By Michelle Cristina Gamutan
It was a perfect night: clear, star-filled sky, and people of all ages happily singing and dancing with the music, lifting their hands to praise the One who made all these possible. The Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church Worldwide’s 35th Anniversary thanksgiving was marked with a showcase of God-given talents at the onset of its program. One such performance drew screams from the huge crowd gathered at the Luneta Grandstand when a group of talented musicians who call themselves “Sesa” stepped on stage.
“Sesa” sang a medley of songs that gave praises to the Lord: Kaharian Mo, Panginoon, and Extreme, among others .
The anniversary theme, “Revolution of Righteousness,” resonates among these girls as we chat with them after their performance:
As a performer, what does it mean for you when you heard about the theme, “Revolution of Righteousness”?
Acel: We are not righteous. Righteousness comes from the Lord and we are made righteous because of Jesus Christ. When I heard about Revolution of Righteousness, na-remember ko si Jesus, He made that revolution 2,000 years ago when He died for us. As believers, we have to stand for that change, we have to appropriate what Jesus did.
Yeng: Sa akin naman, kaya nakakayanan natin mabuhay in righteousness because Jesus is in us. Sabi sa Bible, kung ano ang laman ng puso, ito ang lumalabas (Luke 6:45) so whatever is inside you, let it shine forth! Huwag kang mahiya, huwag kang mag-hold back, huwag kang maghesitate, even if feeling mo magiging mag-isa ka sa path na iyon, magisa kang magsstand for it, you knew that you are pleasing God, yun ang pinakaimportante sa lahat.
What motivates you to remain a catalyst in your industry in this revolution that we speak about?
Acel: Iyon din ang isa sa mga reason kung bakit namin inumpisahan ang movement ng Sesa. We wanted to produce something na may positive na tema, na maglalagay ng idea sa iba kung alin ang tama.
Of all your numerous performances, what makes this event stand out for you?
Yeng: Lahat naman ng performances, significant naman eh, no matter if it is with a big crowd or mall crowd. Every time that we are given the opportunity to speak, it is significant dahil binigyan ka ng time ni Lord na magsalita. Ang kaibahan lang, mas marami talaga ang crowd dito and it makes us so happy kasi kahit we all come from different churches, except for Karmi, but we are part of one body, parte tayo ni Jesus Christ. Sobrang nakakatuwa kase kahit magkakaiba tayo ng pangalan ng pinanggalingan, ramdam mo na parte ka pa rin, masaya ang pakiramdam na you still belong. Iisa lang ang Diyos na sinasamba natin at iisa lang ang goal and that is to preach the Gospel and let the whole world know that Jesus is Lord.
Karmi: Gaya ng sabi ni Yeng na kahit saan ka nagpeperform, yung binigay sa iyo ni Lord na talent na ibibigay mo, lalo na kapag feeling mo part ng sarili mo binibigay mo kay Lord sa bawat pagtugtog. Nagwo-worship ka kapag inaalay mo yung sarilimo kahit papano, kahit saang paraan ko nabibigay ang sarili ko.
What message would you like to leave all the JIL people worldwide who are celebrating tonight?
Karmi: Sa perspective na taga-dito ako sa JIL nakaka-“wow” talaga yung small beginnings na dati walang bubong at nakapayong lang kapag nagppreach tapos ngayon ganito na. Kaya nag-explode talaga dahil sa mga nakita at naranasan na signs, wonders at miracles, mga healing at answered prayers. Napaka-thankful ko na dito ko nakilala si Lord at buong family ko ay nandito sa JIL. Glory to God!
Acel: Coming naman from a non-JIL church, yung kwento kanina how this church began 35 years ago, it’s nice to remember how it began and to not forget the faithfulness of God. To remember how it grew because God made it grow. We have talents, wisdom, and gifts that came from God but it is the grace of God that made it all happen. It’s nice to celebrate and to remember the faithfulness ni God. Continue having that passion, continue ang sinimulan ninyo, don’t stop what you’re doing hanggang sa mayroon pang hindi nakakakilala sa pangalan ni Hesus. Declare that Jesus is Lord even in how we all live our lives, all the believers should be living as an example.
Julie: Unang-una, happy 35th anniversary sa JIL. Grabe, 35 years! Tungkol naman sa theme, I think it is a great theme kase Jesus is revolutionary at timely yung Revolution of Righteousness, kakaiba ang naipreach ngayon, it’s time to be bold and to share His word and to live it!
Yeng: Happy anniversary sa JIL! Thank you so much sa pagdala sa amin dito at ma-witness with our own eyes kung gaaano karaming tao ang na bless ni Lord. Wow, sobrang daming harvest! Nakaka-inspire talaga and it’s a great reminder na grabe talaga ang ginagawa ni God and what an honor it is to partner with God sa ginagawa Niya sa JIL. Feeling ko part na rin ako dahil we are one body so parang kasama na rin ako. Sobrang galling ni Lord, because of one man, these young people na nagrespond kay Lord, tapos ganito na karami ang mga tao, and we want to be like this! Just continue to keep the fire burning for God, hayaan nyo lang na maging contagious ang fire na nilagay ni God and I really pray na sobrang dami pang tao na matouch para kay Jesus, makita nila kung gaano ka-glorious si Jesus, kung gaano kasarap maging anak ng Diyos. Hindi ganoon kadali ang mabuhay na iba sa iba, sobrang mahirap pero Masaya dahil worth it. Alam mo na may joy si God kapag nakikitaka, sasabihin Niya na, “anak Ko yan”, there’s this compassion na mararamdaman mo kapag nakakakitaka ng mga tao na hindi pa nakakakilala kay Lord. Thank you sa ginagawa ninyo para sa anak ng Diyos, para sa mga nawawala pa na mga anak ng Diyos at Happy Anniversary!