Yo Manila| by Leonard Antonio (Catholic Pilgrimage Ph)| How the Experience of WSC 2020 Made My Faith Stronger | The World Singles Congress 2020 was held in Los Baños in Laguna from March 6-8, 2020.
I’m Leonard Antonio, a member of the Missionary Families of Christ or MFC Singles in Las Piñas. This personal reflection is about my learning from WSC 2020.
At the start of 2020, I didn’t really know what to expect. The work was fine. Things seemed to be alright. But, the Taal Volcano erupted. This was quickly followed by the Covid19 pandemic, which made us wonder if the event will be able to push through. It did. And now I’m writing this.
Here are some of those valuable lessons from WSC 2020.
#1 Christ Our Solid Rock
During the WSC, this quote was always mentioned, “Jesus Christ Our Solid Rock,” a message which teaches us that only God is our foundation.
We get everything from him and no one else. If you try to get our happiness from others you’ll only wind up getting hurt, or worse, damaged.
The world of social media is teaching us to base our worth and validation from other people, which is wrong. For there’s no amount of wealth, parties, or earthly desires can fill our empty hearts, only God.
#2 Rains, Floods, Winds come and go
If you’ve been part of the community, you’ll know about a lot of worship songs. During WSC 2020, a worship song was introduced to us, the lyrics are, “No rain, no flood, and wind can bring me down; my soul secure, I stand on solid ground.”
Life is full of ups and downs, similar to rain, floods and winds, those hurdles come and go. When Jesus Christ is your rock, there’s no hurdle that can stand in your way. God’s got your back.
#3 The 3 “S”
One of the best teachings I’ve learned from WSC 2020 were the 3S. It stands for “Sustain, Stabilize, Secure.”
Sustain. Through rains, floods, and winds, only God can sustain us, even on times when we’re left with nothing. God will sustain.
Stabilize. Because as human beings we are weak. Even the strongest of us can crumble on life’s challenges. Without God, life is just meaningless. God gives us purpose. God gives us stability.
Secure. Because our hearts are fragile and easily damaged with all the things happening in the world. There’s no telling what can happen next, but God ensures that when we trust and believe in him. He will secure us.
As I mentioned before, “No rain, no flood, no wind can bring me down,” when we surrender our lives to God, he will take care of the rest for us.
#4 Build your house on rock not sand.
During one of the final talks a bible verse was mentioned that really struck us, Mt.7:24-27.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Throughout the talk we further dug deeper on the said quote. When further reflection has been done, you’ll realize that it’s the structure of our faith.
“Did you know those skyscrapers up in the skies that no amount of earthquake can break took a long time to build?” You know why?
Because the foundation/structure takes the longest to build, but, when done it serves you for a lifetime.
Our faith in God is like that when we’ve built our foundation on God, there’s no amount of rain, floods, or wind that can break it.
#5 What The Heart Is Full of The Mouth Speaks
This is what struck me the most, “What the heart is full of, the mouth speaks,” if your heart is filled with hatred.
Only bad will come out.
God teaches us to forgive and to follow Jesus as an example. May we always be aware of the things that we let into our hearts when you protect your heart and set it on God the highest. Only good things will come out of it.
#6 Stronger in all levels
Stronger in faith, when your faith is strong no amount of temptation can break it.
Stronger in hope, there’s always hope even for the hopeless.
Stronger in love, when you love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. He will give you an everlasting love that can change the world.
#7 God’s Vision
We all have a vision for ourselves, some of you may envision yourself becoming successful in the future, some of you may envision having a family, and living abroad.
It’s alright to have a vision because it’s what keeps us going forward, that there’s a brighter future ahead of us. Thinking about it just excites you right?
The MFC Community teaches us to align our personal vision, with the community’s vision and most of all, on God’s vision.
When your vision is aligned with God’s vision, you are going places, my friend.
Amazing Personal Experience
In early 2004, my parents joined the CFC Couples For Christ. At an early age, I became part of this community. Ever since I can remember my parents would often always take us to these catholic assemblies.
Back then I didn’t understand why they do it. As a child, I find it very lame, but now I realized how blessed I was being brought to this community as a child, and for having parents who are faithful servants of God.
Anyway, back to the story. So fast forward to the WSC 2020, 16 years later.
Here I was in the final worship of Day 2, staring at Jesus. What I saw shocked me.
Witnessing it, my heart started pounding, it beat faster and faster….
Taking deep breaths, I just couldn’t believe what I saw.
It was Jesus Christ alive, it didn’t look like a statue, he was truly alive there with us during worship, I wish I could just make this up but I truly felt His presence there with us.
At first, it was scary, to think that He was there. Yet, during that worship, I’ve never felt that much peace in my life. As if all my problems were lifted from my shoulders.
The moment was clear as the sun, you have so much clarity that time slows down, leaving you with the beauty of your present moment with God, that worship was special.
On Day 3, it was my 21st birthday, and God gave me a gift. While staring at Jesus Christ, I saw a vision of myself getting married, and having children. I couldn’t contain my emotions, tears started flowing down my eyes.
The reason I’m writing this is that I want you whoever is reading this to experience that same love.
But, wait there’s more…
Did you know that WSC 2021 will be held in Bohol home of the Famous Chocolate Hills? Every year WSC changes its venue all over the Philippines.
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Final Message
God has blessed my family so much, now it’s time to give back. I hope that this article may serve as an inspiration for you to continue serving God, are you ready to experience the best life ever? Is it yes, I hear?
For those who are about to transition from the Youth Ministry (MFC Youth) to MFC Singles, know this — God is still not done with you yet, Youth is just the tip of the iceberg. Get ready, you’re about to experience the best life ever.
Yeah boy! See you in WSC 2021!
