The Raipur District has many congregations of the New Apostolic Church, the most of which can be found in the city of Bhilai. Having a total of five congregations in the city and being the home to a large majority of the members, this city was selected to be the venue for the local DOTY event.
Sixty youth from all over the district travelled to the venue for the DOTY event that took place on the 9th and 10th of May 2015. The number of youth in attendance was a clear sign just how excited and involved the young people from this district were for this event.
Day One
On the first day the youth were split into different groups and asked to depict various aspects of their faith and their understanding of the doctrine of the church. This provided them an opportunity to bond more closely with one another and discuss their own experiences of faith. It also provided an outlet for their creativity and encouraged team work.
At the end of the session each group put on a short skit depicting various facets of the church, such as the ten articles of faith, the return of Christ and the Apostle Ministry. The youth also got a chance to express special concerns about their faith that was brought to light through the skits.
Arrangements were made for the youth to spend the night at the venue. Two separate halls (one for the girls and the other for the boys) were set up so that the youth could further bond and enjoy each other’s company.
Day Two
The 10th morning began with a Divine Service. It was once again an opportunity to see how much the youth wanted to be involved in the work of the church as a deacon and a priest were ordained into God’s ministry.
After the service they all enjoyed the delicious lunch that was provided. To everyone’s delight the youth once again showed their involvement and participation in the event by volunteering to serve the lunch to the congregation. They also displayed their growth by washing their own plates and setting a wonderful example to all around them.
After lunch the cultural programme continued with dance performances, skits and presentations. These various cultural items allowed the youth to enjoy themselves in a more relaxed and casual environment and to form bonds of friendship with each other. The event ended with a special motivating surprise for the youth.
On the whole, the Day of the Youth in Bhilai was a great success. The youth were able to learn how to balance responsibility and fun and went home with many beautiful memories.