Dear Youth

This Sunday, 24th August is our All White Evening of Praise and Thanksgiving; in Lagos. Dress code is White. You're not living in Lagos? You can be a part of it:

1️⃣ Invite Friends in Lagos:
Use the flyer to invite friends; and remind.

2️⃣ Support Financially:
To 7085085496 Moniepoint. God bless! 🇳🇬
Other Currencies: selar.co/showlove/ypn

HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LISTEN WHEN YOU SPEAK…

Speaking isn’t just about opening your mouth. It’s about commanding attention, earning trust, and leaving people with words that stick. Here’s how to start:

1. Build your word bank — The more words you know, the more precise and powerful your expression becomes.

2. Read a lot — Books, articles, speeches: expose yourself to rich language and new ways of thinking.

3. Surround yourself with great communicators — Listen to people who already speak the way you’d love to. Observe their flow, tone, and structure.

4. Master the art of confidence — Your audience hears your self‑doubt before your message. Stand tall, speak clear, own the room.

5. Stop blabbing — Don’t talk just to fill the silence. Every word should carry weight.

6. Repeat the words in your head before spitting them out — You’ll catch sloppy phrasing before it escapes.

7. Record yourself speaking — Just 1 minute every week. Play it back. Listen for clarity, pace, filler words, and confidence.

8. Pace yourself — We’re not rushing anywhere. Breathe. Let the conversation flow.

9. Keep your message well structured — A clear opening, strong middle, and memorable close will hold attention longer than rambling ever could.

10. (Bonus from my C-Suite Mentor client): Always frame your message around what matters to your audience. When speaking to stakeholders, it’s not about dumping information. It’s about showing them: What’s in it for them? Why it matters to their goals?
How it impacts what they care about?

When you connect your message to their priorities, they lean in. That’s how you go from just speaking to influencing.

Precious Ngozika Oli ✍🏾

Happy 9 Years Anniversary Celebration, Youthful Praise Nation 🤩 All Glory to God! We encourage youths to join us online. Click here to join: bit.ly/whatsapp-ypn

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗖𝗜𝗥𝗖𝗟𝗘
A Story of Lies and Deceit in Church.

The youth fellowship at Kingdom Light Assembly was admired by all. Lively worship, engaging programs, vibrant and talented youths. From the outside, everything sparkled with unity but behind the hallelujahs something was rotting.

At the center of it all were three friends; Tina, Dapo, and Victor, the leaders of the youth circle. They laughed, led prayers together, and posted selfies with Bible verses. But each had their own hidden agendas.

Tina, the youth Choir Leader, smiled in public but secretly envied any girl who sang better. She deleted audition messages before others could see them and often told the pastor that others “lacked spiritual maturity” just to keep the spotlight on herself.

Dapo, the Tech Team Head, was charming and helpful, but he had a secret stash of offering money meant for youth programs. He often “borrowed” from it, promising to return it. He never did. The projector, which was supposed to be fixed months ago, was still broken.

Victor, the Assistant Youth Pastor, was seen as the most spiritual. He could quote scriptures, speak in tongues, and counsel anyone with tears in his eyes, but behind closed doors, he was manipulating girls with “prophetic dreams” and flirty Bible study sessions.

It all seemed to work, until one Friday night. The Church hosted a Youth Leaders Retreat. The guest speaker was an elderly missionary woman who prayed for two hours before speaking a word. She stood and said:

“There’s a foul smell in this youth fellowship.
It’s not of sweat, but of lies, deceit, and pretence. There’s someone here stealing what belongs to God. There’s another who silences others to remain relevant. And one who misuses the altar of God for lust. Repent, or be exposed!” Everyone was silent; You could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at each other, confused or pretending to be.

The next week, a youth member, Joy, accidentally stumbled upon Dapo’s notebook, where he’d recorded all the money he took. She confronted him, and things spiraled quickly. Dapo broke down and confessed.

Then Tina’s deceit came out when another member revealed that her audition message was “never received.” Victor’s secrets were finally exposed when two brave sisters spoke out, confirming what many had suspected but feared to say. Shame. Shock. Silence.

The senior pastor, heartbroken, addressed the congregation:

“Gifts without character are dangerous.
A stage without integrity is a setup for disgrace. We’ve turned ministry into performance, and fellowship into a competition. We must return to the altar.”

The youth circle was dissolved for a season. Tina stepped down. Dapo was disciplined. Victor was reported and removed completely from ministry. And a new group of humble, honest, and Spirit-led youths rose.

Moral of the Story:
Church is not a playground for pretenders or a platform for selfish gain. The God who sees in secret will one day reward or expose in public. Lies can shine but only for a moment. Truth always rises no matter how deep it was buried.

Oliseh Udogwu ✍️