Allow us to begin our sharing by saying that if there are words to describe our experience in the preparation and conduct of the NLC, they are – “God-directed, Spirit-led, Promise-filled, Promise-fulfilled”.
THE INSPIRATION
The first time we were tasked to handle the NLC in 2016, the message that we got from the Lord in our prayers was , “Welcome my soldiers home” … “Welcome my soldiers home.”
This year, in prayers, God directed us with almost the same message but this time with more urgency to re- tool them as the fight is becoming more fierce. Sabi ni Lord, “ Welcome my soldiers home. I want you to prepare a spiritual feast for the homecoming of my soldiers. Day in and day out, they experience the first brunt of the holy war that we in Familia passionately fight in order to defend the families from the claws of the enemy. I want them inspired, equipped, enabled and empowered with new tools and skills to defend Me and My families in this increasingly becoming godless society.”
With this direction from the Lord and inspiration from the Holy Spirit, we designed the 2018 NLC to be festive, to be fun, to be inspiring, to be educational and to be empowering and courage-building, to be restful and worry-free to the participants.
THE CHALLENGES, THE PROMISE, THE SURPRISES
We only had two brainstorming sessions to finalize the contents of the NLC. And the sessions were not without challenges. Given the busy schedules of Dave, Art, Lawrence , Luigi at kami na rin, sumasabay pa ang mga problema sa trabaho, scheduling was really a challenge.
At dahil parehas kami (Errol & Nerisse) na OC at perfectionist, it was really stressful because the preparation time was really tight. Again, the Lord instructed us, “I don’t expect perfection, only obedience. Allow yourselves to be led. Allow yourselves to be wonderfully surprised.” When we heard this, nahimasmasan kami. We worked as hard as we can and should and left everything beyond our control to God.
Until late-May, early June, those who were preparing for the NLC were the original speakers themselves. But this year is a much bigger NLC with and we were aiming for a bigger crowd because it’s the 25th anniversary. So it will be very challenging for the service team to double hat as speakers. Again, in prayers, God directed us . This time through an inspired reading from Acts 6. Those were the days when the Christian community was fast increasing and there were conflicts in terms of distribution of food (Hebrew Jew widows were perceived to be favored compared to the Greek Jew widows. The apostles said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Choose “seven” among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
It was very clear to us that we needed to expand the program management team to ensure focus on the critical tasks. We were racing against time. But God, true to His word – “allow yourselves to be led. Allow yourselves to be wonderfully surprised.” – He made it very easy for us. He sent us workers who will help us “wait on the tables” so the speakers can “give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word”.
So siguro po, it is only proper that we introduce the people who worked behind the scenes , “waited on the table” and who, mea culpa, we failed to acknowledge during the event.
Siempre po ang original PMT (1) Tonjie and Len de Persia package deal with their daughter Kat, (2) Glenda Zamora and those who readily said yes even with very late notice (3) Obet and Des Principio, (4) Andrew and Joy Dimaano, (5) Ronnie and Michelle Celestial, (6) Harold and Noreen Tan, (7) Alan and Judah Villarba and (8) Melvin and Muffet Caculitan.
Salamat din kay Bro Sherwin na hindi nagdalawang isip na pumayag mag lead ng ating morning Worship which was even made more powerful by the participation of Singles who danced and made up the Music Ministry.
And of, course, the team is ably to supported ng mga walang kapagod – pagod nating mga kapatid from the Center, si Ate Rose, Kuya Bong and Buddy.
At siempre po, we will never get tired of thanking and acknowledging our brothers who said yes to our Lord’s call to inspire, equip and empower our fellow leaders. Umpisa na po kay Tito Vic, Bro. Dave, Bro. Art, Sis Gladys, Bro. Lawrence together with Erness, Waj, May and Sam and last but not the least si Bro. Joey. Actually po, sobrang pasalamat kami kay Bro. Joey dahil last minute na po naming siyang na request to do the last track, but despite the tight preparation time, he said yes. Noong nag-ikot po kami, we saw how engaged our brothers and sisters were during the talks/ workshops.
Thank you rin po sa CoE for accommodating our last minute request to include the Panel Discussion in the program and for gamely participating. It was very obvious that our brothers and sisters, our leaders are very hungry with interactions like this with our elders gauging from the kind and volume of questions sent. We were wonderfully surprised at how the segment turned out.
Yung GANAP Clap and Cheer pa natin ay last minute inspired rin, technically one week. The inspiration came out of nowhere and hatched inside the car. Nerisse was at the back. Pumapalakpak at bubulong-bulong. Yun na pala yung GANAP Clap and Cheer. Again, another one of God’s wonderful surprises because we allowed ourselves to be led.
May mga nangyari rin po na hindi according to plan. The unveiling of the theme tarp went well during rehearsals but had a problem at actual unveiling time. At saka po yung food distribution. Ang haba po ng viber exchanges namin on how to best manage food distribution. And we developed an efficient system that will be worry-free for our participants. Pero yung delivery ng food naman ang na-late. Kaya , forget the system , baba na lang ang lahat sa cafeteria. And true to our way of life as a community, every one was very patient and we did not hear any complaint.
LAST WORD
To end, here’s God’s message to us which we shared with team on the day before the NLC..
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” – Romans 10:14-15
OO nga naman, paano sila tatawag sa Diyos kung di sila naniniwala sa Diyos?
At paano sila maniniwala sa Diyos kung wala silang naririnig tungkol sa Diyos?
At paano sila makakarinig tungkol sa Diyos kung walang magbabalita?
At paano may magbabalita kung walang ipapadala at walang willing ipadala dahil takot silang mapadala?
The messages of the Lord from preparation to the completion of the NLC made us realize even more, how important the role in God’s plan of salvation, those who serve, train and preach.
We thank God for allowing all of us to be used by God.
The work does not stop after the celebration. The call continues. Kaya mga kapatid, sama-sama po tayong MAGPALAGANAP NANG GANAP!