It was a rewarding time for secondary school children of pastors and ministers at the 6th Pastors’ Children’s Conference convened by the Chaplain of Dansol High School, Ogba, Pastor Yomi Adebiyi.
They got the opportunity to hear from young role models such as Mrs Tolu Odukoya-Ijegun, daughter of Pastor Taiwo Odukoya of the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, as well as seasoned minister, Apostle Yemi Adekunle, about combining matters of the heart with their education.
Mrs Odukoya-Ijegun, who is also a blogger, counseled the youngsters to treasure themselves and ask God for guidance in all their endeavours. She warned them against allowing fickle emotional feelings of youth to derail them from the right path.
“Virginity is like a gift that you give to your husband. Don’t lose it because of temporary feelings. Feelings are fleeting. Don’t ever give anything permanent in a temporary situation,” she warned.
Mrs Odukoya-Ijegun also counseled the participants, many of whom were pupils of Dansol High School as well as outsiders, to take their relationship with God seriously. She shared her rapid career success with the young people, which she attributed to God’s favour.
“You have the power to command your future. You need to align with the will of God. In school, if you are truly a Christian you can get good grades. Everyday you wake up, ask God for guidance,” she said.
Apostle Adekunle led a prayer session for the young ones during which he counseled them to open up to their parents or teachers about sexual abuses they may have experienced.
“There are children here who have been victims of sexual abuse, go and talk to your coordinator about it. Things are happening that many parents do not know about,” he said.
Mrs Adun Akinyemiju, Director, Dansol High School, told the pastors’ children that they should live exemplary lives because that is God’s expectation from them; while Pastor Timilehin Adigun shared his own experience growing up as a pastor’s child and the challenges he had to face meeting up with church, societal, and people’s expectations and how he overcame them.
Pastor Adebiyi said he was inspired to start the programme in 1995. But this year’s edition is the first since 1999. He said the target is teenagers because of the significance the period represents in the transition from childhood to adulthood.
“The period they are now is the period of decision and it is very important for them to understand the purpose of their lives. This is the level when they begin to understand accountability,” he said.