The Methodist Church Youth Department was officially launched during the 1991 Centenary celebrations. The main reason for the establishment of the Youth Department was to nurture Children and young people as an integral part of the Christian community. The Youth and Children Ministry brought with it a lot of potentials, zeal and charisma from the young people. Following this establishment, there arose a need for a specialized ministry for the young people. In this vain, a Full Time Minister was appointed as the Youth Coordinator, to lead, guide, and support and coordinate the Youth Ministry. It was at this same time when the young people were granted a week by the church in the traditional month of February for Youth Week. This week has become one of the very important and the oldest traditional weeks of the church. Youth Week is the time to celebrate, commemorate, learn, and raise faith and funds. It is a week where the mother church reverts to its promise on the Youth Charter that they will be for young people.

Methodist Church Youth department is divided into open and closed membership. The open membership includes Methodist Young Disciples, Sunday school and Young Adults. On the other hand, the closed groups are the uniformed organizations which are Boys Christian Union (BCU), Girls Christian Union (GCU) and Tsungare. BCU is divided into two groups namely the junior and the senior BCU. GCU refers to mature girls, those ready for conformation or the confirmed already while Tsungare are their juniors. Relatively, the three organizations’ uniform is equally theological in view of the theology of sin and salvation. In 2010, BCU introduced a white jacket as part of their uniform replacing the white sash. The open organizations are identified mostly by symbolical t-shirts. 

The vision of the Youth and Children Ministry is to equip Gods people (children and youth) for work of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of the God and become mature attaining the world measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13)

In view of the above mission, the mission of the organization is a group that is committed to the raising and nurturing of faithful responsible and innovative Christian children and youth based on faith in Jesus Christ and biblical principles through evangelism, Christian education, giving, and fellowship training for development, stewardship and services. The mission is built on Scriptural Holiness, Obedience, Love, Service and Excellence as the values of the organization.

We cannot separate the question of Evangelism and the quest for the fullness of life. Youths are convinced that until we come to terms with this reality the hearts of the unemployed may be strangely warmed but their pockets will remain frozen. Our Lord came that we may have life and has it in abundance.

Youth activities are mostly rallies, bible schools, conferences and seminars. Apart from the seemingly routinious programmes, the Young people have also gone into developmental projects. In 1995, they donated vehicles to Ndhlela Center which is their project. The center had been is different projects in which some are still vibrant while others have been stopped following the economic trend of the nation. Exchange programmes were also done with Germany in 1992 again with Netherlands in 1994 and 1995. Approval of Youth Conference to be held annually is now the supreme decision making body on issues related to youth department. In 2001, the Youth Department engaged Methodist Schools and forms the Methodist Schools Convention (Mesco). Since then, Mesco programmes are done during the first term of each year. In 2002, the Youth Department show signs of growth that is to be able to administer their  conference.

Youth are the seed of the Church, which should be well preserved. A wise farmer buys seed to ensure a good harvest. Young people are the seed of the Church whose growth and prosperity is watered by our love, care, patient understanding and financial support. The Church that has no committed youth has no future. The Youth Charter, which was discussed prior to the establishment of the Youth Department and agreed upon by many of the church , makes it very clear that the Church community need to be in fellowship with young Christians in their congregation and to learn from their growing faith and experience. The Church community pledges to support the youth groups to which young people belong so that the youth may grow in knowledge and experience of Christian living, which helps them to make their contribution in the life of the Church.

FOLLOWING THIS SUCCESS STORY:

The Youth Co-ordinator Rev Peter Masvotore, Youth Council Chairman Rev Greenwell Chigova, Youth Presidents Steven Muyambo and Nyasha Marimira, 12   District Youth Pastors, Chairpersons of organizations and the Methodist Community of young people wishes to congratulate the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe under the leadership of Presiding Bishop Rev Amos Ndhlumbi for attaining 120 years of existence and spreading the good news in Zimbabwe. We are together throughout this exciting moment as we serve with courage and continue to pray without ceasing.