It is an honour to be chosen to open this 5^th YA-EFL International Conference here in Nairobi. I am particularly pleased that the theme of the conference is HIV&AIDS Prevention: Our Responsibility. In today’s world we find that excuses are a penny a dozen. Leaders glibly lay their way out of every unfulfilled campaign promise. Bankers –who blatantly loaned billions to people they knew could not repay the loans excuse themselves of any guilt in the global economic downturn saying they- our experts in finance- did not see the crash coming. Ordinary people also seem to find it easy to shirk their responsibilities in the name of personal agendas, priorities and freedoms. It is easy to get sucked into today’s post modern culture, where the three most important words are: I, Me and Myself; where personal experiences, preferences define what is right and wrong and instant gratification is the watch-word; a world sunk in a culture that leads to death- death of the body but also death of the mind and spirit of individuals and nations.  

 

Yet we have come here as helpers of those whose lives are in danger of being lost in the fog of the world I have just described. We come as role models of a different and truer reality- one based on Jesus’ words- I have come that they might have life- life in abundance.

 

Kenya has just gone though one of the most bloody and divisive periods in its history. The post election violence touched every person, family and tribe. In its aftermath, we could have postponed this conference till so-called “better times”. But what better time to come together than in this struggle to reconcile and rebuild not only our country but our convictions that we all can live in peace and everyone can be given opportunities to better themselves? What better time than now to recommit ourselves to the ideals of Youth Alive and Education for life? As the Bible says: “Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation!” 2Cor5:20-6:2

 

We are responsible FOR our own lives and the lives of those youth and adults we are privileged to serve. what is the message that our lives send to those we meet?

We are responsible TO our God , TO each other and TO our beneficiaries, to uphold the values that we preach to others.

We are responsible WITH all those fighting the battle against AIDS to stop the spread of this virus: With all HIV+ people who are responsible for never giving the virus to another person; with all scientists working responsibly for a vaccine and cure; with all governments who honor their responsibility to set aside funds for the care and prevention of HIV; and with all people who are responsible for offering a lasting solution to our problems, namely, a friendship with Jesus. Today is the feast of St. Andrew, patron of Scotland and Russia. He was responsible for introducing to Jesus 3 different types of people: Peter his brother, a little child with loaves and fishes and two Greek strangers to Jesus. Like Andrew, we too are responsible for introducing Jesus to others. And Jesus is responsible for giving us all that fullness of life he promised.

 

Finally I want to share this prayer with you:

 

I now declare this conference open! Have a wonderful time gaining information and inspiration for the journey ahead!