Monday, July 21, 2008

Young delegates call for GAFCON support

http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/sydneystories/young_delegate_calls_for_gafcon_support/

[sydneyanglicans.net] 21 Jul 2008--One of the youngest delegates at GAFCON has called for more involvement by young people in the movement, saying they need to be aware of the struggles of brothers and sisters around the world.

Sydney medical student, 21-year-old Sylvia Tong, has spoken about her GAFCON experience in an engaging talk to the Anglican Church League, along with clergy delegates Zac Veron and John Mason, writer Tony Payne and Sydney laywoman Claire Smith.

The speeches are available on video (see links above).

Sylvia told of the stories she had heard, from fellow delegates, of their ministry in various parts of the world.

“For us in Sydney, the regular pewsitters need to be very aware of, and stand by, our struggling brothers and sisters around the world. We can’t do this from the depths of our hearts unless we have firsthand knowledge through meeting them and having fellowship with them as well.”

She described being moved not only by the conference plenaries and the participants, but by the workshop sessions.

“I was so incredibly humbled when the first session was devoted to telling us to be leaders “from the knees up” and that the thing we should be doing most as Christians, let alone Christian leaders, is praying. This was one of the biggest lessons I was reminded of during the week .. “

As for the next GAFCON gathering “Perhaps next time there could be a few more younger people ... to ensure that our Bible-based traditions are maintained by the up-and-coming generations” she said.

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