TEENAGERS and youths have been enjoined to mind the kind of company they keep at this phase of their lives in order to advance and become successful in the future.
This advice came from a senior pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Anna Oyebanjo at an interdenominational programme organized for teenagers recently at the Spring of Living Waters Parish of the RCCG at Oke Ira, Ogba in Lagos as part of activities to mark Children’s Day by the church.
Dubbed: “This is Me,” the programme was targeted at teenagers and young adults in Lagos to bring them under one roof and give them a talk on how to navigate the waters of teenage life and grow up to become successful citizens of the country in the future.
In a very down- to-earth interactive session that included praise worship, quiz and a career talk by Pastor Oyebanjo, she advised youngsters to avoid peer pressure, which has led many young people astray.
“Mind the kind of friends you keep, don’t visit pornography sites on the Internet, be respectful, avoid alcohol, indecent dressing, yahoo yahoo and all other social vices that are prominent among the youth,” she advised.
Her counseling session was followed by a question and answer session on Bible knowledge and a career talk. ‘You must be thoroughly schooled and educated to become somebody in life,” she enjoined the teenagers.
Speaking later, the parish Pastor Charles Imuzeze explained that the This is Me event, which is organized every last Saturday of May by the church, is meant for teenagers to express themselves and talk about the issues confronting them. So they come together in praise and worship and a guest Minister is invited to address them on important issues.
According to him: “Teenagers often buckle under peer pressure, hence they need to be guided and molded by the Lord. They are asking the Almighty to make and mold them the way in which they would be better citizens for the future. Hence they come before the Lord saying: “This is me Lord, make me a better person.”
Damilola Kalesanwo, one of the youth organisers, also explained that the programme was meant at making teenagers make the right choice in life.
He identified the social media, peer pressure and parental upbringing as some of the challenges of the youth now. “As good as it is, many often get involved in negative activities on the Internet. You need to have a mind of your own as a youth so that you won’t get carried away by peer pressure,” he said.
Interestingly, some of the teenagers who attended the event got their invitations via the social media.
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