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Busi Khumalo | Youth Director

Pastor Busi Khumalo has worked in ministry for over 30 years: 10 years in pastoral ministry and 20  years in youth, chaplaincy, and public campus ministries. He served as a departmental director at the Southern Africa Union Conference from 2003-2010 and at the Southern African Indian-Ocean Division (SID) from 2010 to 2022. Busi’s passion for young people and youth ministries is inspired by the last part of the Pathfinder Pledge: “By the grace of God, I will be pure, kind, and true, I will keep the Pathfinder Law, I will be a servant of God and a Friend to man.”

Busi has been married to his incredible wife, Maipato, for 29 years, and together, they are the parents of two amazing children: a son, Sihe, and a daughter, Side. He also enjoys reading, running, and traveling.

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Dr. Pako E. Mokgwane | Associate Youth Director

Dr. Pako Edson Mokgwane has worked in ministry for over 18 years. He grew up in Botswana and is a product of Adventist Education, from primary school to graduate school. He obtained a Bachelor of Theology from Andrews University (MI, USA), and a Master of Theology, and a PhD in Leadership from the Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. Prior to joining the Youth Ministries team of the General Conference, he served as the Youth, Stewardship, and Communications Director for the Botswana Union Conference, and as a frontline pastor in both North Botswana and South Botswana conferences. Dr. Mokgwane is an endorsed chaplain (SID) and an ordained minister.

The firstborn child of the late Thulaganyo Mokgwane and Masego Mokgwane, Pako is inspired by the lyrics of the hymn “We Speak of the Realms” as it awakens the reality of the Maranatha motif—Jesus is coming again! He is married to Ayakha Babalwa Dywili, and they have two sons, Akim Thulaganyo Mokgwane and Pello Tshwaro Mokgwane.

Pako draws strength from 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” Pako is a pastor’s kid. His leadership philosophy is founded on sociability; the more leaders connect with people and make moments significant the more opportunities they will have to point people toward Jesus. This is discipleship.

He is passionate about Youth Evangelism and believes that we should go beyond ourselves—beyond our comfort levels—and use social media and other media platforms to multiply our reach in our communities and beyond. This willingness of young people to respond to their communities with the Gospel of Love, Jesus’ gospel, will contribute to the Church’s goal of TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT and more intentionally TOTAL YOUTH INVOLVEMENT.

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Maria A. Manderson | Editorial Assistant

From her start as a teenager in Kingston, Jamaica West Indies, to coming to Silver Spring, Maryland, Maria has seen every position the Lord has blessed her with as an opportunity to serve God through serving others. Maria lives with her family in Baltimore, Maryland. The mother of three young adults, she enjoys traveling and being with her sons Andrew, Jonathan, Nathaniel and his wife Kalandra. Her hobbies are cooking, driving and reading and her favorite ice cream is grapenut.

“Over the past years I have learned many lessons and truths, but one of the most important ones is this, that, ‘God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.’ (Romans 11:29, Message Bible). That is sometimes a very scary reality, but it is also humbling because it makes me realize that each of us have to walk in the calling that God has called us to, and His way is always the best.”

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Mwenya H. Mpundu | Media Coordinator

Mwenya Hellen Mpundu is a young adult who is passionate about Jesus, serving others, and Young people. Mwenya was born in Zambia and moved to New York at the age of 8. Mwenya studied business administration and communication in her undergraduate classes. She loves to read, is very competitive, a lover of all things nature, and is terribly afraid of heights. In her free time, she enjoys being surrounded by those she loves. 

At a young age she realized her love for ministry, she acquired her Master Guide and AY Leadership certification. She also served as a director for several ministries in her local church as well as being a coordinator in the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Mwenya assisted in the planning and executions of Congresses, Camporees, and other events for the conference and union. She helmed the digitalization of the department using smart technologies. 

In her own life, 1 Timothy 4:12 has served as her guiding verse of what she hopes to achieve through her ministry: “Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Mwenya hopes to show everyone the true love of God and his unyielding Mercy through all she does. Her largest passion is introducing youth and young adults to the lover of her soul, Jesus Christ.

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Ivonne A. Omaña | Editorial Assistant

Ivonne Andrea Omaña was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. She is the only daughter of Chaplain Ivan and the late Anabel Omaña. She is a fifth-generation Seventh-day Adventist with a passion for assisting and encouraging the church youth and the world. She studied Biomedical Sciences at the Adventist University of Health Sciences in Orlando, Florida. Then, she obtained a Masters Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family therapy and Clinical Therapy from La Sierra University in Southern California. During the pandemic, Ivonne assisted kids and families in nonprofit organizations. She is a pet mom to a cat named Frijolito and a dog named Reggie and loves to go camping, travel the world, and spend time with her family. Ivonne has a passion for assisting church youth and wants to help others spread the love of Jesus Christ.

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