PREAMBLE
The Youth Ministries Division [YMD] is a unit of the Missionary Organization Department, working with the youths in focus under the auspice of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

The youth fellowship is unique in her composition. It is a fellowship of students, admission seekers, job seekers, the employed, the singles and the married. The youth ministries division is a specialized ministry that has these groups in focus; designing programmes that addresses the teaming needs of the members of the group.

A RESUME OF THE YOUTH MINISTRIES IN NIGERIA
The Youth Ministries in Nigeria was inaugurated in Iwo in 1973. This was the result of the efforts of some concerned persons like Revd Emmanuel Akingbala, Dr E.A Dahunsi, Oba Samuel Abimbola 11 [Oluwo of Iwo], Bro Noah Iyanda and Late Dr T.A Ayorinde, who preached at thew inaugural ceremony. His message was concluded with these statements: ‘’Let us always remember that ours is not supposed to be a pressure group. Neither is the organization to become a society of those who think they know all that there is to be known. Rather, the convention expects her youth to participate fully in a constructive way. Thus we expect cooperation with the convention to the best of your ability’’. Six conferences were represented and 241 youth delegates participated at the inaugural ceremony.

The objectives at the inauguration were threefold:
To help the Baptist youth to recognize their individual opportunities and responsibilities in the church worldwide mission
To inspire Baptist youth commit their lives to continuing Christian witness
To provide opportunity for Baptist youth to know each other better and thus work co-operatively to fulfil the great commission.

VISION
To reach all the youths for Christ, and position them for effective living and service that reflects the glory of God.

YOUTH MINSTRIES OBJECTIVES The constitutional objectives of the Nigerian Baptist Convention Youth Conference are:

To cooperate with the Nigerian Baptist Convention in emphasizing its declared principles among the youths

To take the whole Gospel of Jesus to all who do not know it or have not received it, wherever opportunity may be found

To encourage and assist in the building and maintenance of Baptist Youth Centres

To afford a united action concerning matters affecting the welfare of youth fellowships in the Convention and to cultivate fellowship by such other means as the conference may adopt

To invest in any financial undertakings that is for the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To prepare the youths as a formidable force to take over the mantle of leadership for the next generation.

YOUTH MINISTRIES’ RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH

The Youth ministries division has a single agenda in focus for the church on grounds of relationship –partnership agenda for church empowerment. This agenda is founded on the understanding of the youth’s position in the church, as leaders of today and tomorrow. The youths are helped to discover themselves in the different settings they find themselves outside the church. Through self discoveries series, leadership development, mission and evangelism orientation, financial empowerment principles, orientations that make for excellence martially and other trainings, they are then positioned to serve in the different capacities they are gifted in, especially as their gifts find outlet in fruitful service to the glory of God. The church is conceived as a test ground for the deposits of God in the believers’ life. With the appropriate motivation, it is expected that the youths would perform.

MODE OF OPERATION
Organizing conferences · Discovery and positioning of gifts for service · Working at the sidelines of the church to assist the church ministries with the youths · Organizing annual conferences for leadership development and empowerment · Providing motivations for the fulfilment of the great commission

CURRENT STAFF
The following currently serve as staff of the Youth Ministries Division:
Revd Emmanuel Arotile – National Youth Coordinator [08035378931, 08059324545]
Dns Toyin Adebayo – Promotion Officer [08056140573]
Mrs Ngozi Okoro - Secretary [08063822380]
Two ministerial Officers – the names would be made available soonest

CENTRAL YOUTH EXECUTIVES
The current tenure of the youths is led by the following executive members:
Amos Stanley – President [08037235922]
Kemi Bamidele -1st Vice President [08059529558]
Ayuba Mshelia -2nd Vice President [08038057721]
Yohanna Magaji – Secretary [08036057572]
Giwa Abolade – Treasurer [08033543529]
John B. Ahmadu –Financial Secretary [08036003174]
Pastor Nosakhare Ikponmwonsa – Welfare Officer 1 [08059516471]
Sola Adesina – Welfare Officer 2 [08065545776]
Innocent Okereke – PRO [08039221308]
Amotsuka Samuel – Auditor [08039594450]
Iwhiwhu Basil – Chairman Publication [08035878253]
Dn S.A Kofoworade – Chairman LTC Committee [08034303421]
Hezekiah Jokotoye – Chairman Project Dev Committee [08060490866]
Sodangi Yohanna – Chairman Mission and Evangelism [08027653607]
Benjamin Gotam – Ex-Officio [08034515098]

**You may reach any of these to get whatever information you desire. They are positioned to be the youth liaison officers at different levels.

AVAILABLE SERVICES
The Youth Ministries Division offers the following services to the church/youth as a way of getting closer to the church and the youths:
Anonymous Counselling via text messages, email, yahoo chat etc
Development of concepts for programme
Planning and organizing conferences
Promotions and campaigns among youths on life issues e.g AIDS awareness campaign
Interdenominational programmes as it affects youth life wherever the opportunity is given.•

AID/RELIEF FOR JOS CRISES VICTIMS:
-The executive committee has decided to mobilize the youths of our great convention to contribute relief for the victims. We therefore request that individuals, church fellowships, associations, conferences and well wishers contribute cheerfully to this effect. The time for visit is April 2009.

• ALL AFRICA BAPTIST YOUTH CONFERENCE AT SIERRRA LEONE:
-The conference is slated for November 11-15. Registration is $100. We plan to go by flight. The cost would be made know in the course of time.

• RESIGNATION OF MINISTERIAL OFFICER: -The ministerial staff –Revd Niyi Oyedele-has resigned from the Youth Ministries Office. He has responded to the call of God in the pastorate at Victory Baptist Church, Mpampe, Abuja. Let us pray along with him as he goes. He left with the promise to strengthen youth works everywhere he finds himself.