THE NAZARENE TODAY

XTREMEEphesians 3:20-21

IN THIS ISSUEAn XTREME God 2NMI Feeding Program 3Starters and Fullcharge Baptism 4Let It Glow Summer Camp 5GENCON turns 10 6Ladies’ Day Out 8Her Story 9Discipleship materials launched 10TFCN pastor bags Golden Dove 11

Taytay First Church of the Nazarene Newsletter | Vol. 1 No. 1 July 2014

Generation Congregation celebrates its 10th Anniversary

2 THE NAZARENE TODAY Vol.1 No.1 | July 2014

For Gencon’s 10th anniversary last June, we chose the theme “Gencon X”, because we praise

God for His overflowing blessings to our church and to our youth group. Just how extreme is He? Ephesians 3:14-21 gives us a glimpse.

1. God has EXTREME POWER! (v. 16-17). Our Father is extremely powerful! God cannot be contained in a box! Did you see what happened when they tried putting Jesus in the tomb? God strengthens our spirit to be endued with grace and spiritual abilities, to be able to resist temptations, and endure hardships/persecutions according to the riches of his glory. God is the outlet of our power source! God is the ultimate power bank of our spirits!

There is power when you make Christ the man of the house of your heart! 1 John 4:4 says “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We can say, “Malakas ang loob natin dahil malakas ang nasa loob natin!”

An Xtreme God! Ephesians 3:14-21 14By Rev. Jordan Escusa

2. God showed us His EXTREME LOVE! (v.17-19). He gives us power to be grounded; not easily detachable; fixed, not removable. Matthew Henry in his commentary said “The more intimate acquaintance we have with Christ’s love to us, the more our love will be drawn out to Him.” He added that love’s width and length reaches to “all ages, nations and ranks of men” and “its continuance from everlasting to everlasting.” He described depth as “stooping to the lowest condition, with a design to relieve and save those who have sunk into the depths of sin and misery.” The height of God’s love is “entitling and raising us up to the heavenly happiness and glory,” Henry said. Nobody is beyond God’s reach. His love is beyond understanding.

3. Because of this, we are EXTREMELY BLESSED! (v. 20-21). We never imagined all the blessings we have experienced at TFCN. Even during the Gencon 10th Anniversary celebration, He did the seemingly impossible. He provided for our needs, and we were able to invite all 10 artists. We couldn’t afford even half of their love gifts if we were a secular company, but we can do the extreme because we are extremely blessed! We are more than workers—we are children of God. We are more than happy—we’re blessed!

God is not confined to the box of our imagination. God will not be defined and limited to our boundaries, our limits, and our parameters. He exceeds our expectation! We need to allow God to do through us what we can’t possibly do ourselves so He gets the glory!

The Result? EXTREME PRAISE! When He blesses, our hearts can only be pounding in praise. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

more than all we ask or imagine, according to his

power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the

church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,

for ever and ever! Amen.” -- Ephesians 3:20 *

AN XTREME GOD!I AM

AGAINST

THE FLOWBy Rev. Jordan Escusa

Rev. Lucinda TamayoTFCN Senior Pastor

Rev. Sam TamayoRev. Jordan EscusaDr. Dick EugenioTFCN Associate Pastors

Contributors: AM Dela RosaMady Florenosos

Monique TiongcoRhea RoanJenny CalderonFaye Ann MedinaRicci Escusa

Layout Artist:Dek Carrillo

Published by: Wonderful Grace Enterprises

THE NAZARENE TODAYSTAFF

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Driven by compassion, our Kananayans and Katatayans, together with the young people

of Gencon, work hand in hand for the Feeding Program every other Saturday at 2PM. It aims to teach Christian values to the kids around the community through singing and dancing, Bible story-telling and fun-filled games and activities. Around 150 kids are present each day on the average. Our Katatayans fetch them from their respective streets and as they come, a teacher starts leading them in a song or a game while waiting for the others. Once settled, the program resumes with a prayer followed by a Bible story delivered by a volunteer teacher. Then, they will be divided into groups according to age as an assigned teacher facilitates an activity or discussion where the kids get to open up and share their thoughts and talents.

As one of the privileged teachers in the ministry, I get a chance to see their big smiles and hear their contagious laughter over simple things that remind

By Jenny CalderonFeeding the body and soul: TFCN NMI’s feeding reaches 150 kids

me how simple life should be. No matter how imperfect their situation is, they are still full of hope and enthusiasm. They appreciate every little thing you do for them. They learn easily when you try harder to teach them and love you back when you sincerely love them. But handling them is no joke since every child is different and has unique characteristics. Some are obedient and cute while some are naughty enough to lose all your patience but it’s worth it. Jesus loves the little ones and we ought to share to them that love as early as possible. *

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Likewise, 21 young people confessed Jesus as their Lord and savior and were baptized with water at Fullcharge’s event held at Havila’s Highland Pointe Clubhouse. Fullchargers worshipped God through songs, as Pastor Janary Suyat de Godoy facilitated the baptism. She explained well what

baptism is to the young people to be baptized. The newly-baptized fullchargers were Abby Reyes, Alekhine Valencia, Andrei Valencia, Claudine Calderon, Danna Manuel, Eli Valdeabella, Faisal Albalushi, Gileanne Bunyi, Irish Morales, Jahziel Ansano, Jamil Venezuela, Jay Mojar, Jean Gatapia, JM Salamat, Michelle Pajalla, Mick Viterbo, Migs Regio, Princess Florendo, Racy Del Rosario, Reggie Rabeza and Robert Daniel Cainag. Their public testimony of faith was witnessed by other young people who celebrated with them afterwards by having a rich fellowship through praying together, games and other team-building activities. They ended the day by meeting, talking with and praying with their new accountability partners within the group.

The newly-baptized believers were recognized at the Gencon youth service, Sunday immediately following the baptism. *

For many of our young people, summer ended with a splash.The high school-aged and

college-aged youth ended the summer vacation meaningfully by being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, last May 24 and 31, 2014, respectively.

Starters “Overflow” Summer Outing on May 24 was not just an ordinary event for 16 high schoolers and 6 ministry workers who enjoyed swimming, games, food, bonding and most especially their baptism held at Cristina Villas Resort. Pastor Jordan Escusa and NYI President Roy de Leon facilitated the baptism of the workers and Starters. Though it was humid, Starters didn’t allow it to stop them from accepting the Jesus in their lives and finally committing themselves to serve. These blessed believers were namely Clariz Clem Martinez, Ken Bernal, Kurt Bernal, Jenno Lacay, Janine Santos, Rochen Roan, Roselle Roan, Aila Morena, Maan Dionela, Lyka Sacro, Mary Jane Angeles, Ceejay Rebenque, Jerico Calderon, Carlo Banaag, Daylyn Oliva, Ash Melendez, Jeca dela Cruz, Kayki Julian, Mitch Esguerra, Realyn Roan, Jenny Calderon and Mary Allen Nacion.

37 high school and college youth baptizedby Faye Medina and Rhea Roan

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By Madz Florenosos

It’s the hottest time of the year and the youths are surely on fire, but summer would not be complete

for Generation Congregation’s youth without the traditional Summer Evangelistic Camp. As GenCon was born through a summer camp more than ten years ago, we are continuing the tradition of harvesting souls with the theme “Let it Glow!” One hundred (100) youth got fired up for a four-day encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bayside Bible Camp in Lemery Batangas served as our home for four days and three nights. We divided the delegation into teams and held activities to help them get acquainted.

For each day, the youth had their team devotions, hearty meals, lecture sessions,

team-building activities. Group performances showcased each team’s talent, especially the “musicals”. The praise and worship sessions and the messages of the speakers felt like it was Gencon for 4 days in a row.

We know that a camping’s not complete without a bonfire, so for the last night, we literally “Let it Glow” as campers shared their testimonies beside our camp bonfire.

We concluded our stay there, awarding the winning teams as well as the Camp King, Queen and Camp Hero. We surely will miss the place and each other’s company but never our old selves before our feet touched this camp grounds. Everyone left with hearts anew and with the hope and excitement for what God will do next. ‘Til the next Summer Camp! *

Let it Glow!

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Generation Congregation claimed an extreme faith to launch out

into the deep and celebrate its tenth anniversary at SM City Taytay last June 8.

“Heavens partied as hundreds of people joined the angels in celebrating God’s faithfulness to the youth movement with the theme “Xtreme” (Ephesians :20-21).

Ten local Christian artists graced the event and testified their life-changing encounters through music.

People of different ages witnessed back-to-back performances and non-stop praise and worship.

Firefalldown rocked the stage first as the people warmed up their seats followed by former Moonstar 88’s vocalist Acel van Ommen who sang some of her hit songs including Hello to Heaven and shared a little bit about her relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Singer-composer Julianne then graced the stage and even had a duet with our next guest artist– The Voice contestant RJ dela Fuente who sang his renditions of All of Me and Forgiven and Loved.

Next up was Abby Asistio who sang two of her compositions When I’m With You and Beautiful. She even shared her story to the crowd who were amazed by her strong will and determination to not let her battle with alopecia get in the way of her serving the Lord.

Gencon’s 10th Anniversary goes Xtreme!By Monique Tiongco and Madz Florenosos

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Taking a time off from some of the breath taking performances, we heard some welcome remarks from our town officials Kapitan Allan de Leon and Vice Mayor Bonoy Gonzaga who encouraged Generation Congregation’s youth to continue serving the Lord nad dream big for Him and for Taytay.

Getting back to the performance, X-Factor’s 6th placer Kedobon Colim charmed the audience with his own rendition of One Direction’s hit single What Makes You Beautiful before he joined GenCon’s very own Praise and Worship team who sang praises to the Lord who made everything eXtreme happen. Joining the celebration were more than 1,300 people who literally shook the floor while jumping to the songs God’s Great Dance Floor, Battlecry and worshiped with 10,000 Reasons.

Praises continued when we were shown a video of what God did in GenCon for the last year as He carried us event after event followed by an extreme dance number rendered by Dancing Generation.

Alas, after years of seeing our old promo video, tonight marked the birth of the freshest promo video that truly captured what Generation Congregation is all about.

Kitchie Nadal’s performance was short and sweet as she urged the crowd to sing along to her new song Isang Araw followed by X-Factor’s AKA Jam. The four-piece all-female power grouped mesmerized with their angelic voices matched with their sharp moves. Their rendition of the classing song Amazing Grace left everyone in awe as we heard the purity of their voice by singing the song acapella.

Quest graced the GenCon stage once again just as he promised during our 8th Anniversary and pumped up the crowd with his original songs.

The wait is finally over as Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano himself took the stage with AKA Jam with his hit songs Favor of the Lord and Jesus is Enough. Gary V then shared something powerful to everyone – ”It doesn’t matter what you’re going through today, it matters to Him

that you are hurting inside. But it matters more that you do not give up, because HE IS NOT GIVING UP ON YOU.” This mighty warrior of God did not mind if people would be taken aback just by hearing the name of Jesus. He knows and told the crowd that Jesus is his Lord and Saviour.

Wrapping up his performance, Gary V sang his classics Dati Rati and Natutulog ba and Diyos and finally his new single Saytay which the people of Taytay danced to.

Just when we thought the night is over, surprise guest KZ Tandingan, reigning champion of X-Factor Philippines insisted she would offer her amazing voice to God as he wrapped up tonight’s performances.

We then concluded the night’s event with a prayer nonetheless, to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who made everything possible, took a bunch of misfits and nobodies and used them to take 10 amazing children of God to their hometown and have everyone hear the good news, all for His glory. As the night ended we left SM Taytay with that certain air of joy, still amazed and half dreaming and wondering if tonight really did happen. Tonight did happen and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Lord has big plans for His children and He’s just starting. It was indeed a big leap of faith as GenCon looks forward for more of Jesus in its future years. *

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“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can

laugh at the days to come.” - Proverbs 31:25

Yeehaw! The GenCon ladies enjoyed a real treat one Saturday as they dressed up as

cowgirls for this year’s Girls’ Day Out fellowship held during the hot summer day of May 3, 2014 at Maharlika Subdivision Ecopark.

About 50 ladies aged 12 and up enjoyed the mini-party with a photo booth, henna tattoo booth and hair braiding booth. Ladies of the Gencon worship team led the praise and worship time. Everyone willingly and enthusiastically joined the fun games and activities to encourage unity and fellowship.

Of course, the girls were supplied spiritual food as Ptra. Janary Suyat shared about the differences of women and how each one can make it as our strength. We broke into small groups after that for discussion and sharing. There was a sense of fulfillment as each was able to share and pray for one another.

When it was time for lunch, the girls had their meals served on a banana leaf turning the usual lunch into an unforgettable “budol fight”- as if they were really cowboys. Afterwards, Ate Faith Tamayo also shared about the Role of Women in the Society and led a prayer after sharing and discussion. The girls also had their Q&A session addressing sensitive and important matters.

Gencon “cowgirls” hold fellowshipBy Ricci Escusa

God really moved each young lady that day. Some were already asking for GenCon Girls’ Day Out part 2! Walls were broken, faiths were strengthened, hope was given and love was shared. The camaraderie and love for one another was seen on that day as lots of girls gained new friends and it made the bond of GenCon ladies stronger. It was indeed as blessed day. *

ANNOUNCEMENTTFCN bagged the over-all championship at the Zone 3 Literary Fest last June 28! Thank God for our High School and College youth who won the Tunog Tao, Duet and Bible Math competitions. Glory to God!

Congratulations to newlyweds

Mark & AnneZapanta

They tied the knot last June 7in a fun wedding at APNTS.

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Her Story“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean

not on your own understanding. In all your

ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct

Your paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6

For nineteen years I thought I was living my life the right way. I thought I already knew

Jesus and was good enough for heaven. I thought I knew all I have to know about religion. I thought attending mass every Sunday would save me from the burning flames of hell. Or so I thought.

Life during my high school days was a routine: dread the morning, go to school, pretend to pay attention during classes, fight the urge to fall asleep and spend the rest of the day hanging out with my friends before going home. And because I wasn’t doing anything bad (like murder or things considered as crime) I thought I was fine. Life was boring. Although I enjoyed every minute spent with my friends, I could feel there’s so much more out there. I just didn’t know it yet.

I was insecure. This world made me feel so little compared to everyone else. I started to doubt my abilities. I could only see my failures. I tried hard to please everyone and get frustrated eventually. I welcomed pain and lived with it until I missed out the beauty of life. I almost hated myself. I stayed away from other people. I created a little world where only my family and closest friends dwell with me. But in the end, I just end up hurting myself. “This is not the life I want!” I thought.

‘I’m not a murderer, I do not steal, I don’t engage in sexual immorality, I love my family and I attend mass every Sunday, maybe I’m good enough to be saved.’ This is what I believed. Until one Sunday of August 2009, one of my closest friends invited us to attend their service. I didn’t know she’s already a Christian. I was really

Heaven’s knockingon my doorBy Jenny Calderon

hesitant at first but I didn’t argue. I don’t know but I think I was really meant to be at that place that day. I found myself sitting inside the sanctuary, listening to the pastor. And I FOUND PEACE.

I never knew that day would be the start of a new life. That was just an ordinary day but something extraordinary came to me.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If

anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I

will come in and eat with him, and he with

me.” –Revelations 3:20

I realized that God has been knocking the whole time but I failed to hear Him because I was so preoccupied with my own grief. Just to think that I wasted so much of my life hiding from the world and complaining why things aren’t happening the way I want it makes me feel awful.

Life isn’t about me! My mistake is that I keep thinking about what I can get from this world when I should be thinking on WHAT I CAN GIVE TO THIS WORLD. Since the day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I started to see things in a new perspective. Little by little, I learned to accept things the way they are. I even learned to accept and love myself.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new

creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17 *

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TFCN launches new discipleship materials

Pray for the following:

Taytay First Church of the Nazarene will now be using a unified Discipleship Program

for its small group and Bible study ministries. Commissioned and appointed by the local church board for this specific purpose, Dr. Dick Eugenio, the newest addition to TFCN’s pastoral staff, is developing the curriculum and is writing lessons to aid small group leaders. Rev. Janary Suyat de Godoy, now in Japan as missionary, also helped him in how the program might be implemented.

The establishment of a Discipleship Program came from the vision of TFCN’s pastoral staff that members are both maturing in their

By A.M. Bernal & Dr. Dick O. Eugenio

Christian lives and are also involved in helping others experience the same. “Our goal is to make everybody a disciple and disciple-maker. Because our church is growing, we need to have volunteers who can do the work of pastors.” Dr. Eugenio said during the leaders’ meeting on June 29 and July 2.

Currently, TFCN has more than fifty small group meetings and bible studies that meet on a weekly basis, and a membership of over five hundred. One of the goals of the Discipleship Program is to equip more small group leaders, so that every member is both a disciple and a discipler of others. “If we really want to grow,”

1. Pray for comfort for the TFCN members, especially the Ponciano and Rebenque families. We lost one of our moms, Rebecca Rebenque, in a vehicular accident.

2. Pray for the MMF ministry. The professional motocross series originally slated to take place on July 5 was postponed because of sponsors backing out. Pray for God’s provision for this series to push through, the salvation of multitudes, and the wisdom, strength and favor of God to

be upon the staff as they diligently prepare for every production.

3. Pray for protection for the Godoys (Rev. Janary and Anderson), who are now in Okinawa, Japan to continue their ministry as a couple.

4. Pray for the new discipleship program in TFCN. May this bring about unity among our members, and may this help produce Christlike disciples and disciple-makers in our church.

5. Pray for the various ministries of the church.

6. Pray for continuous wisdom and strength for our pastors.

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It was supposedly just a normal phone call when TFCN youth pastor Jordan Escusa affirmed and

learned that God surprised him and answered his four year old prayer.

Newly crowned 22nd Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Golden Dove Awards Best Radio Jock Jordan felt a jolt in his face upon saying, “Lord, expired na ito tapos all of a sudden I get to win this award.”

Celebrating his thirteenth year in the broadcasting industry, Perfect Rhythm host Jordan in his speech recognized that his first national award is a mark of a more challenging career and ministry ahead. He directly acknowledged God as his edge and that he owed everything to Him.

Back to the start

JE, as his friends would fondly call him, admitted he never imagined himself in the media field and treated himself just one of most Filipinos who wanted to meet their favorite disc and video jockey in person. But when his churchmates greeted his program hosting and emceeing, he

By Monique Ann A. TiongcoEscusa: Following God’s dreams

Dr. Eugenio remarked, “we need to be intentional disciple-makers, and that must come from us.”

The lessons in the curriculum are divided into three ascending levels.

1. The Kerygma is a 10-lesson series summarizing the message of the whole Bible, designed for new believers (aspiring leaders will also undergo this, just so they become familiar with the lessons). Kerygma means “proclamation.”

2. The Catechesis is a set of three 10-lesson series focusing on godly thinking, godly life, and godly ministry. These series will focus on the substance of the Christian faith and life, and is designed for those who finished the Kerygma course of study.Catechesis means “instruction in the word” (Gal 6:6).

3. The Didache is a collection of several

series, with different lengths or number of lessons revolving on different themes or Scripture passages. It is designed for those who finished both Kerygma and Catechesis, and for the purpose of continuing discipleship and growth in grace (1 Thess 5:23). Didache means “teaching,” and in these series the concern is “strict disciple” and “instruction” (Eph 6:4).

A weekly class for existing and aspiring small group leaders is already on-going, working through the Kerygma lessons. In the first week of August, the Kerygma lessons will become available as a printed book entitled The Gift of Life: The Whole Bible in Ten Lessons. This is a ground-breaking event, as TFCN is the first Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines to produce printed materials for discipleship. *

then got the hint of trying out radio jockey.He shared that there were times when

he would find himself playing with his voice whenever the church microphone was left on stage. Continued to Page 12...

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

...Continued from Page 12

Little did he know that after appearing at his most admired MTV VJ Donita Rose’s show, JE would meet his opportunity. The station manager of UniversiTV called him after the taping and offered him to do a music video program at once!

JE, who was then also the drummer of the Christian band NaCls and Generation Congregation, boldly told the manager his choice of music. Though it was a secular music TV show, UniversiTV allowed him to pick the songs he could feature.

“It’s the message behind the lyrics. I am trying to counter evil through music. I want people to realize that we can enjoy good music with good lyrics. This world gives us so many music that we tend to see good music with bad lyrics,” the Manila Genesis talent shared.

Before he knew it, he was already doing radio programs, with NU 107’s Against the Flow, 702 DZAS’s Perfect Rhythm and The Edge Radio, a career path very far from his teenage dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

The Cool-DJ Pastor

A graduate of the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Technological Seminary, JE took a leap of faith and finished Master of Divinity-Theology while doing radio broadcast as his ministry and bread and butter.

To JE, doing things on the same platform made it possible for him to hit two birds at the same time.

“I would make a sermon which later I would line up in the praise and worship. When I get to the radio booth, I would use the same line up and sermon to share with the Perfect Rhythm listeners. Gusto ko fit na fit sa sermon. Kung pwede nga saktong words pa minsan,” the TFCN worship director shared.

Jordan humbly shared that he once found himself praying, “Madami sa pangarap ko pinangarap kong makuha kaso hindi ko nakuha. Kaya sige, Lord. Uunahin ko na lang kayo.”

He believes that it is worth to trust and obey God. In one of his devotions, God reminded him Matthew 6:33 that, indeed, we must seek Him first, pursue Him every day and delight on Him.

“Do not follow your dreams. Follow God’s dreams,” he ended. *

Tagalog ServiceSunday | 8:30-10:00 AM

Prayer MeetingWednesday | 7:00 PM

English ServiceSunday | 10:30-12:00 NN(Sunday School for Kids

held simultaneously)

Youth ServiceGeneration Congregation Sunday | 6:00-8:00 PM

Starters | FullchargeHighschool | College Fellowship

Every other Saturday | Once a month

You are invited!

For more information,contact 658-3248 / 0917-5041197.

TFCN SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

http://genconyouth.org@genconyouth/generationcongregation