Encouraging parents and the church to invest in the moral development of the youth, the District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Christ Beloved District, Mowe, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, John Oluwatuyi, highlighted the importance of addressing the moral decline plaguing the younger generation.
During the 19th children’s anniversary celebration at the church, Oluwatuyi emphasized the crucial role children play as the future of a nation, underscoring the necessity of providing them with the proper nurturing essential for their contribution to society and the nation at large in the coming years.
The festivities included quiz competitions, musical performances, and recitations of memory verses, and took place at the church’s auditorium on a Saturday.
Addressing the importance of Children’s Day observance, the cleric emphasized the responsibility parents hold in shaping young individuals into responsible adults for the future welfare of the country.
Expressing concern over the escalating moral decay in the nation, which he identified as a significant threat to the next generation, he remarked, “The missing element is morals. Across society, there is a deterioration of ethics that impacts not just the youth but the entire fabric of the nation. I am apprehensive about this generation because when they pass on their values to the next, the consequences are uncertain. In our time, we respected our parents, but today it is the parents who fear their children.
“This generation witnesses many unfavorable occurrences. Youths must take steps to self-correct and parents must guide their children to model them for the future and the broader community.”
“To me, children represent the future of both the church and the nation. We must provide them with opportunities to assume responsibilities and structure the church’s activities around them to guide them towards righteousness, which will resonate for generations to come.”