The Liberia Annual Conference (LAC), United Methodist Church (UMC), at the just-ended 189th annual conference of that body, held in Ganta, Nimba County, appointed a special envoy to tackle at-risk youth, referred to as “zogoes” in the country.
The appointment of the LAC special envoy to address issues confronting the wellbeing of disadvantaged and at-risk youth is due to the increase of “zogoes” across Liberia, which poses security threat to the growth and development of the country.
Currently, according to statistics gathered, there thousands of disadvantaged and at-risk youth in the various streets of Liberia.
The LAC position statement, read by it Resident Bishop, Samuel Quire Jr., noted that the church as a body of Christ, having observed that those referred to as “zogoes” in Liberia need some transformation in order that they, too, may contribute to the forward match of Liberia, believes that the young people of Liberia deserve better and they are a very important group before God.
According to the endorsed resolution from the just- ended 189th annual conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), the body of Christ must reach out to them with songs of inclusivity, rather than murmurs of exclusivity.
Knowledgeable of the reality that they may be users and abusers of illicit drugs, caught up in the acts of petit thievery and violence, the Liberia area of the United Methodist Church (UMC) said they believe that these at-risk youth are precious in the sight of God.
Holding on to the truth of its social principles, the LAC said they believe God’s love for the world is an active and engaged love, seeking justice and liberty.
The Resident Bishop of the LAC noted that the church cannot, and must not, be observers to national emergency. He said that the church believes there is urgency in finding a pragmatic and transformational solution to lift the disadvantaged youth from valleys of despair to buoyancy of new hope, and called the Government of Liberia (GOL) to tighten laws to prevent the importation of illicit drugs.
The church sees this as a very necessary intervention because the future of Liberia is at risk as long these disadvantaged youth remain disadvantaged.
Bishop Quire commissioned and appointed Rev. Caleb Dormah as Liberia area United Methodist Church (UMC) ambassador to lead the church’s efforts in addressing at-risk youth issues.
The newly appointed team’s scope of operation is to buttress the government’s effort in addressing the issue of “zogoes” in the country.