By the date of this publication, National Youth Week 2025 will almost become history, but the Sunday Service on September 28th at the Church of God (Holiness) provided a sacred atmosphere for the week to begin in earnest.
Notwithstanding, activities were officially launched on Saturday evening September 27th, with the staging of Youth Olympics – a fun-filled, youth-oriented sporting affair, held at the Anguilla Football Association Stadium.
At the Sunday morning service, a great number of youngsters filled the sanctuary to witness and participate in lively music and singing led by the worship team, directed by young Akiarra Gumbs. Songs like “I Know Who I Am”, “How Great is our God” and “Praise the Lord Oh My Soul” would have invoked a sense of spiritual value in the hearts and minds of the youthful congregation.
Youth Parliament Premier, Karani Vanterpool, gave a brief address: “It is such a joy for us to gather here this morning at the Church of God (Holiness) as part of the 11th National Youth Week, under the powerful theme: ‘Building Tomorrow Today, Re-writing the Script – One Voice, Many Stories’.”
“This week reminds us that as young people we are not just the leaders of tomorrow,” he said, “but we are the leaders of today. Each of us has a story, and when our voices come together, we create a chorus of hope, strength, and possibilities for our nation.
“As we fellowship and celebrate today, let us be reminded that God has given each of us gifts. Our responsibility is to use them to uplift one another and to serve our communities by building a stronger, brighter, and more inclusive tomorrow. May we continue to walk in unity, courage and faith as we re-write the script, not only for ourselves, but for generations to come.”
Perhaps the most striking feature of the service was the sermon delivered by High Court Judge, the Honourable Justice Ermin Moise, who is, in fact, an avid member of the congregation.
Justice Moise’s message to the youth was based on the Apostle Paul’s Biblical encouragement to Timothy in 1Timothy 4:12 which states: “Let no man despise your youth, but be an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity.”
“In other words,” said Justice Moise, “Paul was saying to Timothy, ‘Let no man look down on the fact that you are young.’ Youth is not a negative thing. And so Paul is encouraging Timothy himself not to even look down on his own personality to consider himself as being too young to face the tasks that God would enable him to perform.”
“I want to encourage the youth today, never to allow your youthfulness to be an excuse for you not fulfilling your potential and maximizing the contribution that you can be to society,” he pled.
“Paul encourages Timothy with two elements here, which I want to convey to you this morning: First, don’t allow anyone to look down on your youth; and secondly, be an example. A lot of the time when we refer to people as examples we think about older people. It is easy to look at someone at the end of a long life and make a list if all their accomplishments. But here, even before Timothy has had a chance to accomplish much, he is admonished by Paul to be an example.”
One good example which Justice Moise focused on was David, whose potential was underestimated by his very father. “At one point, many of the people in David’s life felt that he was too young to accomplish what he did,” observed the Justice.
“In 1 Samuel Chapter 16, God had told the Prophet Samuel that he had rejected reigning King Saul as king. God therefore instructed Samuel to go to Jessie’s house in Bethlehem to anoint one of Jessie’s sons, because he had selected one to be King.
“Eliab was Jessie’s first son,” Justice Moise said. “He was a strong soldier. When the Prophet saw him as the oldest, strongest, tallest son, he immediately thought that this must be the king. But God told Samuel not to look at his appearance or how tall he was, for he had rejected him.”
The preacher continued to share how Samuel took a serious look at all of Jessie’s sons in his household.
“Finally he asked Jessie if those were all the sons he had. Jessie replied that he had one more son who was the youngest, but he was out tending the sheep in the field. Jessie had brought the children whom he thought could possibly be king, but he left the youngest out in the field because he could not fathom that the youngest could be ever chosen of God…We see David’s father was the first to look down on his youngest son’s youthful status.”
As the story continues, Samuel commanded Jessie to send for David. And when he had come God told Samuel to anoint him, for it was he whom the Lord selected to be king of Israel.
Justice Moise noted that later, David was directly despised by his own brothers, as he visited them in battle. David had the courage to take on the challenge of the Philistine Goliath, upon hearing his frightening boast that none in the Israelite army could conquer him. David felt able and empowered to defeat this giant, but his brothers resented the idea, belittling him as just an arrogant little boy who had no place on the battle field.
Even King Saul was doubtful of young David’s ability as he went to him to seek his approval for taking on the massive giant. “You can’t fight this Philistine,” the king said. “You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior since he was your age…”
As the story goes, David defeated Goliath by striking him with one smote (stone) in his temple, thus gaining victory, on behalf of Israel, over the Philistines. Justice Moise in his sermon brought out the point that though people would despise the young, youth need to overcome this condemnation, by focusing on the good example they can be within the society.
By James R. Harrigan