Gudina Tumsa had a unique view on youth for the time period he lived in, even in the present day a widespread culture is that the youth are viewed as unknowledgeable and thus are discouraged from being involved or even heard on matters “adults”, deem above them. As Rev.Megersa Guta writes it was uncommon in his time, “There is a widespread culture that discourages the young from expressing themselves.” (Life and Ministry Pg.145). But Gudina Tumsa was not of that sort. What may have influenced Gudina is that as a young boy he left his home, went out on his own and faced the extreme challenges of life such as poverty, hunger and loneliness. As if that were not enough he took on additional burden when he began to raise his orphaned siblings. Here again Gudina’s life follows a Biblical principle found in Lamentations 3:27, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (KJV).
Gudina from his own life understood the potential and capability in the youth and so it was common to find Gudina Tumsa in discussions about deep topics with young people. Rev Dr. Yonas Deressa describes Gudina’s view on the youth in this way, “I also had the privilege of listening to his advice to secondary school and University students. He used to urge Christian students to work hard and assume their position among Ethiopian intellectuals. It was also his advice that these students take faith in Christ seriously and explain it to the educated in a way that they can comprehend it intellectually.” (Life and MInistry Pg.12).
Gudina Tumsa did not only believe that the youth should be valued and discussed, but he understood a secret that many still today fail to understand, and that is that, “The Youth are the Foundation for Tomorrow”. This can be seen when Rev Dr. Yonas Deressa quoted Gudina Tumsa saying, “The generation that would build upon the foundation should participate in the evangelistic work and church leadership.” (Life and MInistry Pg.9).
Gudina Tumsa did not only believe that the youth should be valued and discussed, but he understood a secret that many still today fail to understand, and that is that, “The Youth are the Foundation for Tomorrow”. This can be seen when Rev Dr. Yonas Deressa quoted Gudina Tumsa saying, “The generation that would build upon the foundation should participate in the evangelistic work and church leadership.” (Life and MInistry Pg.9).
His care for the youth did not only come from his concern for the future. But it also arose from the events unfolding before him. In Ethiopia during the early 1970’s a revolution was occurring, the vanguard of that revolution was University students. This revolution being led by students was deeply personal to Gudina as his own brother Baro Tumsa was one of the students leading the revolution. The activity occurring in and through the youth during that time period, including, his own brother, also may have been a decisive factor that instituted in Gudina the importance of shaping young people.