"Youth Explosion"

>>Baguio Youth Camp. 26th – 28th May 2007, Baguio City

As part of the plan to re-evangelise, renew and ‘fire up’ Young College students in Baguio, we organized a three day camp with a dimension of evangelization and leading a radical life. All the youth who came for the camp were college students from diverse backgrounds. Some of them came because of a hunger for God, whilst some came because of fun and friends. Despite whatever reasons they had, I believed God handpicked these 50 young people to attend this camp. It was my first time ministering to philippinos from the mountain province and I was touched by how God, in his faithfulness, had led these young people to this camp to experience his love and goodness.

Our team worked well together.Because the team was small, some of us juggled between a few roles – teaching, leading worship, cell groups etc. I gave two teachings on the Holy Spirit and Radical living and had the opportunity to play the guitar in the worship team.



We witnessed how good music and sound made an impact and difference in leading people into worship. Fond of worshipping and music, myself, I enjoyed this experience. I was also touched and humbled by how God chose to use ‘the unworthy’ me and my gifts to serve him.



Aftermath….
It was moving to see the youth respond to the time we had with them, how they changed and were transformed by God’s love. Seeing the vitality and zeal in these youth, I awed by God’s presence in his people who are the future of our church.
Being on outreach had been a refreshing and enjoyable experience. I returned to Manila renewed and affirmed by our God - a God who calls, leads, guides and provides.

Finally, on a personal note, my two-year formation with the community will end in Jan08 and I am currently discerning whether I would take a two –year covenant as a covenanted member with the community. I ask that you pray for me to be open to whatever God is asking of me and to have courage to respond. I would be taking a personal discernment retreat on the last week of this month and I would appreciate if you could remember me in your prayers.

"ABBA Father”

>>Life in the Spirit Seminar for Parish Youth, 16th – 20th May 2007 , Batangas City.

As the title of the retreat suggest, it’s main focus was to allow participants to encounter God as Father. There were 25 participants for this 5 day-retreat. Most of those who attended were youth whom we have been journeying with for the past one year. Throughout the retreat, I was privileged to see these youth opening more and more of themselves to the love of the Father.

From their response to our teachings, openness in the sharing and worship sessions, it was evident that the Holy Spirit was moving and stirring in the hearts of these young people, inviting them to trust God more and more as their father and provider, despite their struggles in their families, financial situations and school.

I was moved by the power God’s love and loving embrace for His young people and humbled once again that God would use us - unworthy servants, to minister and reach out. During the final night, each youth were asked to offer up an item as a symbol of their commitment to this journey of faith.

As these youth offered up their lives, I was also challenged to renew my ‘yes’, to adopt a ‘child-like’ posture in seeing things around me and seeking God as my father.

Earthern Vessels Community Retreat in ICPE Philippines : 7th – 10th Dec 2006

Members from the local community Earthern Vessels under the Glory of God community in Singapore held their retreat here in our community. This is the first time a local community and an ICPE community under the Glory of God Covenant has come together for a retreat. During this time, I served in the kitchen Ministry. Mario, our founder was also present with us during the retreat. It was a time of renewal for me and also a time of seeing the bigger reality of being part of the Glory of God community. I also felt very priviledged to be amongst Singaporeans who are radical in their own way and who, through their witnessing are beacons of light to the pragmatic society I come from.

Emmaus Experience – two week seminar in October (1st -15th Oct)

We had two weeks of intensive teachings, sharing lives, ministering to participants from Korea, Myammar and Slovakia. We also organized a four day outreach to the Prison ministry and the children’s ministry in Payattas. I played a supporting role during this time, setting up and also doing recordings for the teachings. It brought me a lot of joy to see how God work His marvels in the lives of the participants and how we overcame our challenges, to allow God to meet us where we are at. Though Language was a big challenge, God helped us to overcome it. Participants for the Emmaus Experience 2006

Outreach at Kapayapaan Ng Ina Parish in Kasiglahan, Montalban

Baguio Concert (25th November - 1st December)

I had the privilege to serve the community in Baguio for a week. This was in preparation for our evangelistic concert to university student. The time I spent with the community there was not void of challenges as we prepared for the concert; however, as we interceded for the concert, I felt God’s assurance and peace. I also felt God’s blessing upon His people and our community. Though we all squeezed in a small house, I was blessed by the Hospitality of our youth community there and experienced God’s love in a deep way through the small community.