{"id":20398,"date":"2022-11-03T11:51:53","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T11:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=conexion&#038;p=20398"},"modified":"2022-11-04T15:55:46","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T15:55:46","slug":"panaf-francophone-africas-vision-conference","status":"publish","type":"conexion","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/panaf-francophone-africas-vision-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"PANAF: Francophone Africa\u2019s vision conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This August marked an important moment \u2013 the return of the Panafricaine conference, or PANAF. This triennial conference welcomed 300 students and graduates from the 19 national movements of the Francophone Africa region, also known as GBUAF. This year, the conference met so that students could share experiences, build community, and gain the necessary skills to be effective witnesses on their campuses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-embed wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"TEASER PANAF 2022\" width=\"740\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GqE7-gHA3R4?feature=oembed&#038;cc_load_policy=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">To celebrate, to envision, to refocus<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eric Makon, from the GBUAF regional staff team, explains how important the PANAF is. \u201cIt\u2019s our main meeting,\u201d he says, \u201cbringing together people from different nations and experiences to pray and share the realities of ministry in their contexts. The teaching and workshops give perspective for the next years of ministry in this part of the continent. Everyone goes back to their countries with new structures to implement, and many new ideas. PANAF is a visionary meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emmanuel Bagumako is from Burundi, the country in which this year\u2019s PANAF was hosted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IFES.UGBB\">the IFES national movement, UGBB<\/a>. He is also part of the regional team. He explains that \u201cthis is a celebration of the fact that IFES is present in 19 countries in Francophone Africa. We gather to celebrate God, to share fellowship together, and to recenter our focus. We discuss our strengths, our challenges, and we dream together. We spend a whole week listening to God and preparing ourselves for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this video, James, a volunteer in North Kivu province for GBU, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gburdc.org\/\">the national movement in the DR Congo<\/a>, shares his perspective on what being part of the PANAF is actually like.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-embed wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"James Nzanzu about Panaf 2022\" width=\"740\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oLKPEpJxcLs?feature=oembed&#038;cc_load_policy=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the highlights was the beautiful worship, sung in the Kirundi language of Burundi. Odette is a student from GBEEN Niger. \u201cEven though I couldn\u2019t understand it,\u201d she shares, \u201cit gives us a taste of what it\u2019s going to be like in heaven. There will be so many different tribes worshipping God together.\u201d At other times, it was moving to be among hundreds of participants singing the same songs familiar to each from their regular student meetings, even though they had never met, coming from different countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Helping students pursue their calling<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PANAF encourages students to understand where God is calling them. Innocent is a UGBB Burundi volunteer, as well as Tier 1 Coordinator for the IFES <a href=\"https:\/\/lci.ifesworld.org\/\">Logos and Cosmos Initiative<\/a>. The most valuable outcome for him was the chance to meet others working in science. They gave him the challenge not only to excel in scientific understanding, but also to think about that might connect with theology, as well as with societal problems. \u201cIt made me question\u201d, he says, \u201c\u2018How can research serve society in the best way to glorify God?\u2019 So I commit to learn humbly, to be inspired and grow in what we are learning here, so that I can learn how I can be useful to the movement here, to the church and society in Burundi particularly, in other African contexts and the world in general.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As well as constituting a new introduction to IFES, for student leaders the PANAF was a much-needed chance to receive encouragement, refreshment, and fellowship. Odette is a student leader who has felt lonely. \u201cSometimes it feels like we are the only ones in the world doing this\u201d, she says. \u201cBut the most important thing I learnt is that I am not alone. It strengthens my faith to know that we are family working together. For other participants the conference was as enlightening as it was encouraging. \u201cI understand that my life is not compartmentalized\u201d, shares Lucien, who is from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/gbeeg\/\">GBEEG, the national movement in Guinea.<\/a> \u201cThe divine calling has resonated in my heart. I am committed to living for the Lord at university, the church, and society.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For one another and for the world<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The experience of the PANAF also helps each national movement to grow organisationally, connecting with other movements. \u201cIt is really helpful when we hear how others are doing and what initiatives are working that can be translated into another context,\u201d Emmanuel says. Hosting the PANAF has also changed the way that UGBB is viewed by local government officials. \u201cThey used to see us as very simple and insignificant\u201d, says Emmanuel. \u201cBut, with the presence of representatives from 19 countries, and the content of what we are doing, they understand. They see the importance of the ministry for Burundi in general.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PANAF is also helping the region to engage with one another in order to face their biggest challenges. According to Armand Dzadu, General Secretary of the <a href=\"https:\/\/gbust.org\/\">GBU in Togo<\/a>, \u201cthe whole challenge is how to be effective in raising up students who understand the issues and impact society. We say that the church in Africa is large, but not big. We have many churches and fellowships, but we are sensing that there is not a real impact, in government and marketplaces. The church is spreading, but it is not always solid.&nbsp; We are hoping that this kind of conference could help raise and engage pastors, as well as engage our universities academically, which will lead to transforming communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the regional level, the impact of PANAF reverberates in a different way. The PANAF builds networks among staff workers and students from around the continent. This year, it also helped to boost graduate support for the ministry, as graduates from different countries had an opportunity to network and think together about what they can do in their various spheres of influence \u2013 churches, governments, and other organisations. This is good news for the student movements, as Emmanuel explains; \u201cwe\u2019re currently seeing a move of graduates coming back. The support from graduates had really dropped off, but now they are so interested in reconnecting and supporting the movement. We are so thankful for this conference.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indeed, dialogue across generations can only have an enriching effect across the board. One of those graduates who attended the conference in 2019 was Professor Abel Ndjerareou, of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ujc.tchad\/\">UJC, the movement in Chad<\/a>, who shared the following:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvery time I find myself in a GBU meeting, I feel rejuvenated. Firstly, because it reminds me of my youth \u2026 second, because the energy of young people is very contagious. Finally, because they give me hope that this great work that is the GBU will continue even after we leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vision of the Francophone Africa region, wherein many students, thriving as communities of disciples, impact the university, the church, and society for God\u2019s glory, did not originate at this year\u2019s PANAF. But with each opportunity to gather and worship, to share, pray, sing, and learn from one another, it does become easier to see.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can watch the webinar, broadcast live from PANAF\u201922 especially for supporters of IFES\/USA, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tuggX71-Oh0\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To learn more about the 19 national movements represented at the PANAF conference, you can see the region in figures on GBUAF\u2019s website <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/gbuaf.org\/les-gbuaf\/le-gbuaf-en-chiffres\/\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":20399,"template":"","area":[459],"theme":[],"class_list":["post-20398","conexion","type-conexion","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-francophone-africa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>PANAF: Francophone Africa\u2019s vision conference &#183; IFES Conexi\u00f3n Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This August marked an important moment \u2013 the return of the Panafricaine conference, or PANAF. 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