Abstract
The youth in contemporary South Africa seem to face massive challenges and experience problems such as substance use and drug abuse, violence, rape, child trafficking, prostitution, etc., leading to the lives of many young people being destroyed. Farming communities in the Christiana district of the North-West Province of South Africa struggle with poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, violence, occultism and Satanism. Statistics indicate a drastic decline in morals, values, standards, ethics, character and behaviour and society seems to indulge in crisis after crisis. Millions of young people growing up as orphans and even more, without a father figure in their lives, declining education in the schools and frustration with massive unemployment among those who have left school. This article focused on the youth of the Christiana district of South Africa as a large harvest to be reaped through holistic missional outreach programs that will give hope and enrich the lives of young people. The article also aimed to emphasize the LIFEPLAN programme in a constructive creative critical way from a missio Dei perspective.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundThis research focussed on lessons learnt from the roll out of the LIFEPLAN® youth development programme and a mission Dei perspective among the poor and unemployed youth in the North-West Province of South Africa
From the above background and problem statement the question arises: To what extent does the LIFEPLAN® Training and Equipping Programme for youth in the Christiana district of South Africa provide a tool for effective Christian missional outreach to the youth in rural areas?
The LIFEPLAN® programme addresses poverty amongst the most vulnerable through human development and training in life skills, in order to improve their well-being in terms of health, nutrition and choice, all combined in a model where sustainability in terms of family and social support networks and structures, behavioural, hygienic and nutritional practises and financial impact can be tested (Freeks 2008)
Summary
This research focussed on lessons learnt from the roll out of the LIFEPLAN® youth development programme and a mission Dei perspective (mission of God) among the poor and unemployed youth in the North-West Province of South Africa. The Christiana community, a market place where people connect and experience a way of life together but where Jesus can invade through mission (McNeal 2009:13-14; Wyngaard 2015:413). This community is riddled by youth crises, such as unemployment and a vast array of challenges of community break down, associated with the economic and social situations in this area. God calls and inspires individuals to reach out to young people through ministry because youth ministry is grounded in the missionary nature of God (Wyngaard 2015:411) These has given rise to the implementation of the LIFEPLAN® Training and Equipping Programme. Four hundred and eighty six (486) young people have already been part of it
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