“Africa: My Home, My Future”

It was a powerful space for stories, celebration, expression of identity and faith, and a shared vision for the future.

February 5, 2026 |

Cetera J. Jacobs (fifth from right) was one of 11 ELCA delegates to the second All Africa Youth Congress in November. Photos: Joglo Studio Tanzania

North Carolina Synod’s own Cetera Jacobs was one of 11 ELCA delegates to the second All Africa Youth Congress in November. Her perspective, “Africa: My home, my future: A Collective Awakening at the All Africa Youth Congress” was recently published by Living Lutheran.

In November, thanks to support from the Service and Justice unit’s Ministries of Diverse Cultures and Communities, I was one of 11 delegates to the second All Africa Youth Congress, hosted by the All Africa Conference of Churches in Nairobi, Kenya. I was deeply grateful for this opportunity, and to ELCA pastor Nicolette Faison, whose nomination and belief in my voice and leadership made this experience possible.

Gathering more than 500 young leaders (including over 100 Lutherans) from 40 African countries and the African diaspora, the congress was far more than a conference. It was a powerful space for stories, celebration, expression of identity and faith, and a shared vision for the future. Centered on the theme “Africa: My Home. My Future,” the congress resonated in ways that were both personal and profoundly collective.

CONTINUE READING from LivingLutheran.org.

Story Attribution:

Cetera J. Jacobs

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