YFC International Conference 2017: Solid Ground

GOD’S LOVE: OUR SOLID GROUND

The 24th CFC Youth for Christ’s International Conference was celebrated by over 7, 000 delegates from roughly 20 different participating member countries last April 7, 2017 – 9, 2017 at the Marcos Stadium, Laoag, Ilocos Norte with the theme Solid Ground.

To kick off the day, Kuya Lawrence Quintero, YFC International Coordinator, gave his opening remarks where he highlighted that Solid Ground is something that makes us stand firm for the Lord – our faith.

Competitions simultaneously followed in selected venues around the city. Sports competitions featured ball games such as basketball, volleyball, futsal and badminton while creative competitions showcased band, dance, chorale, Couple Coordinators’ Got Talent, and spoken word poetry. As always, these competitions helped YFCs execute their competitive spirit while maintaining the vibe of camaraderie and sportsmanship.

In the afternoon, delegates rallied the YFC advocacies to declare their convictions called Advocacy Parade. Among these advocacies are RevUP, A+, 100% Free and G-Project.

Delegates also had the chance to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with Most Rev. Leopoldo Jaucian, S.V.D., D.D. Bishop of the Diocese of Bangued. In his homily, YFCs were reminded of the important contribution of the Eucharist in one’s life spiritual aspect.

Brother Jun-G Bargayo Jr., session 1 speaker, stressed that God’s never-ending love is our solid ground. He had a sharer, Brother TJ Rivera, whose remarkable story touched the listener’s heart when he honestly admitted of the vices he had fallen into – vices that gave him temporary comfort and happiness. As a result, he suffered into layer by layer consequences. With the grace of the Lord, he finally decided to commit a renewed life and now actively serves as Youth for Christ.

Truly God is present in every story we hear and in every experience we encounter. May we continue to seek His presence, our Solid Ground.

STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH

On the second day of the 24 th CFC Youth for Christ International Conference, the participants experienced to be loved and gave more through the Holy Spirit poured upon them. JV Monzon, Full-Time Pastoral Worker of Cavite, officially opened the 2nd day as he led everybody to a trailblazing worship. He encouraged those who are present to always acknowledge our loving and victorious God because of his faithfulness to us. Thus, according to him, as God’s children, let us allow ourselves to experience God more than the things we desire.

After this, delegates went to their chosen workshops and Parish Encounter activities in the various venues and churches around Ilocos Norte. There were 12 workshops namely: Speakers, Vocation, Events: Gateway Evangelization, Marketing the Youth Camp, Dance, Mentoring, SFC Crossover, ROCK Appreciation, Music Ministry, Parenting, Kristogram and Bible Study: PFO. Through these workshops, they were affirmed of how the ministry can be an avenue to explore one’s skills and talents in order to serve God with all our hearts. Likewise, the 13 host parishes showed that despite the differences between the parish organizations, spreading and sharing God’s solid and faithful love is still possible.

Different delegations showcased their talents like singing, playing instruments, dancing, beatbox and spoken word poetry during the Youth Festival. Also, interactive activities were done to engage and hype up the delegates.

In the afternoon, Holy Eucharist was presided by Most Rev. Marlo Peralta. His homily had three points. First, there is always a deeper and more meaningful happiness- to give more time to others and less for ourselves. Second, echoing Pope Francis’ reminder that we should not be distracted by the things we see on social media because it might distort our sense of reality and truth and lastly, we should remember that if we suffer with Christ, we will share in His glory.

The evening worship was led by Arbi Adona who reminded the participants that no matter how difficult problems may be, the Lord remains faithful to us. In return, we should surrender everything, trust Him and seek His presence with a joyful and thankful heart.

For the session 2, Mel Serrano and his family touched our hearts through being witnesses of God’s greatness. For Mel, each of us is called to be a missionary of our own family because they are God’s gift and expression of love. Being a missionary, problems will always be there along our way but one should always look back on one’s journey with Him. The delegates were then led to an activity where they would write ‘I love you’ and ‘sorry’ letters for their family. In this session, one of the sharers, John Rey Decinan shared his struggles that his family has undergone. Despite all of it, he still continues to trust and believe in God because he knows that He will never give us something we cannot bear with. The second sharer, Jon Viray, considered his family as God’s gift and miracle.

For the last session, Sean Septimo affirmed everybody that we are God’s gift because we are able to feel His love, grace, and presence. He helped the participants realize that things outside the community that might affect our family, CFC- Youth for Christ. Voltz Perez, together with his wife, Francis shared how they felt being blessed despite not having a child. They were trying and longing to have a child but they accepted God’s plan for them- to take care and embrace young people from YFC Cavite Highschool based. This blessing and anointment made them experience God’s wholeness through the community.

Sharer Sarah Hicarte, reminded the participants to be thankful for everything. Sarah was inflicted by a viral infection but this did not prevent her from serving the Lord. As a matter of fact, this became her inspiration to serve other people. For her, the community, CFC- Youth for Christ, helped her to realize she is blessed more than she knows.

To end the day, Justine Pablo recognized our family, YFC, and Jesus Christ as our Solid Grounds. He pointed out that the cross is a reminder for us to commit ourselves to Christ and to partake in his every suffering and victory. Being God’s beloved team, we should always have a faithful and merciful heart to share His solid and unlimited love.

ONE TEAM, ONE GOD!

Greeted by a beautiful weather, the third day of the 24th International Conference started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem heralding his Paschal Mystery. Palm branches were raised and blessed during the procession by Most Rev. Fr. Renato Mayuba, D.D. The reverend recalled the essence and heart of the Holy Week: God’s great mercy. He then called the hearts of the 7,000+ Youth for Christ to answer the cry of those who need this same mercy – to be bearers of God’s mercy to our families, our classmates or colleagues, and friends.

The announcement of victors for all competitions followed right after the mass. Regions cheered for their representatives while their trophies were handed by Lawrence Quintero, YFC International Coordinator, GJ Ramores, 24th YFC ICon Event Head and Robbie Andres, CFC Provincial Area Director of Ilocos Norte. The winners and their respective events are the following:

Bimbo Yerro, Full Time Pastoral Worker of Cebu, precedented the praisefest that was as warm as the heat of the sun. He highlighted that a Youth for Christ is a missionary and can serve as a stronghold for others just as he/she has God as his/her stronghold. Rooted in the truth that God loved us first, the 7,000+ are reminded that the real solid ground is not found in the three-day conference but wherever the Lord has called us. This is a call for everyone to stand firm in the faith and all together lay down to the loving Father all the hindrances that keep them from fulfilling the mission. During the praisefest, YFCs gathered at the center of the Marcos Stadium and held on to the cross and each other forming chains of people whose core is the cross of Christ – our Solid Rock.

Ilocos Norte has been nothing but hospitable and gracious to the CFC-Youth for Christ community. The 24th YFC International Conference has concluded but these young people will continue to do God’s works with love. Next year, the 7,000+ delegates from the 22 countries that came together will strive to bring more hearts as they gather again for the 25th YFC International Conference in Manila.