisgarh explained what the ‘mission’ is from the word of God and his ministry experiences with reference to the seminar topic “Mission and the Ministry”. A special session titled “Motivational Challenges” was led by Dr P. C. Thomas,Kollam. The session challenged the youth for Lord Jesus Christ by the experiences of few people who excelled for God in their secular jobs.
Youths from 13 Centres of all 4 dioceses came prepared for a Mega Bible Quiz. The Bible Quiz was conducted by Mr. A. G. Cherian, Kuwait Parish. After a tough Competition between the teams, Nilambur Centre of North Kerala Diocese emerged as the winners of the Bible Quiz. The 2nd and 3rd positions were received by Kottarakara and Kadambanad Centre respectively both in south Kerala Diocese.The singing sessions led by Mr Anish Thomas John(youth ministry coordinator),Mr.Wycliffe Cherian and his team was a great blessing for the conference .
The testimony of Dr. Alex Abraham inspired our young minds in believing that God’s decision for them is better than their own. It spoke of a complete submission to God. The conference was a blessing to many young people as they took decision to be reconciled and to reconcile others with God. Many decided to fulfil God’s will through their lives.
The final day of the conference began with the Holy Communion presided over by Bishop Dr. M. K. Koshy. The presbyters Rev. Biju Thomas, Sabha Treasurer, spoke about our church and its relevance while Rev. Achenkunju George spoke about the ministries under the Youth Board and Rev. Jacob Thomas spoke about the Department of Music and Communications. Prof. Viji Thomas shared about the ministries of the Education Board. Prizes were distributed to the participants who won the Bible Quiz and the article writing Competition. After which the Souvenir “Yuvadarshanam 2017” was released by handing over a copy of souvenir by Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Abraham to Bishop Dr. M. K. Koshy . With the closing sermon by Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Abraham,vote of thanks by Rev.Biju Thomas, and prayer and benediction by Bishop Dr M.K.Koshy, the Triennial Conference 2017 marked its end. 
I remember with gratitude Rev.SajiMathew,Rev.Joshy M.Jacob,Rev.Prakash Thomas,Mr P.C.Varghese,Rev.Saji George,Ev.Koshy Thomas,Mr P.T.Yohannan and their team members, Office staff members, group leaders,Prof.John Zachariah, Dr Susan Varghese, Medical team,and achens, Evangelists, Sevinies,for their sacrificial efforts for the blessing of the conference. A team consisting Rev.Anish Mathew,Mr Subeesh George,Mr Rubesh Samuel,Mr Anish Thomas John,Mr Jobin Rajan,Mr.Riju C.Joy,Ev.Santhosh, MrNikhil Raj,and Mr Asish George constantly worked for the  successful completion of ‘ Yuvadarsanam 2017’ Souvenir.Rev.Aji Thomas and his team laboured in order to upload the mega Bible Quiz video on our STECI web site. The list goes on like this...but,I cannot ignore the prayers, sacrificial contributions, physical efforts of many people in order to make it a great success.   Above all, our gracious God who made it a great blessing for many, all the glory, honour, and praise for Him alone.     
Rev.Achenkunju George
Secretary, Board for Youth Work





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