Responding to the needs of a blind woman. Painting the walls of a church. Ministering to 40 sick people in the hospital. Bringing hope to residents in a scintillating geriatric home. Reconstructing a community centre and a daycare centre. Welders, painters, carpenters, masons, electricians, chaplains and a Caribbean team of volunteers displaying a profound degree of compassion and concern. Youth and their leaders engaged in a networking process that brought inspiration, confidence and success to hundreds of individuals. This extraordinary event took place in Suriname during the Christmas period, December 16-23, 2009. There was an exceptional blending of a multiplicity of talents that produced a synergistic impact in many communities.

One thing is quite clear. Youth will either be part of the problem or they will be part of the solution. The boundless energy of youth must be mobilised and directed to mission-focused activities where they get a natural high, a unique euphoria, an adrenaline rush from rescuing families, institutions and communities. Youth from St Lucia, St Vincent and T&T collaborated. Teenagers provided the enthusiasm that is necessary to neutralise fatigue. Engineers provided the miracles in an atmosphere where courage became infectious. There is something electrifying, even mystifying, about being part of a history-making event. When sacrifice engages in a romantic encounter with commitment and transformation are produced, it is like endorphins meandering through your blood vessels. Suriname was about “process Evangelism” which is also known as the constant flow process. This marked the dawn of a new institution: the Mega Mission Volunteers Task Force. The army was small but the spirit was huge. During the consecration service on the night of December 18, there was an explosion of musical talent. The choirs sent the audience to paradise. It was a rewarding privilege to see youth motivating their peers and encouraging them to be ambassadors for Christ.

One of the points we made in a significant manner was that there should be no youth programme or project without the involvement of the community. So that if the programme was inside the church, then members of the community should be invited. But they must not be invited to be spectators, but to be active participants. If the youth programme is an outdoor event, then we should not preach to the converted but do effective and diligent preparation to ensure that the community is informed and mobilised. A marvellous Christmas programme was conducted at the Centrum Church in Paramaribo on December 19, 2009. The management team of this church organised a hamper distribution programme and invited needy members in the surrounding areas to enjoy the fellowship. They came from the North, the South, the East and the West. Sparks of joy and happiness were flying everywhere in keeping with the spirit and the reason for the season. The Caribbean delegates went to four communities and three institutions, utilising the vision of the support group ministry concept. In the night, we had devotional and strategic planning sessions. We reviewed and evaluated the progress of all the projects. We also identified the changes in personnel, materials and tools that were required.

Pastor Edward Blackman, youth director of the Suriname mission, must be congratulated for the exceptional work he performed during the “tough times.” Of course, this was long before the Caribbean ambassadors arrived on December 16, 2009. This Mega Mission Project demonstrated the value of teamwork. In the reconstruction of the community centre in Ellen Village, you had electricians, carpenters, painters, welders working simultaneously. Young men and young women having a great time while receiving and following instructions from their experienced supervisors. There was a special chemistry between Charlotteville and Castries and we expect a Caricom wedding before the next meeting of the Mega Mission Task Force. Now here is the challenge. We have made a comprehensive commitment to continuing our ministry. We have pledged to adopt Ellen Village. A Pathfinder Club will take the village by storm, but they would need a constant supply of materials and equipment. We went to Bethel and the youth worked assiduously to rescue the daycare centre. We have pledged to support this institution which ministers to several families. 

We went to another village and promised to provide the finance for the foundation of a new church in Bethuel. We have to provide literature for the continuation of the support group ministries in the city hospital and the geriatric home. We did a fantastic job for the blind woman in Cairostraat but we have to keep the fire burning. The Mega Mission Volunteer Task Force has accepted a major responsibility and that is to assist in the process of converting every AY Society into an evangelistic laboratory, counselling clinic and a sanctuary for the youth of the community. But this is not the end of the story. There is a young missionary who is going to Panama to share his experiences with leaders in a Latin American Evangelistic conference. We were so inspired by his ministry that we made certain promises. We must keep our promises.

There is an English school that was started by the Health Educator Anita Kirk. The Mega Mission Volunteer Task Force will make a contribution to this institution. The school believes that youth must be encouraged to pursue excellence and they have achieved outstanding result in the CXC programme. To God be the glory. We must always remember that when God gives a command, we must go forward in faith recognising that whenever He gives a command, He will provide the resources. There is still hope for our youth, a hope that will burn gloriously in their hearts. Our next project will be in Guyana. The Mega Mission Task Force has a major mountain to conquer and we have started to contribute to the establishment of a Mega Mission Amerindian camp along the Kako River. Then we will go to Linden where there will be a stunning blast emanating from the Mega Mission trumpet. Let us channel the resources, talents and energy of our youth in a positive direction.