Being Like Jesus: YFC Metro Manila Conference 2011
“Our sufferings, our pains are nothing compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us.”
All throughout the YFC Metro Manila Conference held at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities in Tanauan, Batangas last October 22-23, 2011, puzzles were being solved—crosses were formed from boxes, placards bearing conviction statements formed the word “LOVE” onstage, and 2,800 delegates’ handprints formed the face of Jesus Christ on a billboard. All things that may have seemed random were proven to have meaning and purpose during the conference, and the same truth was to be aptly repeated in the talks and personal sharings during that weekend. After all, the theme of the “Like Jesus: Be. Love. Live” Conference was taken from Philippians 1:27-30, which speaks of both struggles and victories in Christ.
2,800 youth from Metro Manila gathered in F.A.I.T.H, Batangas for the evening sessions (Photo by Billy Gonzales)
The first day of the 2-day conference began early, with some delegates arriving even before dawn. The morning activities began with an opening worship led by youth head Gerald Sobrevega, and opening remarks from Boyet Raval, a Metro Manila coordinator and this year’s event head counterpart. After the soft opening, the competitors took the Oath of Sportsmanship before trooping to various venues within the school grounds for the sports, creative, and special competitions.
Later that day, the delegates were able to choose from the various workshops to further enhance their skills and knowledge. There was the Worship Workshop to help participants develop the proper posture for worshipping God; “Webvange” which tackled evangelization through social media; “Prayer Have It” which sought to help delegates develop their prayer lives; “Y Speak” which was a speaker’s workshop, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire which tackled financial stewardship among the youth; and KFC R.O.C.K which encouraged the youth to reach out Christ to kids.
GJ Ramores giving the first session, "Victory in the Vision". (Photo by Arvin Caro)
After the workshops, the Metrocon’s evening segment began with welcoming remarks from Arnie Pascual, followed by the parade of sectors, featuring the various conference logos of the recently concluded Sector Conferences. As the youth heads and couple coordinators made their way through the grounds and onto the stage, the emcees offered interesting trivia regarding the various sectors and areas in relation to their YFC history.
After the parade, Dudz Academia, one of the newest YFC Fulltime Pastoral Workers assigned in Metro Manila, led the crowd in an opening worship to officially start the night, thanking the Lord for His “pasalubong” for the YFCs. The opening worship was immediately followed by the first session, which took off with a Rock segment composed of band and dance performances that featured the songs “Sandalan”, “Bitiw”, “Bulong”, and “Livin’ on a Prayer”, which were connected to the talk points of the first session, “Victory in the Vision”, by MM FTPW GJ Ramores. In his talk, he enlivened the participants to claim God’s victory in their lives, and “to aspire to inspire before they expired”. He launched the new YFC Vision of “Young people being and bringing Christ wherever they are”, as well, and called on youth heads Jerome Manapsal and Brian Tang, and missionary trainee Lyka Bartolome to share about God’s victories in their own lives and areas. The speaker wrapped up the session by stressing that in spite of the difficulties that YFCs might face in pursuing the mission to be like Jesus, it can surely be achieved by the grace and mercy of God. The battle has already been won by Christ.
Tutch Ongsiako giving the 2nd talk, "Gain in Pain". (Photo by Mica Espiritu)
Red paint symbolizing Christ's blood on the hands of YFCs as they worshipped God. (Photo by Mica Espiritu)
A dance segment followed the first session, which featured creative representations of common sins and vices among the youth. Then, Tutch Ongsiako, the Overall Sector youth head of West B, came onstage to deliver the 2nd session entitled, “Gain in Pain”. While wowing the crowd with his comedic spiels, Tutch nevertheless delivered the central message of the talk, which was that pain and suffering are part of the greater victory. He called on 10 YFCs who spoke of their own struggles in life and how they had learned to see the good in such. The flip boards they held eventually formed the word “LOVE” onstage, reminding everyone of how much God loves us, even though we might be tempted to believe otherwise because of the pains we experience. Before ending the session, Tutch testified that, “It is only by accepting that you are loved by God that you will see the privilege of suffering for Him”, and afterwards led the 2,800-strong crowd into prayer.
As the participants reflected to the song, “In Your Arms”, the praise fest leader, Jake Lime, took the stage to share about his own struggles in the past. The new MM FTPW emphasized that though our individual pains and sufferings vary, one thing is common in our journey—we are never alone. He instructed the delegates to write down on their left hands the sufferings that they were currently struggling with. And with their right palms dipped into red paint, the delegates testified to Christ’s love for the world, for the blood He shed to save us all. Jake reminded everyone that it is our Lord who allows us to see the grace behind every pain, and that we ought to take steps to become closer to Him, that we might always see our sufferings as sacrifices instead.
After the evening praise fest session, YFC Metro Manila continued its 10-year tradition of celebrating E-night with a special performance from former YFC and Pinoy Dream Academy star RJ Jimenez, as well as dance acts from the Believe Dance Company, a Praise and Fashion segment featuring Overall Sector Couple Coordinators and Youth Heads, a Liveloud 2012 preview, ILC Aklan teaser videos, and a song and dance medley from all the Metro Manila YFC FTPWs.
RJ Jimenez thanking YFC MM for helping him bring Christ wherever he went. (Photo by Mica Espiritu)
Early the next day, the delegates celebrated the Holy Eucharist before hearing the 3rd and final session, “Being Like Jesus”, from youth head Ron Celajes. In his talk, he spoke of how each youth can be like Jesus—as a child who trusts in and obeys God, as a youth who exudes passion and conviction, and as a mature individual who ministers as an army of God.
During the talk, each delegate was asked to write down the concrete and specific ways by which he/she could be like Jesus, and to leave imprints of their right hands—which signify the victories the Lord has prepared for us—on a giant billboard at the center of the venue. The billboard bearing the handprints, which formed Christ’s face, was then lifted onto the stage as YFC Metro Manila’s testament to God’s glory and victory. Ron ended the talk by inviting each YFC to worship God and to live the “Jesus All Day” experience—to truly be like Jesus and bring Him wherever they went.
Delegates leave their right handprints on a giant billboard during Session 3. (Photo by NJ Sia)
Delegates write down specific ways by which they can be like Jesus. (Photo by Billy Gonzales)
The “Like Jesus” Conference ended promptly on that sunny day, with 2,800 YFC’s excitedly trooping back to Metro Manila, and three hundred livestream delegates signing out of their online accounts. It was perhaps the first Metrocon that did not see a drop of rain during the entire conference weekend—surely a sign of even greater victories to come from God Almighty.
The JESUS billboard containing the handprints of 2,800 delegates to the Metrocon. (Photo by Arvin Caro)
Katrina Martin is the editor-in-chief of the YFC International website and is a mission volunteer for the YFC Communications (YCOM) program. All photos were taken by the Metrocon 2011 Documentation Team.