Congo is a youthful country. Well over half of the country's population is aged 15 and under. In the villages, towns and cities one is continually struck by the numbers of children and teenagers.

Youth, however, have been sadly neglected in the spiritual ministry of CECCA (the WEC related church). Efforts have been made to provide schooling, and today thousands of children are enrolled in the CECCA system of primary schools and many hundreds in the 3 functioning high schools. Yet the spiritual ministry to these children is minimal.

Over many years one missionary specialised in Sunday School work (and others contributed) and there has been therefore a certain level of outreach to young children. For teenagers, on the other hand, in the vast majority of cases, there is nothing. Congo's Young PeopleThe CECCA church leadership is greatly concerned by the lack of ministry to youth. "We have a great weakness in youth ministry" is the estimation of the church leadership. The implications for the future of the church are serious.

Top church leadership is keen to see the establishment of a Department of Youth. The task will be enormous to effectively reach and disciple the youth of this part of north east Congo. The church keenly feels the need of missionary cooperation in the launching and development of this new venture. Opportunities of ministry to young people abound.

Programs can be developed in fellowship with African leaders. Camps and regular youth groups could be organised. Printed materials would help youth Bible studies. Taking on a chaplaincy role in a high school would open the door to direct Bible teaching to youth and to evangelism of many of the staff who are not Christians.

We desperately need to see a serious work of evangelism amongst youth. For those who want to live as Christians and practice Christian morality, they need teaching and support so that they will not fall into temptation.

• Personnel needs: Youth workers.

The Challenge Of AIDS.

Many of the current generation of teenagers are HIV positive and unless the west radically improves the availability of life proonging drugs, their lives are likely to be drastically shortened. No youth work can ignore the tragedy which is inexorably taking place right now. Sexual promiscuity is rife. When warned of the dangers of promiscuous sexual relations the response is "What else are we supposed to do in the evenings?"

Educational needs

CECCA currently has a young, well educated top level leadership. This includes the president, vice president and leaders of various church departments. Increasingly senior pastors, responsible for church districts have had French language theological training.

This development is thanks to the school system of the 1960s though to the 80s when a group of missionary high school teachers committed themselves to the training of a new generation of leaders for church and society.

With the decline in the economic and political situation of the country in the last quarter of the 20th century, educaton has suffered enormously. Standards have fallen. It is hard to find qualified Christian teachers; many unconverted teachers are employed. No missionaries currently teach in high schools. Where will the next generation of church leaders be educated? Who will teach them? We should be seeing Christians trained in greater numbers for high school teaching. At the same time missionary high school teaching is strategic -- for reaching eduated youth, and the other teachers -- and will multiply itself through the next generation of church and community leadership.

• Personnel needs: Secondary (High School) Teacher.