Introduction
What today has become
Africa Methodist Youth Movement is a product of long-time relationship between
Youth Desk officers of some Methodist Conferences in Africa. The relationship in turn gave birth to
various exchange visits which were stronger between the Ghana Methodist
Students’ Union (GHAMSU) and Methodist Campus Fellowship (MCF NIGERIA) as well
as the Methodist Youth Fellowship in Nigeria and Ghana.
The passion to take this
relationship to a wider scope and to lift Africa to a greater height led to a
formative meeting held in 2007 at Methodist Church of The Trinity Tinubu,
Lagos, Nigeria, where the vision of Africa Methodist Youth Movement was born.
The main objectives are:
1. To foster closer working and friendly relationship among the
young Methodist on the continent with the
hope of revisiting Wesley’s vision of spreading scriptural Holiness in Africa.
2. That young Methodists everywhere on the continent, would be
helped to cultivate a deeper, closer and a personal relationship with Christ,
that with boldness and secured confidence such would name Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Saviour and thereby make Him known to every person they come into
contact with.
3. That being proud of their heritage, the Africa Methodist
youth would promote and project Methodism to become the most sought for and the
leading Christian denomination in the African continent, in terms of spiritual
satisfaction, renewal, the feeling of the presence of God in all gatherings and
the promotion of practical Christianity.
4. Fighting injustice, the HIV/AIDS, corruption, unemployment,
poverty, high cost of education and all forms of social vices.
5. Capacity building and development of potentials of the
youths to become effective and efficient leaders for the Church and society now
and in the future.
Membership
Membership is open to all
Methodist Conferences in Africa through their youth desk.
General
Assembly
The Movement holds a biennial
assembly where member countries come with delegates for fellowship, worship,
and review of what has been done so far in regards to the vision and mission of
the movement in the last two years. The first General Assembly was held at
Methodist Youth Development Centre, Aburi Ghana between Wednesday 12th and
Monday 17th November 2008. There were about 50 young people in attendance from
Ghana and Nigeria conferences. The
second conference was held in 2010 in Ibadan, Nigeria and there were over 150
young people in attendance from Kenya, Togo, Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria. 2012
assembly was held at Nakuru in Kenya, and there were over 200 young people in
attendance from Southern Africa, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. Events in
the continent could not allow the movement to hold any assembly until 2017
(November 29 till December 4) when about a hundred young people from Ghana,
Nigeria, Kenya, Benin, and South Africa gathered at Johannesburg for an
assembly. Due to the COVID -19 Pandemic the 2021 Assembly was held virtually.
Leadership
Academy
The first leadership of the movement
under the chairmanship of the Director of Youth Ministries of Methodist Church
Ghana, Very Rev. Dr. Isaac, Nana Abekah saw the need for leadership development
among leaders of young people. This was first organised in 2014 at Benin
Republic. Thereafter, leadership academy has been held virtually to prepare the
leaders of young people towards effective leadership that will help in
fulfilling the vision and mission of the movement.
Adoption
into The Africa Methodist Council
The Africa Methodist Council had its
first General Conference In Nairobi Kenya in March 2019, During the assembly,
the young people that were present at the General Conference proposed that the
Africa Methodist Youth Movement be absorbed into the Africa Methodist Council
as the Youth Wing of the council in order to strengthen the influence of the
movement in Africa. This proposal was later presented to the Executive body of
the Africa Methodist Council and it was ratified on behalf of the Council.
Below
is the complete consolidated document, presented as a single, coherent
narrative with clear headings and a formal historical tone.
(2022 – January 2025)
The Africa
Methodist Council at its Executive meeting in Kigali on the 2nd to 5th March
2022
considered and approved the following names as Interim Officers of the AMYM
based on
their involvement in past activities of Africa Methodist Youth Movement which
is the
Youth Wing of AMC and on their merit as Youth Leaders from their Conferences.
1. Rev
Roger Gadzekpo – AMEZ Ghana - Chairman
2. Rev
Dennis Muriungi- Methodist Church in Kenya- Vice Chair
3. Hazel
Faith Gacheri - Methodist Church in Kenya
4. Nathan Ake - Youth Rep from UMC Cote
D’Ivoire
5. Joselyne Kabageni -Youth Rep from Free
Methodist Church Rwanda
6. Oyonumo Bassey -Youth President from
Methodist Church Nigeria
7. Rev
Phezille Koekoe- Youth Coordinator, Methodist Church of Southern Africa
8. Rev.
Past ABISSI Sêvy Herve- Youth Coordinator from Methodist Church Togo
9. Adesola
Adeosun- AMYM Ex Officio member, Methodist Church Nigeria
With the support of the former AMC General Secretary,
Very Rev. Opeyemi Awe, the youth leadership with renewed vision provided
direction and stability, continental engagement, the
deepening of theological and missionary
reflection, and the expansion of collaborative platforms across Africa.
It
was within this leadership framework that the following activities and organizational milestone
were undertaken between 2022 and January 2025:
Webinar series on the role of
the Wesleyan Youth in transforming Africa was held.
In June 2022, the Africa Methodist Council
Youth Movement (the then Africa Methodist Youth Movement) recorded a major
milestone with the hosting of the Youth Leadership Academy from June 1–5 in
Tanzania, under the theme “Divine Imperatives for the Transformation of Africa:
The Role of the Youth.”
Organized under the chairmanship of Rev. Roger
Gadzekpo of Ghana, the Academy was guided by a continental Steering Committee
comprising Rev. Roger Gadzekpo (AME Zion Church, Ghana), Rev. Denis Muriungi
(Methodist Church in Kenya), Adesola Adeosun (Methodist Church, Nigeria),
Nathan Ake (Côte d’Ivoire), Joselyne Kabageni (Rwanda), Oyunumo Bassey
(Methodist Church, Nigeria), Rev. Phezille Koekoe (Methodist Church of Southern
Africa), Rev. Past Abissi Sevy Herve (Methodist Church, Togo), Hazel Faith
Gacheri (Methodist Church in Kenya), and Constance Lokossou (Methodist Church,
Benin). The Academy convened youth leaders from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana,
Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and featured
high-level theological and leadership engagements facilitated by Bishop Joseph
Ntombura, President of the Africa Methodist Council; Very Rev. Opeyemi Awe,
General Secretary of AMC; Bishop Joseph Bundala of Tanzania; Shava Collins,
Youth Executive Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches; and Rev.
Obusitwe Tiroyabone of South Africa. The gathering strengthened continental
youth collaboration, leadership formation, and a shared vision for Africa’s
transformation through Methodist youth engagement.
In 2023, the AMYM (now AMCYM) actively
participated in the 2nd General Assembly of the Africa Methodist Council held
in Benin, convened under the theme “Transformation for Impactful Social
Holiness.” As part of the Assembly, a dedicated Youth Corner provided a
platform for robust discussions on “Keeping Up with the Wesleyan Heritage in
the Contemporary Situation” and “The Role of Methodist Youth in the
Socio-Economic and Political Development of Africa.” These deliberations
reaffirmed the theological foundations of Methodism while addressing
contemporary African realities, positioning Methodist youth as key contributors
to social holiness, civic responsibility, and sustainable development across
the continent.
At this General Assembly, as
part of the Youth Forum, a constitution review committee was formed to come out
with a draft for the consideration of the Youth Movement.
On February 12, 2024, the AMYM held a virtual consultative meeting guided by
the scriptural reflection, “I must work the work of Him who sent me while it is
day” (John 9:4), during which a comprehensive review of the movement’s progress
and leadership structures was undertaken. It was observed that leadership
transitions had occurred in several conferences, prompting the updating of the
continental youth leadership database. To enhance strategic coordination, a Program
Planning Committee was constituted, chaired by Very Rev. Gideon Osabutey of
Ghana, with Rev. David Kitonde of Kenya, Sis. Hazel Gikunda of Kenya serving as
Secretary, Sis. Elsie Acy Bethel of The Gambia, and Bro. Simbarashe Sinamane of
Zimbabwe as members. Additionally, a Communication Team was established to
improve visibility and information flow across the movement, led by Rev. Derek
Ben Kwofie of Ghana and Bro. Nana Yaw Ampofo of Ghana, with all member
conferences tasked to nominate representatives to support continental
communication efforts. Throughout the year, youth leaders held regular virtual
consultative meetings to review ongoing work, strengthen digital presence, and
lay a strategic foundation for activities in 2025, marking 2024 as a year of
institutional strengthening and organizational consolidation.
January 2025
In January 2025, the AMYM (now AMCYM)
entered a new phase of consolidation and programmatic expansion following a
leadership meeting held on January 14, at which key governance and operational
decisions were taken. The Program Planning Committee, chaired by Very Rev.
Gideon Osabutey, was affirmed as the Interim Core Leadership to manage the
affairs of the movement until substantive officers are elected, with
sub-committees mandated to nominate representatives to join this core
structure. Measures were also initiated to strengthen inclusitivity through translation
support, with Bro. Maxwell Afizie assisting and processes underway to establish
a dedicated translation team. Furthermore, work commenced on the development of
a policy document to guide the movement’s operations and electoral processes,
with the first draft under active discussion.
The year began with the launch of
the monthly “Touching Africa” webinar series, aimed at engaging Methodist youth
on topical continental issues. A virtual prayer and presentation, led by Bro.,
took place on January 3, 2025. Adesola Adeosun of the Methodist Church,
Nigeria, another presentation on 6th of February 2025 on the topic, Rooted in
Purpose, rising in faith by Rev Dr. Nene Muthuri from Kenya, Situational
Leadership- A tool for an effective Youth Ministry in Africa on the 6th of
March 2025 by The Very Rev Dr Clara Joyce Danquah, Bidging the African Youth
Employment – Entrepreneurship Gap: Remaining Relevant on the 8th of May 2025 by
the Very Rev Dr Solomon Nortey, Maintaining Godly Relationship on the 5th of
June 2025 and 7th of August 2025 by Rev Thomas Pierre Bass and Sis Beatrice
Armah- Mensah. There was also an online Mini Conference and leadership Forum on
the 23rd of October 2025, which had ten (10) countries participating with a
brief report on work done so far in their respective conferences. It was
generally successful to the Glory of God.
These initiatives collectively set the
tone for sustained engagement and preparation toward the planned Youth General
Assembly, scheduled for September 2025, which was subsequently moved to March
2026.
The Conference being organised by the
current interim executive under the AMC, its mother body, is the first
conference under the AMC, thus inaugural, with the name Africa Methodist
Council Youth Movement (AMCYM) instead of African Methodist Youth Movement
(AMYM)
The interim executives who have been
managing the affairs of the youth wing of AMC since 2025 are as follows;
1. The
Very Rev Gideon Dotse Osabutey Chairman
2. Rev
David Kitondekigya Vice
Chairman
3. Sis
Hazel Faith Gacheri Secretary
4.
Sis Elsie A. A. L.
Macauley Asst
Secretary
5.
Bro Simbarashe
Henry Sinamani Finance
Officer
6.
Rev Derek Ben
Kwofie Communication
Director
7.
Bro
Nana Yaw Ampofo Ayew Asst.
Communication Director
8.
Rev
Roger Gadzekpo Ex.Officio
