Strengthening Families Conference: A Global Movement to Strengthen the Rising Generation

The fourth annual Strengthening Families Conference was held on 24^th and 25^th of June 2022. Elder Larry S. Kacher, First Counselor of Africa West Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Ghana National Commission on Culture; Ghana Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU); Ensign Global College, African Business Center for Developing Education, Etherean Mission and other Partners welcomed over 45,000 in-person and on-line viewers. The Conference was held at the National Theatre of Ghana and the Christiansborg Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Headquarters, located in Accra, Ghana.

The conference was held both in-person and virtually. With live streaming occurring on Zoom, YouTube and Facebook Live virtual participation exceeded 44,000 viewers from around the world. Viewers tuned in from  Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and as far away as the Phillipines.  Viewers also gathered in seminary and institute centers and stake centers all over West Africa to join the conference live.

Her Excellency, Dr. Isatou Touray, Former Vice President of the Gambia was the invited Guest of Honor. At the conclusion of the conference she shared, “This brings all religions right to the center. It is their responsibility to make all people feel like they have hope and love. I have loved seeing the interfaith involvement. Imams, Catholic fathers, reverends, ministers and our hosts The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints coming together to make our youth the priority.”

On Friday the 24^th, the conference participants arrived at the National Theatre where booths and exhibits were set up for hands-on participation. The booths included exhibits from Ensign Global College, Ghana Tech Lab, Children Youth and Development, Family Search, YSA Gathering Place, National Commission on Culture, BYU Pathways International, Delfi Ventures, African Business Center for Developing Education; Emotional Resiliency, LDS Charities and Self Reliance.

During the exhibitions Family Search set up over 24 computers and provided a discovery experience for participants at the National Theatre. Family Search consultants from the area provided a discovery experience. They were asked to pray before they came to the conference to be guided how to identify the type of discovery experience that would touch the individual and allow the Spirit of Elijah to touch their hearts.

Experiences included discovering about their personal name and where their ancestors were from. One of the highlights was the introduction to African Oral Histories.

Chairperson His Royal Majesty, King Nii Dr. Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse, President of the Ga Traditional Council attended the event on Saturday. Traditional drummers and music welcomed him to the conference at the Christiansborg Stake Center.

At the conclusion of the conference Elder Kacher invited all participants in person and online to take action and go into their commuhttps://youtu.be/doa8ree5kmEnities, their churches, their homes and begin to do something to help the rising generation. He encouraged everyone to find something that they could personally do to encourage and invite others to participate in strengthening the rising generation and then return and report on their efforts in the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) 2023. Elder Raymond and Sister Comfort Egbo accepted the invitation to host SFC 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.

To watch the conference recording on FaceBook use the links below:

     Day 1:   https://youtu.be/1kv58yKg7WI

     Day 2:  https://youtu.be/doa8ree5kmE