by Sis. Rose Minas

     Pentecost happened to 113 participants of the 3rd Kapanalig Life in the Spirit Experience (KLSE) held last May 11, 2008 at the Layforce Chapel, San Carlos Formation Complex, Guadalupe, Makati City.

     Sis. Donna Del Rosario acted as moderator and welcomed the participants to the one-day seminar. Bro. Frank Moultre led the joyful song numbers, breaking the ice and enlivening the participants.

     Bro. Lito Dawa, the community's head shepherd and also a Divine Preacher, did the Introduction and Praise and Worship. He itemized the different ways one can praise and worship God afterwhich, he led the group to the singing of praise and worship songs.

     Bro. Bot Balbero, auxiliary member and part of the FDMC Speaker's Pool, talked about God's Love. He emphasized that God's love is perfect and just and has to be experienced rather than merely knowing it. He ended his talk with a story about the bird where its life is dependent on the one holding it. It may die when held tight, or fly away when held too loose. He challenged the participants to take care of their newfound faith in the experience of God's love.

     The celebration of the Holy Eucharist followed with Rev. Fr. Ric Torrefiel, FDMC spiritual director, as the main celebrant. According to Fr. Ric, the birthday of the church is being celebrated on this day. The people, he further remarked, should practice three things: 1. “Kerygma,” to preach; 2 . “Koinonia,” to gather; and 3. “Diakonia,“ to care for the poor.

     Bro. Rene Tumang, director and adviser of the community, handled the first topic in the afternoon, Salvation. He introduced the topic spelling out the word GOSPEL quoting John 3:16: “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His ONLY begotten SON, that whoever believes in him will not PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE.”

     He said that God is the source of all good things and man must not rely on fortune tellers as they are what the word specifically state - “hula.” He also cited God's promise in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

     Bro. Bimbo Tecson, a faithful servant and also a member of the FDMC-Speaker's Pool, shared how God has chosen him to be a witness of His love and Divine Mercy. He boldly proclaimed God's power to change his life form the dark as a hoodlum, to a new life in Christ as a faithful servant of the Lord in the community of believers.

     Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual graced the occasion as he addressed the crowd and expounded on the Pentecost celebration of the day.

     The participants then formed into groups for a sharing led by a facilitator on each group. Each wrote down his problems and other concerns for the community to pray for.

     Bro. Jing Mendoza of Loved Flock Catholic Charismatic Community followed and covered the talk on Receiving God's Gift and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He invited the participants to convert their hearts into vessels of the Holy Spirit.

     He cited 1 Corinthians 12:8-10: “To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”

     Before the Baptism, he asked the participants to repent for their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He further explained that sin is incurable, it degenerates and is transferable. He asked them to repeat after him his prayer of repentance afterwhich, the facilitators laid hands on them.

     Bro. Allan Tigue, Divine Preacher, gave the last topics – Growth and Transformation. He reminded them that life in the Spirit does not end at the Baptism of the Spirit. It is only the beginning because one has to grow, he said.  He also presented the different ways how one can grow in the Spirit and be transformed by it.

     In culmination, Bro. Rene returned for a Pentecost celebration as the participants and the community gathered as one in singing praise and worship songs to God. He invited everyone who is sick and those in need of healing for a prayover.

     Thus that way, everyone did feel the Spirit alive in his heart.