My Experience Attending the Young African leaders Summit

By Rufaro Martha Matongo

Attending the summit was a life-changing experience which helped me realize my potential, as well as increase my faith in the Lord. I attended the African Young Leaders Summit held in South Africa in May 2013 and consequentially had the privilege of facilitating a topic at the 2014 African Young Leaders Summit held in Zimbabwe.

Through conversations and fellowship with other young leaders in Africa, I realized that we are never alone in ministry. Leaders in ministry face many of the same challenges: illiteracy, famine, war, and being geographically dispersed from family and friends. Just like the other delegates, I know that I can thrive in the midst of these challenges.

I also gained insight into ideas for programs and activities that we can implement in our conference to enhance our ministry work. For instance, we gained knowledge of having Gospel music concerts, helping provide home-based care and farming, which encouraged me to think outside of the box to create innovative ministry opportunities.

Many of the delegates wore different uniforms representing their conferences. These uniforms were beautiful and the members are proud to wear them. We presented our culture to each other in the form of songs and dance during the Culture night. This experience helped me realize that even though we come from different backgrounds and cultures, we are one people with a common goal: spreading the Gospel.

The Young Leaders Summit helped me develop friendships and relationships with other African Young Leaders. We still communicate with each other to this day through a WhatsApp group I created and through Facebook. We utilize these groups for mutual encouragement in this journey of Faith. I thank the organizers of the Summit for their continual goal of spreading the Gospel and touching lives in ministry.

Rufaro Martha Matongo, standing first from the right poses with other young leaders during the Africa Young Leaders Summit in Zimbabwe in 2014.