The President of the International Youth Fellowship West Africa, Dr Jin Sung Kim, has said that contemplation and deep thinking hold the key to the development of every individual, particularly the young people of Ghana. Contemplation and deep thinking, Dr. Kim says, enable ordinary people to find extraordinary solutions to challenges facing society, which leads to development.
He was speaking at the 2024 National Youth Conference organized by the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Youth Authority. The 4-day event, currently ongoing at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) in Accra, hosts more than 2,000 youth from across Ghana.
Dr. Kim said several people who pioneered the world’s development in various ways had to think deeply about the challenges confronting them before they could discover solutions. He mentioned the story of John Boyd Dunlop, who developed inflatable tyres as a result of his child suffering an injury through the use of bare wooden wheels.
He said the ability for people to engage in deep thinking about the situations and challenges that confront them enables them to develop multiple options that lead to overcoming those situations. Dr Jin Sung Kim also referenced the story of the first CEO of Hyundai Corporation, Chung Ju-Yung, who, through deep thinking and contemplation, discovered a way to use sand-filled, broken-down, and abandoned ships to serve as the foundation for creating a sea defence wall. This wall helped South Korea reclaim over 400 square kilometres (about 150 square miles) of land. This newly created land was used for agricultural purposes, significantly increasing South Korea’s food production capacity.
Dr. Kim said the formation of the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) began with a single student whose mother desperately needed change for her son. Andy, born to a Korean mother and an American father, had gone wayward, doing drugs and always carrying a gun, much to his mother’s worry. Andy’s mother, who was then divorced, had almost given up on her son, who had succumbed to drugs and guns.
Andy’s mother requested that Pastor Ock Soo Park, the founder of the International Youth Fellowship, take Andy with him from Los Angeles, USA, to South Korea with the hope that her son would experience some change. Pastor Park accepted her request and got Andy to live with him in South Korea for three months.
Amazingly, Andy, who initially had a hairstyle of seven different colours, got a haircut and discarded his gun after staying with Pastor Ock Soo Park for a couple of months in South Korea, leading to Andy’s unbelievable transformation. After his return to Los Angeles, several of his friends were amazed at his transformation, which led other parents to send their children to receive similar change during every vacation with Pastor Ock Soo Park in South Korea.
Dr. Kim said that solutions to life situations and challenges would not come as long as the focus is on oneself. He says that when the focus is changed to a higher power, solutions to problems are obtained in every situation.
He likened this to the biblical story of the Israelites, who, after rebelling against God, were bitten by fiery snakes, which killed many of the people. After a humble request to Moses, their leader, to have the snakes removed from them, God gave a solution through a bronze snake that was hung on a pole so that whoever was bitten by the snake could receive life by looking at the bronze snake on the pole.
Dr. Jin Sung Kim explained that the bronze snake represents Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the Cross of Calvary to redeem the sins of the world. He said that when we focus on ourselves, we remain as sinners, yet when we focus on Jesus Christ, who hung on the Cross as the bronze snake, we receive righteousness through Jesus Christ and eternal life.
Participants at the 4-day event are optimistic about learning how to build a strong heart to overcome challenges and receive transformation through lectures on Mindset Education, Entrepreneurship training, and networking opportunities.
This conference aims to equip young Ghanaians with the tools and inspiration to develop a growth mindset, empowering them to become the driving force behind Ghana’s future success.
The 4-day 2024 National Youth Conference has been made possible through the support of UPSA, GCB Bank PLC, KGL Foundation, McDan Group, FirstBanc and Engineers and Planners. Other sponsors are Sentuo Oil Refinery, Geocom Group, TLB Enterprise, MLG Engineering, B Foster Bakery, Amigo Bread Company, GB Foods, Vivo Energy. Others are Telecel Ghana, Special Ice, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority,Latex Foam, Kwarleyz Resindence, Standard Chartered Bank.
Contact IYF Communications Manager Frederick Tetteh on 0241992377 or email iyfred2@gmail.com