ABLAZE Singapore!

More Blogs

2007-06-12T11:43:00.001+08:00

Hi all, since we're not posting much at this blog already... here's a list of other catholic youth blogs that you can go to! Will add more to this list when I find more! God Bless!

Oka's Blog: http://fiatvoluntastua.blogspot.com/
God's Rhinos (Mervin, Clement, Daniel, Wilfred): http://godsrhinos.blogspot.com/
Zion's Joy: http://zionsjoy.blogspot.com/
The Little Rocks: http://www.thelittlerocks.blogspot.com/
The YES Camp: http://www.yescamp.blogspot.com/
Amplify Ministries: http://amplifyministries.blogspot.com/
Freddy Gomez: http://freddygomez.blogspot.com/

Websites:
http://www.ntucsacharismatic.org/
http://www.youthariseministry.com
http://www.cayc.org
http://www.livingstones-online.org

BTW... hope we have ABLAZE again in future.. let's keep this in mind.. maybe one day God will tell us that we are more ready, and we can start doing ABLAZE again!!

As for now, if you all don't already know, SACCRE Youth is focusing on 2 important things that take precedence over the ABLAZE rallies: 1) Formation (of ourselves, our leaders) and 2) Integration (getting more involved in our parishes, and integrating our groups into the parish).

Some messages to share

2007-01-20T09:14:00.000+08:00

sisters and brothers,

Through a casual conversation, few of us from various ministries in SACCRE youth were gathered to spend time in praise, prayer and sharing our dreams for the Lord.

Below some messages shared among us

"The harvest is plantiful. I send you, not one by one, but as one body to gather the harvest for me."

"The Peace of the Lord with all of us"

"we are the sheep and Jesus is the Sheperd and the sheep and recognise hear the voice of the Sheperd."

"I am the Good Shepherd, I know my flock and my flock knows me. THere will be one flock and one Shepherd."

"The Lord is showing many young people who are broken, wounded and thirsting for water of life. 'Will you go for me? Not on your own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit"

To Jesus through Mary,
Iwan

Jakarta Renovation 2006: The New Springtime is coming soon on 25 Nov!

2006-10-06T00:48:00.000+08:00

Updates from Iwan...! SACCRE youth is planning to have a weekend trip to Jakarta on weekend of 25 and 26 November (Saturday and Sunday).

We will be joining youths from all over Jakarta and beyond in following events:
1) 'The New Springtime' Rally, 25 November
2) Eucharistic celebration, feast of Christ The King, 26 November
3) Fellowship with the organizers/youth leaders in Jakarta (tentatively)

SACCRE has granted sponsorship for return flight ticket, for up to 4 people (first come, first serve-basis) Accomodation and transport shall be arranged by our sis/bro in SACCRE youth who's staying in Jakarta (Iwan!)

Wait no more! If you are going or want to know more, pls contact:
Mariana 91703679
Iwan 94369013

.. before 15 October 2006, as we need to arrange the flight.

The Jakarta Renovation 2006 consisted of a 9-month NOVENA since March, with various themes for each month. October's theme will be – Young people and the Mother: Mary, Star of Evangelization. November, the last month, will be the RALLY itself --- The NEW Springtime!

Read more details on website (in Bahasa Indonesia) http://newspringtime.kepemudaan.com

And see Oka's previous post: New-springtime-how-about-singapore.html

ABLAZE Continues!

2006-09-25T23:51:00.000+08:00

Dear all, do continue to check in the ABLAZE Singapore Blog!

Promise you this blog will continue to go on! We're simply taking a little break after ABLAZE to recompose ourselves. But the vision for God does not stop at this. ABLAZE will continue so check in to read more sharings and reflections! Guaranteed we'll post up one each month. Right oka?

And inviting any interested bloggers to be contributing writers. If you are interested, please email us at info@saccre-youth.org

This blog, by members forming SACCRE Youth aims to reach out to everyone and be a source of updates, sharings and reflections of members in the charismatic youth ministry scene. Here, we hope to share our experiences of God and of serving in ministry.

Let's keep the fire burning! God Bless..

ABLAZE Photos are up!

2006-09-16T10:00:00.000+08:00

Check it out here! :)
http://community.webshots.com/user/SaccreYouth

Some shots!

The amazing crowd...

Worship Leaders Chris & Lydia

Deep in worship

Freddy Gomez - speaker for the night! He gave us really good insights on how to reframe our thoughts and use the Word of God - so if anything happens, it's Great! We can overcome it! Nothing can overcome us who are believers of God!

Emcees Maurice & Mark

More pictures here! :) http://community.webshots.com/user/SaccreYouth

From the Head of SACCRE on the last Ablaze

2006-09-13T13:00:00.000+08:00

“The Holy Spirit is continually renewing lives. The SACCRE Youth rally is a way in which He offers hope to youths seeking direction in their lives. The overwhelming response in the most recent rally is a clear sign of this hope. I encourage the SACCRE youths to continue this effort. I myself am encouraged…The zeal, the anointing, the fellowship that took place, can only come from His Divine Grace.”

--Gerard Fransisco
Chairman of Singapore Archdiocese Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE)

Is Ablaze a success?

2006-09-11T13:15:00.000+08:00

First of all,
I would like to thank the Ablaze committee for their untiring love for Jesus :)

I have been thinking about this question since last saturday Ablaze Rally: is Ablaze a success? have we done great?

But then God reminded me through the words of our beloved Mother Theresa

"We are not called to be successful, but rather, to be faithful".

This world wants success, but our Lord who has called to serve, wants faithfulness. And this is the reason to rejoice: all the sacrifices, which we have made in order to be faithful for what we have been called to.

Have we been faithful then? Well, I guess we have tried. There are mistakes here and there, but we have tried. We have tried to be faithful in little things, in coming to intercessory every week, in cleaning up the canteen after the event, in coming early for the preparation, in doing more than we are supposed to do, in forgiving when mistakes happened, in trying to be self-giving rather then self-seeking, in putting Jesus at the centre of our event, and in many other little things that we can do out of Love for Jesus.

I thank all the service team for their faithfulness to Jesus and to his Church.

Some people say that true love comes with sacrifices.

And I thank you for your sacrifices, May God bless you all.

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:11-13)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," (Gal 5:22)

"His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'" (Mat 5:21)

Take up John Paul's legacy and commit yourselves to serve Christ

2006-09-11T11:17:00.000+08:00

18 August, 2005
GERMANY – WYD
Pope: Take up John Paul's legacy and commit yourselves to serve Christ Benedict XVI succeeds Pope John Paul II as young people’s guide. He reserves special greetings for the youth of Asia.

Cologne (AsiaNews) - In his first speech to the youth gathered for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVI called on them to make a radical commitment to Christ and announce Him to the whole world, pledging that only in His face can true happiness be found.

Sitting on the bridge of a big boat at berth on the Poller Rheinwiesen dock, Benedict XVI met young people representing the four corners of the earth, dressed in their traditional national costumes.

Smiling, he greeted each one of them, exchanging a few words and shaking hands. Some of them patted him as if he were family.

Formal greetings by some of young people and Card Karl Lehmann, chairman of the Bishops' Conference of Germany, were followed by the staged reading of the Gospel of Matthew telling the story of the arrival of the Magi - "Where is the King of the Jews Who has been born" was read in several languages by several young people.

A priest then asked the hundreds of thousands of youths gathered on the left bank of the Rhine River cheering and waving multicolour flags for quiet so that the Pontiff could speak.

In his speech, Benedict XVI took up the legacy bequeathed by Pope John Paul II and called on youth to carry that same legacy but in a commitment that was less sentimental and more focused on faith and mission.

"That great Pope understood the challenges faced by young people today," Benedict XVI said, "and, as a sign of his trust in them, he did not hesitate to spur them on to be courageous heralds of the Gospel and intrepid builders of the civilization of truth, love and peace."

In his greetings, the Holy Father singled out the youth of Asia, both Christian and non Christian.

"My particular greeting goes to those who, like the Magi, have come from the East. You are the representatives of so many of our brothers and sisters who are waiting, without realizing it, for the star to rise in their skies and lead them to Christ, Light of the Nations, in whom they will find the fullest response to their hearts’ deepest desires. I also greet with affection those among you who have not been baptized, and those of you who do not yet know Christ or have not yet found a home in his Church."

He told the crowd that "these days I encourage you to commit yourselves without reserve to serving Christ, whatever the cost."

The Pope's boat was escorted by five ships to represent the five continents and the universal mission of the "barque of St Peter".

The Cross of World Youth Day was on the Pope's boat. It was repaired after a gust of wind broke it.

Here is the Pope's speech at the welcoming ceremony. His speech was delivered in different languages as the text indicates: http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3934

Way to St. Ignatius and Pick up point for Ablaze

2006-09-06T10:38:00.000+08:00

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ ,

Ablaze is getting near!!! It's this saturday....

Come...come with your whole group!!!

ABLAZE SACCRE Youth Rally
Date: 9th Sept 2006
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: St. Ignatius Church

Find difficulty to reach St. Ignatius Church by bus/MRT?
a. There will be people (contact: Marcel 98781601) waiting at Commonwealth MRT station at 7pm to go together to St. Ignatius Church. (we will take bus 93, 153 and 186 from Queensway - Queensway Secondary School, (Bus Stop Number: 11061))

b. Other way to St. Ignatius church is from Queenstown MRT station, take 186 bus from exit A.(which is from Commonwealth Avenue - queenstown Stn, (Stop Number: 11141))

c. Other choices of bus to St Ignatius church: 43, 165, 174, 855, and 961

Always alight Farrer Road - farrer Rd Mkt, (Stop Number: 11101)
See the walkthrough map below from the bus stop of Farrer Road Mkt to St. Ignatius Church

Thank you. Keep in prayer...

God bless,

Marcellus Tanjaya
98781601

SJS Rally a success despite rain!!

2006-09-05T14:31:00.000+08:00

The Shine JEsus Shine youth rally at Novena. Despite rain, pple still persevered. And you should see the no. of youths. Think there were about a thousand people there. It was really encouraging. See? the fire is still in us! And the rain can't wash it away!

The whole carpark was filled - with youths still in their school uniforms.. to adults and grannies!

Youths partying up on the stage at the end of the rally - after Fr. Simon's message about reaching out to the poor and a video on the recent Redemptorist Mission Trip to Pattaya (5 - 13 June) with OLPS Youths.

So as Fr. Simon says, reach out - Give. And you will be changed!

The Missionary Game

2006-09-05T11:28:00.000+08:00

Hey check this out :p

Wanna play as a missionary? to reach out as many as you can...for Jesus ...

Why don't we do the real one, let's reach out to as many young people as you can for Jesus.

If you play this game, you can press "p" and "space-bar" to pray.

Well, I guess it reminds us to pray even as we reach out to people. Because at the end it is God's works and not ours.

Happy evangelizing :)

http://www.themissionarygame.com/#

Blaze Spirit blaze! set our hearts on fire...

2006-09-03T22:47:00.000+08:00

Hey all,
I was attending this praise and worship at St. Bernadette church, during the 5th anniversary of Effata prayer meeting, and we sang this old song of "Shine Jesus Shine". Remember this song?

But one part strike me, in the verse, we sang...

Blaze...Spirit...blaze...set our hearts on fire...
Flow...river Flow...Flood the nations with grace and Mercy...
send Forth your Word and let there be light.

What a wonderful Song!

Blaze..Spirit blaze it says, just as our Rally's name is, Ablaze!
Blaze..Spirit blaze,...set our hearts on fire...

yes, set our hearts on fire. But what kind of fire is this? Is it only emotional and youth enthusiasm? Or is it only feeling good or feeling high? Or maybe, is it only about jumping and clapping?

Is this the Fire that we are talking about? Well, I don't think so...

Some how God reminded me of another song...

title: Refiner's Fire

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

---

I guess this is the fire that we are praying for. It is not a fire of emotionally high, it is not a fire of jumping and clapping, it is not a fire that dims after one or two weeks. No it is not...

It is the Refiner's Fire that we are praying for. A fire that purify the hearts of young people, it is the fire that set their hearts ablazed with God's Love, and God alone. It is the fire that Moses saw, the fire that burns but does not consume, the fire that makes the place a Holy ground. It is the fire that burns the hearts young people and makes it Holy and acceptable to God.

Yes, it is the fire that set the hearts of young peple apart for their God. And just as the song says

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

This is what we need, Saints! not just gifted or dynamic young people, but young Saints! The Church needs saints! our late Pope said

Dear young people, the Church needs genuine witnesses for the new evangelisation: men and women whose lives have been transformed by meeting with Jesus, men and women who are capable of communicating this experience to others. The Church needs saints. All are called to holiness, and holy people alone can renew humanity.
--Pope John Paul II, TO THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD ON THE OCCASION OF THE 20th WORLD YOUTH DAY (COLOGNE, AUGUST 2005)

Come, O Holy Spirit,
Fills the hearts of your faithful
and enkindle in them...
the FIRE...
of your LOVE

Is there any Hope in the Young?? from Pope John Paul II

2006-09-02T10:23:00.000+08:00

Dearest all,
nice quotes from our late Pope,

quoted from "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" chapter "Is There any Hope in the Young?"

...
What is Youth? It is not only a period of life that corresponds to a certain number of years, it is also a time given by Providence to every person and given to him as a responsibility. During that time he searches, like the young man in the Gospel, for answers to basic questions; he searches no only for the meaning of life but also for a concrete way to go about living his life. This is the fundamental characteristic of youth...

...
Clearly then, the fundamental problem of youth is profoundly personal. In life, youth is when we come to know ourselves. It is also a time of communion. Young people, whether boys or girls, know they must live for and with others, they know that their life has meaning to the extent that it becomes a free gift for others. Here is the origin of all vocations...

...
We need the enthusiasm of the young. We need their joie de vivre. In it is reflected something of the original joy God had in creating man. The young experience this same joy within themselves. This joy is teh same everywhere, but it is also ever new and original. The young know how to express this joy in their own special way...

...
The very day of the inauguration of my papal ministry, on October 22, 1978, at the conclusion of the liturgy, I said to the young people gathered in St. Peter's Square: "You are the hope of the Church and of the world. You are my hope." I have often repeated these words.

I would like to sum up by stressing that the young are searching for God, they are searching for the meaning of life, they are searching for definitive answeres: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luk10:25). In this search, they cannot help but to encounter the Church. And the Church also cannot help but encounter the young. The only necessity is that the Church have a profound understanding of what it means to be young, of the importance that youth has for every person. It is also necessary that the young know the Church, that they perceive Christ in the Church, Christ who walks through the centuries alongside each person. He walks alongside each person as a friend. An important day in a young person's life is the day on which he becomes convinced that this is the only Friend who will not disappoint him, on whom he can always count.

---By Pope John Paul II

Deeper – Hillsongs United (Look to you)

2006-09-02T04:24:00.000+08:00

Light to men
Love of God
Healing for the wounded heart
Like a child quiet my soul
Hear Your voice surround me Lord

Jesus, hold me into Your heart
Into Your heart
Lord my soul delights
And I know You hear my prayer
Take me deeper Lord

Glorious Son to You I shall bow
Bow my knee, bow my will
Cherished by the strong and the weak
Humble hearts shall hear You speak
And by Your love Lord You opened my heart
Now Your light will shine always
By Your Word Lord Your promise secure
And my soul will live always
Take me deeper Lord

Is this our song & prayer to God too? Take us deeper Lord!

Longing for Jesus?

2006-09-01T00:29:00.000+08:00

How many of us yearn for something? whatever it could be - money, status, love, an identity, friends, success...etc.. Well even though somewhere at the back of our (thick) heads, we know Jesus is the answer, sometimes Jesus is just no more than a sticker on our bags, cars or walls that say "Jesus is the answer".

But to be a real believer of that, it takes guts. It takes humbling. It takes everything from us.

We are called to die to ourselves (whatever we knew, held on to, believed..) and to take up the cross. Although it seems unpleasant - but the Cross is really God's way of teaching us and grooming us, so that ultimately, we attain that salvation that He has assured us with. If not, there is no 'journey' in life... no 'mission', no 'path', and we are all walking about our own ways - to where? who knows? not me.. but people don't care.

No one is righteous (Romans 8:10). If we read that before somehow and did not fully understand it, sometimes we just give up the fight saying - since we're sinful, we rather just live our own lives and not be a holy-moly-churchy-goodie-two-shoes person...

But if we REALLY understood that, we'll realise that it is precisely because no one is righteous except Jesus, that we will ultimately NEED JESUS to save us! When we die and go before GOD on the judgement day, what would we say? We need JESUS to save us from our sins.

So we sometimes live our lives under a veil of ignorance. Our eyes are blinded by an invisible cloak. We go to church every Sunday. But there's no real power. There's no real God in our lives. We live a facade. And inside our hearts are in turmoil. We are longing. For more. For God. For truth. That's a sign of the double-standards that we are. It's inevitable... every man has the spirit -- and the flesh.

But so we want to seek ReVival - it's this utopian state where man is liberated from his cloak of ignorance and comes face to face with the true God - in all these, one comes to know the real truth - of God's ultimate love - of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice - of our ultimate purpose IN CHRIST and once you know that, there can be no turning back.

You will KNOW JESUS. Your spirit will come alive. You will know what it means to truly live. We live for God - as his creation, children, friends, beloved, chosen ones. We will know His GRACE and the full meaning of 'grace'.

I write this with utmost sincerity.. for anyone who will be reading this - let's pray for greater revival in the Catholic church.. in our families, our friends, our society.

God Bless,
Sam

Your Love is Deep!

2006-08-31T10:41:00.000+08:00

Hey,

I like this song :D,

a little quiz for fun, can you guess the bible verses which this song (and our Ablaze 9 Sept theme, I guess) is based upon?

Your love is deep by Jami Smith

Your love is deep
Your love is high
Your love is long
Your love is wide

Deeper than my view of grace
Higher than this worldly place
Longer than this road I travel
Wider than the gap You filled

Who shall separate us
Who shall separate us from Your love
Nothing can separate us
Nothing can separate us from Your love

Love Song by Third Day - Check out the lyrics!

2006-08-29T01:10:00.000+08:00

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of calvary

Chorus: Just to be with you,
I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you, I'd give anything
I would give my life away.
I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
How may times has he broken that promise
It can never be done
I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea

(Bridge) I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I gave you
But I promise, I would do it all again.
Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

Catholic News Ad!

2006-08-28T03:36:00.000+08:00

Check out our ad in Catholic News if you haven't gotten your copy!

(Ahhh its SACCRE not SACREE!) ovO

Intercessory Messages 27 August 2006

2006-08-28T03:31:00.000+08:00

Intercessory session yesterday was really uplifting. The team was greatly affirmed by these messages, which we received during our prayer time. Praise the Lord for assuring and comforting us!

The messages:

Come, Come, those who are thirsty and drink from me.

Come and give your heart to me, and I will set it on fire and I will make the fire spread, and it will be my work.

I love you, my children. Thank you for doing this for me.

I love you very much. I am delighted in you. Know that my joy and peace go with you.

The Lord has prepared a banquet for us. HE is inviting us to eat and drink.

Greatest Commandment of all: Love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your strengths. Love your enemies as yourself.

About Prophecy

For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted (I Cor.14:31)

The beautiful Lord has never left His people without a means of knowing His present Will! If it were not enough that He has given to us His written Word, He has also graced us with His Spirit of Prophecy, whereby we can be comforted and encouraged in our faith in Him. In the New Covenant, the Father has made two primary methods available whereby we can hear from Him in the "here and now." The manifestations of prophecy and tongues with interpretation are given from the Holy Spirit and are shown through believers as He wills, with a definite purpose in mind. One does not have to be a prophet to be used by the Spirit of God to prophesy or to give a message in tongues and interpret. These are temporary manifestations shown through the believer as the Spirit wills (I Cor. 12:11), and you are encouraged to seek after them as scripture says (I Cor. 14:1-5).

Get your dose of FIRE at Ablaze!

2006-08-27T17:05:00.001+08:00

CHECK THIS OUT! I didn't know this existed.. haha...

Why Praise and Worship?

2006-08-26T22:38:00.000+08:00

Dearest all,

We are gonna have a Praise and Worship session during the Ablaze Rally. I remember one of my friend asked me, why did I go to a Praise and Worship session?

No short answer of course, different reasons for different people. But allow me to share my favourite verse about Praise and Worship :)

24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened.
Acts 16:24-26

This is praise and worship for me! It's the time when we pray and singing hymns to God. And when we do this, we draw people to God (all the prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas!), And...this is what I love most...then there will be an earthquake and the foundations of the prisons will be shaken, and all bonds will be set free!

But what are we set free from? What is our prison? our chains?

I guess that we are set free from our "self", our "ego". For most of us, our days are spent with the great "ME" as the centre of our life. But when we praise and worship, it is never about us, but it is about God. When we praise someone it is because of who He is. And yes, we Praise God, not because of who we are, but because of who He is. And we enter deeply into this intimacy in worship, when we meet Him face to face, when all words fade, and silence reign, and just like Elijah, we Meet God in the still small voice (1 Kgs 19:12). Just as we sing one of the mass song from the Breaking Bread ...

"I have come to you....in the silence..."

and from another song, Heart of Worship:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come

Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart...

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

(from the heart of worship lyric)

Praise and Worship? Yes, because It's all about You, Jesus...

your brother in His love,
oka

The E-Flyer is out!!

2006-08-25T20:55:00.000+08:00

Send this around to everyone! Spread the word!

Faithful Love takes me Higher!

2006-08-21T00:07:00.000+08:00

Oh gosh, this song just captures one part of the theme of the upcoming ABLAZE on God's Love being "Deeper Higher, and Longer.." It's by Darlene Zschech, from her album Kiss of Heaven.

Dreams from album Kiss of Heaven, Darlene Zschech
Hear it! (Right-click to download music file) and read the lyrics below..

Take this heart of mine
You've captured me
I'm so in love with You
My destiny defined is spending
Every moment just to know You
I need to know You more

You're my world,
You're my heart desire
Faithful love takes me higher
I found more than I ever dared imagine
Love has found a way
Love has found a way

I've opened my heart to You
You've taken what was broken
Made me new and all that I need
To find are ways to let You know
How much I love You
I want to love You more

Angels are gathering to bow and sing
An anthem to Your name
Lifted on heaven's wings
This song in my heart needs to say
Oh how I love You Lord

Testimony from Ria

2006-08-20T18:03:00.000+08:00

Yesterday the Ablaze commitee was given a chance to present Ablaze at the SACCRE core leader meeting. Since we were announcing a youth event to a majority adult member audience, I wasn't expecting much... I was just hoping that they would help us with the publicity and intercession.

But to my suprise, I got more help than just publicity and prayer, I felt a great support from all the core leaders present there.

As I was announcing I can see that all the adults were sincerely enthusiastic about the ABLAZE. Even though the event is not designed for them, they were just so eager to spread the fire of God to more youths.

Seeing the passion and joy that they had at their age convinced me that the renewal FIRE is never meant to diminish. Rather, the FIRE is meant to grow bigger so that it can break, melt and mould every heart that is hardened by the world.

So, Kudos for the adult prayer groups ^^

Let's set more fire on earth and let God's light shine throughout the world -- through our lives!

You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Deo gratias,

ria

Is the Fire diminishing? What about the fire in you?

2006-08-20T01:29:00.000+08:00

Yesterday (19 Aug) some of us were at the SACCRE Core Team leaders meeting. We were posed the question "Is the 'fire' diminishing?"

It got all of the groups thinking. The youths had 2 groups, whilst the adult leaders split into North, East, West Serangoon and City districts. We were called to share whether the 'fire' was diminishing or not?

As we shared, most said that the fire was there, but there are various obstacles each group faces. As we shared, we learnt about the things we could do to keep the fire 'burning'. But it was a humbling experience cos you hear all the great and many things we need to do, and just wonder how we're ever going to achieve them all. Yet I realise too that all we need to do is implement one change at a time, I believe that everyone can work towards improvement, and growth. It really needs leaders to be focused and steady, realistic and with a great presence of mind to really discern and plan a ministry's growth and direction.

And so I encourage everyone to continue to work hard in your own groups and if you don't have one.. find one to call your own. With somewhere to serve, you'll grow and really see God's hand working in others and -- yourself!

Here's a summary of the points I took home:

- 'Fire' .. There's many definitions. Fr. William Goh defined it as being deeply Passionate. Leaders must be convicted about what they believe in and do.
- Attitude. Even when times are poor, we need to have the positive attitude to carry on.
- Vision & Planning is essential to growth - Vision for a harvest and work towards it.
- Have a spiritual buddy. Leaders need spiritual accountability and support too.
- Affirm and encourage everyone, from leaders to normal members..
- Do evaluations and debrief meetings - write down the points to look back later
- Attend other group's prayer meetings to help give them feedback and also gain some for your own group
- People who serve: You need to be open to receiving evaluation and want to improve
- Strong intercessory helps keep the passion burning
- Take prophecy time seriously. Discern on it. God may be leading the group in a certain direction if you jot them down and reflect over it.
- Create a safe have for people to introduce other people to the group
- Love - we want people so say of us: "See how they love one another"
- Worship Team: must be prepared spiritually before any session to lead others to deeper worship
- Get participation from MIA Members (invite them back)
- Get everyone's commitment (priest, parish, etc) - this gives you support and will also help the fire to burn brighter

And Finally... the ONE MAJOR POINT that every group mentioned was simply that we all need a PERSONAL PRAYER LIFE. Fr. William Goh even went so far as to stress that we should do 1hr of prayer every day! 1hr! Must be really tough for some of us!

So with all these insights, bros and sisters, let's work hard to make our prayer meetings a place which is vibrant, empowering, full of God's presence (and overflowing), creative, and to have Real Love.

So if we ask whether the fire is diminishing, the best question to ask is - DO 'I' Have the Fire in me?

Let God touch you today with the Fire of his Holy Spirit!

God Bless!