Complimentary Story
Wise Intentional Leadership Development (WILD) places a high premium on training young people. In Africa 70% of the population are people 25 and younger. To advance and develop the African Church, it is a strategic priority that we pursue and disciple this demographic group. From the viewpoint of many African Christian leaders, this is not a priority.WILD works with all ages but prioritizes the youth because of this lack of priority and WILD leaders have worked for a long time in youth ministry. Everywhere WILD goes in Africa and Asia, when people find out WILD personnel have experience in youth ministry, we are asked to train the leaders so they can be effective developing their youth. The typical age range is 15 to 35 year olds that are involved in youth groups. Intentionally getting the older Christians to target the youth with training and discipling has been a slow process.
In 2009, WILD took three young people, ages ranging from 18 to early 30s, from northern Wisconsin to teach WILD leadership material to Zambians. This was a rather radical idea because Zambian young people were not at that time, involved in teaching opportunities with older people. The three which included two females were received rather well and gave a vision of the potential of the youth.
During the following year, WILD launched a four day young peoples’ leadership training camp. Fifteen young people and four youth leader pastors joined U.S.A. WILD staff for the training. Between the four pastors and two WILD staff, the six taught the young people, which resulted in a great success. The camp was repeated in 2011, this time with 26 young people and the youth training concept gained tremendous traction. Ever since 2011, Zambian WILD national team members have run the camp which now occurs twice a year to include just completing their second one in 2016 in mid-December.
Last year the Uganda WILD national team put on their first youth camp, which was followed up several weeks ago with their second one. Other countries in 2016 have also caught the vision of the necessity and priority of offering spiritual leadership training to their young people. Earlier this year, Zimbabwe national team hosted their first youth camp and in the past two months, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone have joined in the vision.
Several comments from the Sierra Leone youth after their camp included, “I felt good during the teachings and I got more ideas and understanding and I will want this program to be extended to other churches.”
“The training has developed my leadership skills. I have learnt how to make decisions.”
“I learned from the training how to manage people. I appreciate the seminar as it has taught me how to improve my ways and how to follow God. My spiritual life has improved.”
From a young lady, “The training has developed me as a good leader. I have learned how to communicate as a leader and how to behave as a spiritual leader.
Another specifically shared about two taught lessons, “I want the training to be done regularly. I was thrilled with the message on ‘Rule by Influencing’ and ‘Avoiding Pitfalls.’”
WILD plans to host youth conferences in all the countries WILD is involved in and impact the next generation of African leaders.
If interested in getting involved with WILD financially, prayerfully or possibly to help train Africans, go to the WILD website,
www.wildleadership.org for contact information.
WILD desires to connect with churches and mission boards to share the ministry and how WILD is strategically involved with the African Church.
