Youth Campaigns
Fire Waves in Kenya
Christ for all Nations is well-known for our mass Gospel Campaigns in Africa, and this year, we'll be conducting 50 of them! In years past, big Gospel Campaigns were the only tool in our toolbox - but that has changed, and for good reason. Today, a crucial part of our strategy is to preach the Gospel to Africa's youth. The average age across the entire continent of Africa is just nineteen years old. That means that half the people in Africa are under 19 years old! Any strategy to see Africa washed in the blood of Jesus must take that into account. Therefore, with this year’s vision to bring 10 million people to Jesus, that means that 5 million of those decisions will be children and teenagers.
And so, we have become highly intentional about reaching children and teenagers with the Good News. Already this year, there have been two “Fire Waves” in Kenya, with at least two more planned before the end of the year.
What is a “Fire Wave”?
A Fire Wave is when evangelists who have completed a CfaN training (Bootcamp, School of Evangelism or Fire Camp) answer the call to go to a particular country with other evangelists like them for a specific amount of time. There, they are put into teams of two and matched with a local translator.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
During their time in that country, they conduct youth campaigns, street outreaches, mini-campaigns and Gospel Truck outreaches. Youth Campaigns are the most important part of any Fire Wave, with preaching and interactions that are specifically geared to the youth.
Focus on Kenya
In the first half of this year, we have been focusing on Kenya, the most influential and populous nation in East Africa. The first Fire Wave this year was in January, with 24 evangelists (twelve teams of two). This was followed by a second one in March with 36 evangelists (18 teams of two). There will be at least two more of these Fire Waves in Kenya this year, possibly even three.
In preparation for the huge number of youth outreaches that were planned, we have already printed 1.75 million follow-up booklets in two versions (for younger children and for teenagers).
Uganda and the Congo are next
In June, July and August, Fire Wave teams will be on the ground in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same time as our other teams are there. While Bootcamp students and CfaN team members are working on the mass campaigns that are happening there, the Fire Wave teams will be saturating the region with youth campaigns.
We still need to print at least a million follow-up booklets for each of those nations, and even that may not be enough! This is a specific area of need that is now urgent, so that these precious young people can all receive follow-up material when they make the decision to give their lives to Jesus.
Where do the evangelists come from?
Most of the evangelists come from Europe, the USA and Canada, but there are also some who are local. All of them have completed a CfaN evangelism course, but then they also receive further personal training from the youth campaign leadership team, headed by Jako and Karin Hugo. Only once they have passed all the training requirements are they given the all-clear to join a team in Africa. The extra youth campaign training is now offered in six different languages, the first part of which is learning how to present the pure, simple Gospel in a crystal-clear, engaging way. After that, they practice and practice during the “exhibition” phase, honing their presentation and preaching skills with the help of a panel of leaders. By the time they pass this phase, they have become fluent preachers with a good understanding of how to get through to children and teenagers. Team members range in age from very young to nearly retirement age.
So what makes someone leave the comfort of home and travel to Africa to preach to the youth? As Jako and Karin Hugo (CfaN Youth Campaign Directors) explained, “We train people to be Holy-Spirit-filled evangelists, so it is the Holy Spirit Himself who stirs their hearts to fulfill the Great Commission. When they become serious about the Great Commission and realize that God is calling them, they go!”
Tiring but rewarding
We need your help to fulfill this challenging vision. Please will you stand with us this year, both in intercession and financially?
It takes all of us working together to meet the goal of bringing 5 million young people to Jesus in 2024!
Days in the field are long and tiring, but tremendously rewarding. Everyone begins the day with a time of corporate prayer and worship, and then they are sent out two-by-two, just as in the New Testament. Most teams will do multiple outreaches or youth campaigns in a single day, often as many as six or seven. That takes a great deal of effort, persistence and endurance in the hot and dusty conditions. When the day is done, the teams gather again to share a meal and recap the day’s events, especially the testimonies of what God has done.
Nothing about this is easy. Teams are often sent to rural villages and it can be tough to even find the place they’re going to! Some places are not shown on maps or the GPS and may be very difficult to access by road. That does not stop these driven evangelists, who keep going no matter what. They are putting themselves in situations that are challenging, physically exhausting and sometimes dangerous, all for the sake of the Gospel. They surely need your prayers daily.
We can reach 5 million youth with your help!
We need your help to fulfill this challenging vision. Please will you stand with us this year, both in intercession and financially? It takes all of us working together to meet the goal of bringing 5 million young people to Jesus in 2024!
Together with you for the Gospel,
Evangelist Daniel Kolenda
(here with the worldwide CfaN team)
