MOYAMBA DISTRICT WEST, August 28th, 2025, Bishop James Boye-Caulker officially opened the United Methodist Church Sierra Leone Annual Conference Youth Camp 2025 in a ceremony held at the Harford School for Girls.
The event commenced with a welcome from Rev. Jane Ngakoh Lahai, Dean of Cabinet and District Superintendent of Moyamba District West. She greeted the Bishop, conference officials, and campers, assuring them of her full support. She encouraged the youth to maintain exemplary behavior as representatives of their districts, churches, and families.
Samuella L. Lavaly, National Youth President, thanked God for granting everyone safe travel. She expressed deep gratitude to Bishop James Boye-Caulker for accepting their invitation. Addressing a pressing concern, she spoke out against youth drug abuse, urging her peers to abstain and focus on their education. She declared the youths as the “the present leaders of the church and the nation,” encouraging them to invest their talents, energy, and time into kingdom work. She also appealed to parents to allow their children to benefit from the camp’s spiritually, morally, and socially uplifting programs.
Ms. Sylvanette H. M. Tawah, Director of Youths, Young Adults, and Campus Ministries, also gave thanks for the campers safe arrival and acknowledged the presence of the Bishop and conference officials. She emphasised the camp’s vital role, citing the Bishop and many other successful United Methodist leaders as examples of its transformative impact on spiritual growth, education, and social relationships. She strongly encouraged parents to support their children’s participation.
In his keynote address, Bishop James Boye-Caulker described the gathering as a “wonderful day” and fondly reflected on his own experiences as a camper. He recalled the rigorous selection process of his youth, which required approval from school, church, and parents. Noting that the current campers were a fortunate few chosen from many others, admonished them to behave as children of God and uphold the integrity of their churches, districts, and families.
He charged them to be “transparent and accountable as a royal priesthood from a chosen generation.” The Bishop reinforced the camp’s core purpose: to shape attendees in God’s ways, train them as future leaders for the church and nation, and mentor them in obedience to their parents and elders. He assured the youth of the Annual Conference’s full support for their programs.
Concluding the ceremony, the Bishop encouraged campers to take their faith seriously, remain focused on their academic studies, and uphold their role as church leaders through their conduct.
