NBF ADVENTIST MEN CONGRESS is a gathering of all Adventist Men in North Buganda Field to take place at Katikamu Seventh-day Adventist Secondary School from the 16th to the 19th of May. Registration fee is 50,000Ugx. Register with your Adventist Men Leader at your local churches.
We give glory and honor to our Lord and God for His everlasting love and grace that the young Adventist men congress finally took place from 16th – 19th May 2024 at Katikamu SDA secondary school under the theme `Just as Iron Sharpens Iron’
In his message to the young people, the Executive Director of North Buganda field, Pr. Simwogerere David called upon them to first heed God`s invitation to intimacy because Jesus has already done the hard work on the cross to make it possible. He therefore rallied the young people that if they are to sharpen one another, they have to be determined to have that intimacy with God then all will be well with them.
The Executive Secretary in his message, invited the young men to explore, experience, and know the one who desires to make them whole through scriptures that paint a compelling portrait of God. He reminded them as Adventist young men of their aim to take the advent message to the whole world in this generation and that this calls for being sharpened.
Brother Kyeyune Jotham, in his presentation about the constructive use of technology by the youth, told the young people that technology can be very useful in fulfilling the great commission our master left us with. He further told and showed them how technology can be useful in seeking employment and placement in case of seeking employment. He however called upon them to be very careful when using technology because many hackers are using different websites to enter peoples` accounts.
In the absence of the union director for Adventist Men Pr. Mumbere Samuel, the field director for the department Elder Namansa Charles Julius, talked to the young people about building good habits. Quoting Mr., Samuel Smiles who said;
When you sow a thought, you reap an act
Sow an act you reap a habit
Sow a habit you reap a character
Sow a character you reap a destiny
The director emphasized that forming good habits requires discipline. Reading from Hebrews 12:11 states that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. He therefore told the participants always to have good thoughts that will lead to good actions that will yield good habits that produce good character which will lead to a good destiny. Finally, the director talked about the pyramid of success that leads to values, victory, and peace of mind.
Elder Obed Ben Rukuringamamanzi of the Youth Platform Africa addressed the young people under the topic starting small with a vision by giving his testimony about how he discovered the genius in him. He asked the participants `If not you, then who?’ He elaborated on how this question propelled him forward. He told the young people that within the tapestry of his
journey, lies a truth, that no matter where you find yourself, the possibility of transformation awaits. From humble beginnings like grass sprouting amidst vast fields to ascending heights, the path of growth and ascent is always within reach.
He called upon the participants to join him in the Youth Platform Africa so that they could develop together.
Elder Kagolo Ivan talked to the youth about the transition to adulthood and informed them that the way we grow relates to the society we come from and that God as the master designer is responsible for the differences that occur in us and therefore we must accept them. He said that the only way to improve ourselves is by feeding well and exercising regularly. The elder called upon the youth to have mentors and confidants whom they could go to for consultation and advice. He also told them that there must be regular communication with such people to avoid making mistakes.
The elder also talked to the participants about starting and maintaining a relationship, where he told them that in starting a relationship, one must follow the 5 Ws and H. These are the what, why, when, where, who, and how. He emphasized to the youth the need to have a valid reason before starting a relationship. The elder said that once you have answered the above question and have finally started a relationship, it is important that you tell the world about the one you love if you will be able to sustain that relationship.
Pr. Mabeeri Paul talking about the youth and stewardship, elaborated to the youth how stewardship started in the Garden of Eden and through the generations God has put His estate in the hands of man to take care of it. The pastor informed the participants that stewardship goes beyond managing finances but the taking care of the whole person and what God placed in his possession. He called upon them to learn to be faithful stewards while they were still young.
Among the sermons the guest speaker preached about was that there is a Jacob in you. Pr. Mbabali Caleb went at length to talk to the participants about the character of Jacob. From being a liar, chit, greed, and being not trustworthy to someone blessed by God once he has forsaken his bad character. He, therefore, told the young people to learn from Jacob and change their bad habits so that they could be blessed by God.
Other facilitators included Mrs. Mukasa Grace who talked to the school-going students aged 13 to 17 about the youth and hygiene.
At the end of the congress, four participants were baptized into the flock.