Youth Class
When I drive through Hammanskraal during the day, I see many young people on the street. Hanging around at a shop or a local ‘tavern’. Often without work or purpose and with little prospect of improvement. The chance of being able to continue studying after high school is small, and unemployment in South Africa is high. Because of all this, the temptation to use drugs or end up in crime is big. I regularly speak to mothers who express their concerns about their children. I also know mothers who have lost child(ren) due to drug use.
Knowledge of the Bible is very minimal among most young people. There is no religious education at school. Young people often grow up with local traditions and the deep-rooted belief in ancestral spirits. This creates a lot of fear. This great need among young people concerns me. A few months ago, the idea arose to start a Bible class for young people, with room for creative activities and leisure. Every Monday afternoon I now meet with a group of young people. We start with a Bible class. After this, they get to work on a creative assignment, linked to the Biblical message. In this, I try to make a connection to their world.
I started with four young people, but slowly the number increases and the bond between them grows. Now there is a group with a permanent core of about ten young people. I also visit these young people at home and try to help them, for example with registering for a study or with homework. I am happy that more and more young people are coming. It is my deep desire that the Lord will bless this work and build the future church out of them.
I also try to give attention to the young people during my home visits. I always visit the people on the field with my colleague Lebogang. This is for safety reasons, but Lebogang also translates for me if necessary. Lebogang is 25 years old and knows the world of the young people.
For example, a few weeks ago I visited Tabiso, an 18-year-old boy. He lives far away from the center in Hammanskraal and is therefore unable to attend Bible classes. His mother had asked me for help with registering for higher education. During the visit I was able to give him his first Bible and some simple evangelism materials. He was visibly happy and I later heard from his mother that he was reading them.
After a few weeks I visited Tabiso again. He was feeling very down. He had not gotten good grades and could not register for higher education because of this. He could not see the point of life anymore and thought about using drugs. We listened to him.
After that Lebogang encouraged him. I was happy when he said, ‘Since I started working for Bethlehem I have come to realize that money will never make me happy. I need God. With God you can get out of this. And who knows, maybe you can encourage young people who are in the same situation as you.’
He shared how he himself had gotten out of a difficult period. Together we opened the Bible and prayed. When I left, I saw hope in Tabiso’s eyes again. A week later I called him. He was busy registering for the resits. We agreed that I would visit him again in a few weeks.
Marieke Bakker
*The names are fictitious
