This song, sung by one of the youth delegates from South Africa in her native Zulu, emerged as the theme song for the Reformed youth forum, a gathering of 80 young people in the days prior to the 23rd general council (Debrecen, 1997). For many of the youth, this was their first opportunity to meet so many other Reformed Christians from around the world. The forum included 30 youth delegates, 25 stewards, and 25 youth from the Reformed Church in Hungary. Between them, these 80 participants represented 42 member churches of the Alliance and five non-member churches.

Together, the youth explored the general council's theme, "Break the chains of injustice", from their various perspectives. Significant time was spent inviting participants to share their personal stories of injustice on behalf of the young people in their homeland.

"It was amazing to me," said a young woman delegate from the United States, "how much we shared in common. Certainly we were different people from all over the world but in an extraordinary way, we discovered we shared more in common as we identified the kinds of injustices young people are facing."

The youth then identified ways they and their churches can break these chains of injustice. The youth sent a report of their time to the general council meeting along with nine recommendations for action by the council. During the report, the young people chanted the refrain to the song shared by their sister from South Africa. In many ways, they were singing to the delegates and leaders of their churches - calling the council to be more responsive and attentive to the concerns and hopes of young people.

This was the second such gathering of youth prior to a general council. The first gathering happened at the 22nd general council (Seoul, 1989). The Alliance has long shown support for and attention to the concerns of its young people.

Through the generosity of the youth of the Swedish Mission Covenant Church, the Alliance was blessed with its first full-time member of staff focusing on youth concerns. Rev Anna Ljung served as coordinator for youth concerns in a three-year appointment (1994-1997). Her major work was planning for the Reformed youth forum and organizing the Reformed youth network.

Two years after the general council meeting, that network is alive and well and continues to grow. The best evidence of the network is the ongoing dialogue taking place in an internet meeting initiated and maintained by youth from the Reformed youth forum. The meeting is active with messages and notes being sent daily by young people from around the world. Further, to bolster the representation of young people on the executive committee of the World Alliance, the general council voted to place two young people on the committee as consultants - evidence of how much the Alliance values the voices of its youth.

The youth participants in the Reformed youth forum closed their report to the general council by sharing their vision:

"We have a vision of our churches, working together in harmony, witnessing the love of Christ to the outside world (through) relations based upon mutual respect and the acknowledgement of the gifts, talents and voice of every person."

This is the call that young people issued to the leadership of their churches as they moved through the aisles of the Great Church in Debrecen at the end of their presentation.

"Your God is calling on you.
Listen to God very carefully.
This is the Lord's call to you and to me.
Together we must follow so that all our people will live."