Ugnayan: YFC Goes For The Win!

“YOUTH for Christ, We’re Armed and Ready!!!” This was the battle cry that echoed from a vast field in the heart of Cagayan de Oro last April 15 to 17, 2011. More than 6,000 youth gathered for the18th CFC – Youth for Christ International Leaders’ Conference (ILC), in the City of Golden Friendship, ready to declare their readiness to do battle for the Lord in the midst of today’s turmoil and violence.

The theme for this year’s ILC was taken from Ephesians 6:11—“Put on the full armor of God…” and, from the Year of the Youth Congress to various sports and creative competitions, from the workshops to the highlight sessions, YFCs from across the globe proudly declared how they were being armed by the Lord and readied for battle.

During the first day of the three-day conference, youth heads and clergy from all over the Philippines attended the Year of the Youth Congress, while the rest of the Philippine delegates had the chance to visit the various booths in the main venue and watch or participate in the first round of the sports competitions. The 90 foreign YFC delegates from Malaysia, Singapore, East Timor, Thailand, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, USA, and Australia, were treated to a welcome party as they eagerly anticipated the conference activities in store for them.

Later that day, a High Mass was officiated by Bishop Jose Araneta Cabantan of the diocese of Malaybalay, after which the 18th ILC officially started with a YFC Praise Parade of all the areas and countries present, with all the dancers dressed to the nines in various interpretations of the conference theme. The delegates were welcomed by the CDO Vice Mayor Caesar Acenas, then led into worship by Jerome Kapistrano from YFC Australia*. Together, the delegates asked that the Lord open their hearts to His messages for them in the coming weekend.

The first session followed soon after, given by Rommel Ancheta of Flame Ministries. Entitled “Made to Win,” the talk emphasized the immeasurable providence of the Lord to the community and stressed that, as all YFCs have been richly blessed by the Lord, so will they continue to be. The speaker challenged the delegates to reflect upon the reasons why they were being blessed by the Lord, as well as the greater missions He is asking them to undertake. He also spoke of how Christ had already won the victory for each and every one of the delegates and how we were all created to win and share in His victory. After the Praise fest that followed the first session, the delegates partied the night away. Segments about YFC Greeneration, Cross Culture, and Count Me In were featured before the night ended with a final dance off among the enthusiastic crowd.

On the second day of the 18th YFC ILC, the delegates, youth and couple coordinators alike, attended the different workshops: Command and Conquer, On Call, Max PRAY’n, Captured!, R.O.C.K., To Live and Die For, Get Tagged!, Heart in Hand, HIStory: My Story, Speak Up!, Families for Life, and To Pastor and Guide. There were also sports competitions (badminton, volleyball, basketball, soccer), creative competitions (band, set dance, show choir, individual dance, gag video), and special competitions (ultimate Frisbee, praise parade, T-shirt design, island booth, amazing race, photography) that had the delegates rushing from one venue to an- other. Afterwards, the delegates attended High Mass at the main venue, before proceeding to the next two sessions.

The Coordinators Got Talent segment, wherein the beloved Titos and Titas performed dances that awed the audience, introduced the second session, Counter/Strike, conducted by Fr. Francis Lucas, head of the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media. Fr. Francis explained how every day and every venue becomes a spiritual battleground for each YFC, and enlightened the delegates regarding the weapons of Satan himself. He emphasized that there are ways for us, with the Lord’s guidance,   to counter the attacks of Satan. He reminded the delegates that although they had already won the battle, it was solely because they had embraced Christ in their lives.

The third session, entitled “Armed for the Win”, was given by Metro Manila full-time pastoral worker Raymond Ibarrientos. He enumerated the components of the Lord’s Armor that each YFC needed to put on and emphasized that, to be fully armed and ready for the spiritual battles ahead, we have to believe that we need each and every piece of the armor, know how to use them to our advantage, and train until we master them with the help of faith, courage, and perseverance. He enjoined the youth to reflect upon the areas of their lives where the Lord is calling them to put on God’s full armor. Raymond asked the youth to also reflect if they were finally armed and ready for what lay ahead.

As the delegates reflected on such questions, YFC full-time workers went around the venue and presented each delegate with rosary scapulars. Goi Villegas, YFC Metro Manila Head and the worship leader for the night’s Praise fest, explained that putting on the full armor meant embracing the life of Christ and leaving behind one’s old self to become like Jesus. He explained that the scapular was meant to be a reminder that Jesus loves us and looks over us, while the rosary would remind us of how Christ lived while He was on earth. He enjoined the entire ILC delegation to surrender their lives to the Lord and wear the scapular as a way of declaring their oneness in Him.

The last day of the 18th YFC International Leaders’ Conference, Palm Sunday, started with High Mass which was celebrated by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of the diocese of Cagayan de Oro. The mass and opening worship was immediately followed by the last session: Ready for Battle. The session speaker was Luzon full-time worker Wanner Algarme who reminded the delegates that it is by being in a constant state of readiness that justice is given to Christ’s victory for us. He explained that such victory maybe attained by simply accepting His will, believing in His great promises, and having courage and confidence in Him. During the session, sharers from the different delegations across the globe spoke of how they were preparing to be armed and ready for God, for their families, for life, and for the poor. The highlight of the day was when YFC FTPWs, Mission Volunteers, and youth heads ushered all 6,000 delegates to form a large human cross to underscore that Christ is our shield and armor and that being in Him shields us from Satan’s attacks and allows us to be ready for the many spiritual battles ahead.

After the closing Praise fest, winners from the various competitions were announced and outstanding YFCs and instrumental Couple Coordinators were also honored on stage. Before the 18th ILC officially ended, the Misamis Oriental governance team turned over the keys to the next ILC to Aklan.

The entire ILC proceedings were broadcast via live stream worldwide, through the efforts of CFC’s Ugnayan Multimedia Center. About a thousand more youth around the world and across the Philippines were able to watch as the talks and the ILC activities unfolded.

This article appeared in the CBCP Monitor Vol.15 No.9 last April 2011.

*CORRECTION: Jerome Kapistrano is a YFC leader from Australia, not Canada, which was what was originally published.