By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Two Nigerian clergymen based in the diaspora have charged youths of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) to make Christ-like conduct, love, empathy, honesty and meaningful relationships central to their lives, saying their behaviour should preach the gospel even before they open their mouths.
The clergymen, Archbishop Joseph Dike, Resident Missionary in Dallas, United States, and Archbishop Salem Edosomwan of BCS Germany, gave the charge during a one-day BAYA Evangelical Summit held on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Speaking on “BCS Youths of Tomorrow: Building a Sustainable Culture of Evangelism,” Edosomwan said evangelism should not be reduced to occasional preaching or religious programmes but should become a lifestyle reflected in the daily conduct of young people.
He said youths, as carriers of a message of hope, must understand that their behaviour could either attract people to the faith or drive them away, stressing that genuine love for God and humanity should be the foundation of their interaction with society.
According to him, qualities such as kindness, honesty, purity, compassion, excellence and respect should become visible characteristics of every young evangelist because the credibility of what they preach depends largely on the consistency between their words and actions.
Edosomwan also urged youths to build genuine relationships with people rather than treating them merely as targets for religious conversion. He said friendship, concern for people’s needs and willingness to serve could create opportunities for meaningful evangelism.
He called for continuous learning, Bible study, prayer and spiritual development, urging young people not to be afraid of questions about their faith but to seek knowledge and guidance where they lacked answers.
The archbishop further stressed the importance of courage, humility and patience when faced with criticism or opposition, saying young evangelists must avoid becoming aggressive or antagonistic simply because others disagree with their convictions.
On his part, Dike, while speaking on “Beyond Preaching: Practical BCS Strategies for Winning and Retaining Souls,” said preaching alone was insufficient to sustain people within the faith, arguing that those reached through evangelism must subsequently be welcomed, nurtured and integrated into the community.
He identified intentional relationship-building as one of the most effective ways of retaining new members, urging youths to develop genuine friendships with people they encounter during evangelistic activities and to remain concerned about them beyond the initial religious encounter.
Dike said members must also learn to find common ground with people from different backgrounds and personalities, stressing that patience, tolerance, accommodation and respect for differences were necessary for peaceful coexistence and unity.
He emphasised love and empathy, saying the attitude of believers could become one of their strongest testimonies. He urged members to demonstrate compassion, assist people in need and create an environment where newcomers feel accepted, valued and supported.
The clergyman also advocated mentorship and empowerment of young people and new members, saying individuals should be given opportunities to discover their abilities, serve and develop a sense of responsibility within the community.
He noted that evangelism must also recognise people’s practical and social circumstances, stressing that spiritual care should not be divorced from genuine concern for human welfare.
Both speakers therefore called on BCS youths to move beyond merely preaching the gospel to living the gospel, saying their everyday interactions, friendships, kindness, service and treatment of others could constitute a powerful form of evangelism.
They maintained that sustainable evangelism would only be achieved when young people were not merely counted as converts but were nurtured, mentored and empowered to become responsible members capable of transmitting the message and values to succeeding generations.
