Passion Manila, Philippines

I felt like I needed to make a blog on this. People still have a hangover from the event that took place last Friday. THANK GOD!

Our typical-movie-time, last August 1, was set aside as we paved the way for the Passion Manila! Our friend from THY Marketplace got us tickets for the Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin's World Tour called the Passion Conference. Despite of the continuous downpour of rain and the Friday Madness, we decided to be a part of one of the most greatest nights of worship...to receive a fresh anointing from God and to experience the power of His Spirit in our praise and worship.

I stepped out of the office as early as 3:30pm to pick up my friends in Makati by 5:30pm then we drove to PhilSports (ULTRA). It was my first time to take the balcony side because it was all jam packed with young people...and the feeling young, we went up for a better ventilation. I always get the best seats in every concert but this time, it was a blessing for me to be up there because I got to see the entire crowd from my point of view. And it was awesome! The people were filled with the Spirit...and there was a supernatural atmosphere as we worshiped.

A powerful video clip captured our hearts and spirits as they proclaimed "JESUS IS ALIVE". Chis Tomlin and his band started singing their new songs and the people sang along...singing from their hearts...with everything they got. That night, the spotlight was not on Chris Tomlin...it was on JESUS. Nobody would even dare want to share the glory...It was all about JESUS and wanting His name to be famous not just over Manila, not just over 7,107 islands in the Philippines but over all the earth...where people need to be saved. It was an awakening night for all who came. A reminder that in our Christian walk, it is our calling to live in Christ and make Him known to the world.

I never heard of Kristian Stanfill before that night, but when he stood on stage and took the lead, we could feel his heart singing in adoration to Jesus. His passion for Christ ushered us closer to His throne of Grace as we sang "Lord of All", "Beautiful Jesus", and "I Need You". Kris was so anointed and God consumed us in deep worship.

During the conference, Louie Giglio shared a simple yet heart-piecing and spirit-moving message based on 2 Corinthians 5. He emphasized that we are into the "ministry of reconciliation" and God desires that we take part of the Bigger Story as we understand and live His message of salvation. My heart was pounding fast and tears filled my eyes as he once again brought all of us to the cross of Christ. Then he carefully and passionately read from a journal of a college girl named Ashley. It was one of the most beautiful life-changing story I've ever heard. Ashley got saved through her roommate Christa who lived out Christ. If you want to read the story please check out: http://268generation.com/blog/2007/05/ashleys-home/. Everyone listening to Louie, I believe, understood what God wants us to do with our 5-seconds life. I could sense the Spirit's moving as we reflected on the testimony of Ashley and the whole Truth--Jesus Christ is Mighty to Save. Louie also shared with us a song, "God of this City" that was originally sang by BlueTree, an Irish Band. It was then shared to Chris Tomlin and it became part of Passion's latest album. The song was inspired by God when the band went on a mission trip to Pattaya, Thailand. And as we were engaged to sing the song, people were making a bold declaration, with all faith and by faith, that God is indeed the God of this City...of this country! There is no one like our God! He is the Lord of the Filipinos!

Chris' new song, "Jesus Messiah" ministered to me personally. The line, "all our hope is in You, all the glory to You God, the light of the world." As Louie would put it, live in podcast, "the Filipinos has taken us over, they were singing 'How Great is our God' before Chris could sing it"... I need not further emphasize...We're FILIPINOS, Louie! =) About 8,000 people rocked the house with "We will sing sing sing" and it was a night that the entire Passion Team will never forget. I kinda felt that they we're afraid they couldn't fly to KL the following day! Ha! GOD TOOK OVER!

Reflecting as we were singing "God of this City", I know in my heart that God is doing something greater than me in this city, and He wants me to stay on course, in His path, and just allow Him to direct me as I follow Him closely. Nothing is worth pursuing than a life totally yielded to Christ. He is preparing His people for a spiritual phenomenon in the midsts of those whose hearts are far from His through those whose hearts are fully His...And He so wants me to join Him in His world-wide reclamation project. I cried listening to what God had to say, I cried watching people craving for Christ, I cried thinking of the people who are yet to be saved, I wept for my country (and I remembered how Jesus wept for Jerusalem) and I once again declared Him Lord over my life.

From where I stood, I had a glimpse of how it would look like one day, in heaven, before the Throne of the Lamb, where every people, every tongue, and every tribe will bow down in worship , confessing the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords-- JESUS CHRIST.

It was a night of revival. It was a night of Passion. PASSION FOR JESUS... COMPASSION FOR THE LOST.

I pray that each person who went to the conference will, at least, win one soul for Christ. I could never really hope more than to see JESUS being lifted high in my very own land...for He promised to draw all men unto Him. Greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done.

May we all live our lives for the One who gave His all for us...and may our passion for Him become so contagious that it will reach to the very ends of the earth.



For more info re Passion World Tour: http://www.268generation.com/
http://268generation.com/blog/2008/08/the-thrilla-in-manila/
http://268generation.com/blog/2008/08/massive-wave-of-filipino-response/