Philippines - NYC 2007 - Youth Blog by APNYI Admin
The most memorable part of the NYC I experienced, aside from the site-seeing and watching Soulafekz concert at SM Baguio, meeting new friends and attending exciting activities, was when Pastor Onie called the youth to surrender their most priced possessions, like their time, friends, things that interest them just to follow Jesus. That was on the second night of the event after Pastor Onie finished his prayer.
A lot of us came at the front stage and knelt down, crying and giving all our hearts to God’s calling. I felt the burden and the desire to be involved in every ministry where God wants me to be in. While kneeling down, I remembered not doing all the best I could do in my ministry. Sometimes, I would reason out my job why I wasn’t able to do my responsibility. There are instances that I would accept my friends or officemates’ invitation to hang out knowing that I have a schedule to follow in our church. I even silently complain why I was put into this position. I thought I didn’t always have enough time to spend for this.
But during that night, guilt hit me. I felt ashamed to God for me being a mediocre in doing His works. I only handle one ministry in the church and yet I keep on complaining. Not to think of all the blessings He has given me and my family. He’s the One who provided me a good job but still I tend to give more time to other unimportant things rather than to give all of my free time to my ministry. And so I thought what if God would suddenly take my job back? Where would I go? Through the night, I thought about the opportunities and chances that were wasted. I could have done better. The people in our church have so much trust and confidence in me and yet I sometimes ignore it.
That night really brought a big impact to my life. It totally changed my priority, which is to follow what Jesus wanted me to do. It made me become more committed to my ministry and to give out my best in every possible way I could. I would never forget this NYC as it helped me open my mind and heart more to God’s calling, that I am His servant, to help in reaching out other youth to come closer to Jesus and make Him their personal Savior and to give out my all just to follow Him.
- Shean, Philiipines NYC 2007 Delegate
Daniel Pape wrote on 04.20.07 at 22:29
http://www.apnyi.org/friends/sendusout
Praise God Shean! Our prayers are with you and God (your daddy) is smiling from ear to ear becuase He is SO proud of you. Seek more and more and the Holy Spirit and God will guide!
Ricky Hurtado wrote on 04.21.07 at 0:01
http://www.apnyi.org/friends/webwarrior
I thank the Lord for your testimony Shean!
I hope and I pray that more youth leaders, not only those who have attended this event but also those who are CALLED, will serve God faithfully.
We are so blessed that the Lord has chosen us to be use for HIS purpose.
God bless you more brother!
Shean wrote on 04.22.07 at 0:33
Thank you so much for the nice comments… God really moves peoples’ lives in mystersious ways… I’m really blessed that I was able to attend the NYC! More power to you guys! Praying that God will continually to bless you more and your family!!!
To Ricky - I’m not a brother, I’m a sister.. hehehehe!!!!
ryan Cardinal wrote on 04.23.07 at 8:24
http://yahoo.com
Shean, your pastors are watching you and praying for you. I know the pressures your facing ryt now. Your testimony will remind me of your commitment and dedication to God. BE GOOD IN MINISTRY!!!
janary wrote on 04.23.07 at 14:04
http://www.scarlet12.wordpress.com
Go gurl! God is truly compassionate, He always opens his arms so we could come running back to Him again. And in Him there is peace. You’ll do great in the ministry. It is nice working with you
fred "flekz" Lealasola - SOULAFEKZ wrote on 04.23.07 at 22:01
http://www.soulafekz.org.au
bless ya Shean
GOD’s spirit moved swiftly and gently across NYC campsite….i am encouraged and moved by your honesty……your testimony will be a source of encouragement to all who read….
if anyone came awayfrom NYC philippines 2007 unchanged - i’d get a heart monitor LOL
PTL
TASI
Flekz
Kuya Doug wrote on 04.24.07 at 20:58
Dear NYI Family -
Thanks for all your great blogs and photos and videos. Made us all feel like we were part of the event. I wasn’t able to be there with you, but I wanted to share something that I witnessed last week that is very much related to your event. At the same time your were gathered in Baguio, we were also meeting at a strategic missions conference in Singapore with 90 people from 20 nations. One of our key speakers for the week was a Filipino missionary to the Middle East. He is a “faith missionary” — meaning he and his wife must raise all their own support from family, friends and churches (around the Philippines).
The country they serve in has very strict immigration laws, so my friend and his wife must leave there every few months and fly home to the Philippines to renew their visas. As you can imagine this costs alot of money on top of all their other living expenses! Yet, last week, when this friend of mine heard that our NYC event in Baguio was struggling to cover all the costs, he did something that amazed me! Immediately after he heard about the need, he pulled out all the cash in his wallet ($150) and handed it to David Philips, our Philippine Field Strategy Coordinator. Rev. Philips and I stood there speechless, looking at each other, not knowing how to respond. But my Filipino missionary friend insisted by saying, “Hey, God has blessed us and we want to bless your young people. We believe in them and know God wants to call many of them to missionary service as well.” Wow! Talk about generosity, sacrifice and immediate obedience! And guess what, my Filipino missionary friend isn’t even a Nazarene!
He gave because he believes in YOU guys! David Philips gratefully received it because he believes in YOU guys. I write this blog to share this inspiring news with you becuase I believe in YOU. Greater yet, God believes in YOU! Now, in the words of Jesus - “Freely you have received…freely give!”….”So send I you!”….”Go and do likewise!”
God Bless,
Kuya Doug
Jerome Rosana wrote on 04.25.07 at 0:59
Ptr. Shean you you may not be perfect, I may not be perfect…but God knows our heart.s.
I believe He will remember the things you did for him(God),for his kingdom,for his ministry…it doesn’t matter whether it’s big or small..God will bless you more, you have a humble heart.
Godbless!
ryan Cardinal wrote on 04.26.07 at 8:55
http://yahoo.com
Hi Jerome, Shean is not a pastor. She’s an SSM Chairwoman in Diliman Church. Godbless you guys.
romari wrote on 04.28.07 at 13:26
hi shean astig testimony ah im bless keep up the good work and always do your best to ISA(JESUS) god bless.
eiza sta.maria wrote on 04.28.07 at 20:56
mIz u ol!!!
Ate Thets Gualberto of Kansas City USA wrote on 05.01.07 at 22:27
We miss this NYC Baguio,but Praise God for all the things He has done in the lives of this Young Generation of NYI. Halos kilala ko ang mga kabataang ito at nakakatuwang pagmasdan na nagpapatuloy kayo sa gawain ng Panginoon. Hope to see you guys soon. We love the music of Soulafekz,Selah and Green Pastures I always listen to it everyday. Continue to serve the Lord in the days of your Youth remember walang sayang na oras kapag sa Panginoon mo ito gagamitin. You are all in our prayers. Mabuhay ang mga KABATAANG NAZARENO!!!!
Joel wrote on 05.03.07 at 17:00
Guys, it’s good to be back on the loop after my wife gave birth fr my second baby right after the NYC.
hey young people keep the flame burning.
Joel Arro wrote on 05.03.07 at 17:01
Two years ago the Philippine NYC was just a dream of the Philippine NYI council. This dream was used by God to show His love to the Philippine NYI. After hours of countless meetings, brainstorming and planning, raising funds, coordinating and disseminate info to our 11 districts, traveling; look now!!!…. the PNYC is now part of the history of God’s faithfulness and love to the Filipino young people!
More than 200 young leaders from 11 district in Philippine gather together, worship together and bless one another in spite of the diversity but they are still ONE.
Astig NYC!!!.
Guys, this is my first time to be online after NYC. Thank God I’m back to the loop.
NYC then Sophia Johanna .
As I ready my self for this much awaited event I am also preparing myself to become new dad for my second baby. I am in mix emotion feelings, excited for the NYC and to my second baby but at the same time worried because my wife’s schedule to deliver the baby was also exact date of our NYC! I’m worried that my wife might deliver our baby and I may not be by her side. A week before the NYC, I was praying to the Lord specifically saying, “Panginoon, manganak po sana ang asawa ko pag katapos ng NYC” (Lord, please let my wife give birth after NYC) but the week before the NYC my wife experienced regular contraction pain lots of time and some times she look she’s going to give birth. But still I leaned on God’s plan and in my mind I was determined to come to NYC as a director; I need to be there, and I told to my self, shame on me if I will not come, after of hundreds of email, phone calls and text two years of coordinating and encourage lot people to be there but in the end I will not come, no way. So I told to myself I will go and I am determined that I will be with my wife also while she is giving birth to our second baby and how will happen? That’s God’s problem.
Early Sunday morning, April 15, the working committee drove to LNBC but before I left I gave word to my wife and told her to hold on and wait for me. As the NYC progressed everybody was so blessed and everybody is having fun and experiencing God’s love and revival, but was experiencing double excitement for the baby and NYC. When the NYC was done I got home at 2:30 in the morning of Saturday, April 21. After of couple hours of sleep I brought my wife to the doctor for her regular check up. The doctor advised us not to go home after the check up because the baby was coming very soon! Our God is so great; just couple of hours after I arrived, my wife will give birth! How great is our God!
So my wife went into the labor room, my son and I roamed around the hospital looking for a phone (again my cellphone had no load) to call my folks to inform them. I was very tired at that time because of lack of sleep but I was excited and a bit nervous while waiting. My wife stay at the labor room the whole night and I stayed in the hallway the whole night, waiting to get some news from the doctors. The night passed, then the morning passed. Finally, and the doctor came out at 11:30am, April 22, and gave us the news that my wife gave birth to a 7.14 lbs baby girl. It was so exiting! I was sleep but I woke up immediately. I was really happy at that moment and I named the baby Sophia Johanna. Seven pounds, fourteen ounces is quite big for my wife, though and the doctor explained to me that the birthing process hurt the baby’s right arm and she needed to stay in the hospital to be observed for one week and have some laboratory test. They did this to make sure there was no bone damage in her arms from the injury. Sophia couldn’t move her arm, but the doctors said she will recover after six month and regular therapy.
I can’t explain how great our God is! He allowed me to stay the whole week at NYC as a director at the same time I am able to be with my wife while giving birth to our second baby. If I had not been with my wife, it would have been really hard for her emotionally. How perfect and awesome is God’s provision for me.
Ricky Hurtado wrote on 05.03.07 at 18:00
http://www.apnyi.org/friends/webwarrior
Wow! That was awesome Joel!!! God is really amazing!!!
I praise God for answering your prayer ‘coz He knows how tough it was to handle the PNYC… and it’s really encouraging that you decided to do God’s work than to stay with your wife to see her giving birth that week… and it’s amazing He let you to see your baby after the event!
GOD is GREAT talaga! hahaha!
thea benzonan torres wrote on 05.04.07 at 10:58
http://yahoo
I was not a part of the PNYC, but when i heard the stories from our nyi of the Bethany i was really happy & i felt the excitement they had, i even remember the camps that i attended it was really fun but those were the days haaay!, and to Shean may God bless you always in everything you do, and to the friend of kuya Doug even though you are not a nazarene you showed your love for the ministry of God, God bless and God loves you, and to Joel Aro i was crying when saw and read your testimony it was really an encouragement to others that no matter what is happening put God first and He will do the rest and what is best for you keep up the good work and give my regards to Nona and congratulations to both of you guys great job!
ryan Cardinal wrote on 05.08.07 at 12:50
http://yahoo.com
Sir Joel, great encouragement for all NYI friends. Godbless your family and congratulations!
Shean wrote on 05.08.07 at 14:22
Wow! What a great challenge for you Kuya Joel and how exciting it is to have a new baby… God has really blessed you Kuya for being a good follower and servant of Him. I know how great you are as a leader and I wanted to follow your example. Being an NYC coordinator is a big responsibility and yet it was done successfully. Everyone was blessed!!! Anyways, congratulations for having a new baby and praying the she will grow up like you someday.. Hehehe!!! God bless you always and your family!
fred "flekz" Lealasola - SOULAFEKZ wrote on 05.08.07 at 19:55
http://www.soulafekz.org.au
joel,
awesome bro……your faithfulness to HIM was rewarded big time……how amazing that we serve a GOD who hears our cry andhas mercy upon it…
joel on behalf of SOULAFEKZ…thanku from the deepest parts of our hearts bro……you went well and truly beyond our expectations………thanku for supporting us….feeding us and transporting us…..astig to you and the NYC crew.
pastor oni plantilla a.k.a. PIOLO wrote on 05.09.07 at 16:01
To All Astig youth leaders in NYC,
pastor oni plantilla a.k.a. PIOLO wrote on 05.09.07 at 16:11
Hello to all Astig youth leaders of PNYC 07,
Heto na tuloy ko na. After the rushing times as we atart to move in at apnts i finally got a minute to browse over this page and i’m so blesssed with your testimonies in your continues walk with God after a meaningful encounter with Him at NYC. God has proven His power, honestly we never thought that the nyc will be concluded that way… yes we put our hearts and mind as we plan for the general program but we leave to the Lord the rest. Everthing went out and happended as planned, GHpd hopnors our prayers and those things that we have prayed and hoped for. The truth is… more than i ministered to all of you… you have ministerd to me as well. By the way, Guys, dont forget my comprehensive english lesson…… the ever effective…
pastor oni plantilla a.k.a. PIOLO wrote on 05.09.07 at 16:14
‘HOW ABOUT YOU” strategy….. Continue to pray for us as we venture into the next phase of our ministerial life.
Jose wrote on 05.16.07 at 6:12
Astig yung mga youth leader nang nyc!
Joraldine "che" Montales wrote on 05.17.07 at 18:18
Praise God for that wonderful and amazing experience we had in the NYC!
pray that we will continue to serve Him Wit all our hearts. actually it’s annoying for me to join the P&W in church playing the bass guitar but because of the commitment and love for the Lord everything was great. Btw tHanks so much Pastor oni for the Ride after the NYC You’re really great!
God bless guys…
Dennis wrote on 06.05.07 at 2:17
It’s great to hear that the NYC was attended by many a great future leaders of the Church. But here’s a trivia i bet ya’ll didn’t know about.
Did you know that the first NYC (Nazarene Youth Congress) was held at the Luzon Nazarene Bible College (LNBC) in 1995, the holy week in particular. It was attended by no less than 800 delegates from all over the Philippines. Some notable attendees include the late Rev. Clemente Arturo Haban, Dr. Lito Agbuya, Dr. Rulloda (LNBC Pres) to name a few.
Bulk of the attendees came from the Metro Manila District who played host to the delegates from the Visayas and Mindano Regions. Pastor Onie Plantilla was there too.
And you know how the organizers came up with at least 800 warm bodies???
The registration fee was inversely proportional to your distance from the venue and that includes the accommodation. Meaning, the nearer you live from the venue, the higher your registration fee was. Luzon and Metro Manila District delegates paid in full. Southern Tagalog paid half. Visayas and Mindanao were free and they got the best accommodation.
We (MMFCN NYI) slept in the chills of the hallway of the old girls dorm (now the library).
Now that’s old school NYI ain’t it?!! Ask our pAstor Onie.
200 is good start and with faith in the Lord, don’t be surprised if the next NYC would be attended by a thousand NYI’s.
Go NYI!
Dennis wrote on 06.05.07 at 2:22
Another trivia!
I met Pastor Onie (a.k.a. Bonifacio Plantilla) in the Metro Manila District Summer Camp dubbed Discovery ‘87. He came from the Bugarin Church of the Nazarene where i also became friends with his brother Poli and also Benick.
I know most of the guys here don’t know my kind coz i am with the old skul NYI. Hope to catch someone here from my dimension.
Vhennie Bautista, Filipino Church of the Nazarene, Metro New York District wrote on 06.23.07 at 10:10
http://www.mnynaz.com
It’s good to hear you testimonies and comments to each other. We really need to pray and uplift each other to be stronger for the journey we ought to travel. God is able to do things we could ever imagine. That’s why we are mandated to live by faith only in Him. “What is necessary to change a person is to change awareness of himself.” A familiar saying commonly used by almost everyone who knows it. But only Christ can make it happen to the hearts of someone. Keep up the good works guys! By the way, job well done on this website Ricky! The bridge is built through your effort. God bless!