Sunday, March 1, 2015
"Akala ko wala nang natitirang luha sa akin," ("I thought I had no more tears left,") quipped Napoleon Ramos, a participant of the latest Encounter God Retreat. When he was 7, he lost his dad. At that same time, his mom was battling stage 4 cancer. It didn't stop there. In a series of unexplained events, he lost his uncle, his grandfather, his aunt, and his nephew in rapid succession. Clearly, he was deeply traumatized by this. But during the "A Father's Love" session in the Encounter Retreat, Naps felt the loving embrace of Jesus. "I realized that Jesus was there with me all throughout those ordeals. My hardened heart was softened. This time, my tears are free to flow as I cry out to God. He has healed my broken heart."
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| "God has healed my broken heart." Naps Ramos shares after the Encounter God Retreat |
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"Sa Post-encounter, natuto akong mag-S.O.A.P. ( a devotion which includes Scripture, Obeservation, Application, & Prayer). Doon na nag-uumpisa ang araw ko. Kapag nakabasa na ako ng Word Niya, buong-buo na ako na humarap sa tao, sa world. May promise na Siya na ibinigay sa akin na panghuhugutan ko ng strength." ( "I learned how to faithfully do S.O.A.P. during the Post-encounter sessions. This is my lifestyle now. This is how I start my day. Once I get a Word from Him, then I am ready to face people. I am ready to face the world. I have His promise to stand on. I draw my strength on that promise.") This is what Marites Godoy shares after the PEPSOL graduation ceremony. She is a widow raising three kids single-handedly. She used to walk with a dark cloud above and about her. But as she got to know who Jesus is through the various levels of PEPSOL training, she has victoriously overcome her depression. She is happy to see more and more people getting enrolled. "Ang dami nila na nag-eenrol. Naalala ko nung 1st day ko rin sa Pre-encounter. Hesitant pa ako noon. Watching them, sabi ko, God, marami Ka na namang babaguhin na buhay gaya ng ginawa Mo sa akin. Binuo Mo ulit ako dahil sa pinaramdam Mo na love Mo sa akin." ( " I see a lot of PEPSOL enrollees. I remember my 1st day at Pre-encounter as a hesitant enrollee. Watching them, I said, God, here is the new batch of lives that You are about to change. You will touch their lives just as You touched mine. You made me whole again because of Your great love.")
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| Marites, a single mom whose life was turned around as she found the love she needed in Jesus. |
The change continues as more and more people get to know who Jesus really is and how much He loves them.
Congratulations, graduates!
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| Free to worship---changed & redeemed individuals raise their hands in worship |
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| Start 'em young--- little Denmark shares his testimony about how God touched his life during the Encounter Kids. |
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| Everyone was in a celebratory mood as friends, relatives, and disciples march up the stage to share a testimony of God's goodness in their lives. |
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| Joseph Collado on fire as he accepts his award of excellence as one of the top finishers of the Post-encounter. |
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| Tim Warden shares his heart to the PEPSOL graduates |
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| Proud and strong finishers all. Congratulations!!! |