Peter Ho Shares Insights from the World YMCA NGS Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany

Last Updated (Friday, 07 March 2025 13:14)

YMCA Germany graciously hosted the World Alliance of YMCAs (WAY) National General Secretaries (NGS) Conference at YMCA Düsseldorf from February 16-20, 2025. NGS from YMCA Area Alliances of Africa, Asia & Pacific, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East, and USA & Canada were represented. It was a time of greeting old friends and meeting new friends. From Asia & Pacific, we had leaders from Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. The Chairman of YMCA Germany together with other Board members and the management team of YMCA Düsseldorf hosted a welcome dinner for the NGS. It was a humbling experience to witness their gratitude for the opportunity to receive our diverse group of YMCA leaders from around the world.

The NGS conference began with a reflection on St. Paul’s final instructions to the Thessalonians – “Prüft alles und behaltet das Gute” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) which translates to “test them all; hold on to what is good”. We were reminded not to quench the Holy Spirit, refrain from every kind of evil and to encourage one another, holding one another accountable to the mission of the YMCA. That was precisely the very reason NGS gather every year. The NGS conference is a place for peer support, a safe space to discuss our challenges, find inspiration, learn from each other and encourage each other. On the second day, YMCA Germany NGS Hansjörg Kopp (Hans) shared the “Welcome Culture in the YMCA [Germany] – A Self-Understanding” that was adopted by the General Assembly of YMCA Germany. NGS reflected on the four core values of YMCA Germany as they relate to our own YMCAs – 1) YMCA connects people, 2) YMCA actively opposes discrimination, 3) YMCA fosters a culture of inclusion, and 4) YMCA is a learning community. On the third day, NGS reflected on “The Pardon of the Sinful Woman” in Luke 7:36-50. Do we have the courage of the sinful woman to go to Jesus? Do we see what Jesus sees, or we see what Simon the Pharisee sees in the sinful woman? Simon invited Jesus to dine in his house but he did not show hospitality towards Jesus. How should we welcome Jesus and show him hospitality in the YMCA, in our YMCAs? Forgiveness is not earned. The more we acknowledge we are indebted to God and we need God’s forgiveness, the more love we can receive from God, and the more we can forgive and pass forward our love to others through our work at the YMCA.

Together NGS looked into how to transform and strengthen our YMCA Movement. We need a fresh perspective as we are living in a “crazy” world – a VUCA world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity that feels BANI – brittle, anxious, non-linear and incomprehensible. We need the agility of a white-water rafting crew that combines alignment and autonomy to constantly navigate a course with unexpected twists and turns, with undercurrent, bumps and obstacles. At the same time, WAY Secretary General Carlos Sanvee reminded NGS to broaden our perspective, expand our vision and learn from emperor penguins how to huddle and survive the frigid Antarctic winter temperature of minus 40 below zero by constantly shifting and rotating from the center so no one would be left permanently on the outside weathering the bitter cold and blizzards.

Visiting a local YMCA to find inspiration is always one of the highlights of my YMCA trips around the world. We visited Haus für Junge Menschen (House for Young People) of YMCA Oberhausen where a 70-year old YMCA center was renovated with six million euros into 18 modern apartments with ample community space for young people to build independent lives with the support of professional YMCA staff on site. The business world would first calculate the return on investment. Is the investment proportional to its impact? How does CVJM and CVJM House for Young People measure its impact – one young life at a time for the past 70 years and in the years to come!

NGS were randomly divided into breakout groups to share our Vision 2030 journey – our challenges and achievements. There were many encouraging moments - listening to the inspiring stories of faith, hope and perseverance from old friends in Ukraine and Belarus. It was eye opening to hear the development cooperation initiatives of YMCA Finland in youth peace work. While the NGS from Switzerland was new to her role, she was the most artistic of all in our breakout group and painted a beautiful roadmap summarizing our collective Vision 2030 journey. The YMCA of Hong Kong (YMCAHK) has set up four pillar task groups representing each of the four pillars of community wellbeing, meaningful work, sustainable planet and just world. Staff from different units of YMCAHK are represented in each pillar of their passion to incorporate elements of the pillars into their programs and service as much as possible. The overseas domestic helper program of the YMCAHK incorporates elements of all four pillars and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Twelve of us ventured into Cologne on the last day before leaving Düsseldorf. It was a most fruitful train ride as a thought came unexpectedly that would allow me to see a possibility that I thought would not be possible before. Then suddenly I had the urge to see where we were on google map and realized that we were on the bridge crossing the Rhine River and within minutes walking distance to Cologne station. I looked out of the window, then and there, the magnificent twin spires of the Cologne Cathedral were before me. As soon as I stepped out of the train station and saw the Cathedral for the first time, I was captured by the overwhelming presence of God. Hans, thank you for organizing the excursion to the Cathedral that took 600 years to build and home of the relics of the Magi.

YMCA Germany, thank you! YMCA Düsseldorf, thank you!

God bless YMCA!

Peter Ho

General Secretary

YMCA of Hong Kong