Today was no ordinary day. It was ONE SUNDAY: the first anniversary of the Sunday Worship Service at The Rock Campus; the church I have been pastoring for two years. Leading to this today, I could not help but reflect on the journey how we got here. Truly, it was a step of faith.

This was around March 2010; the same time I was officially released as an Associate Pastor of Word for the World Christian Fellowship in Valero, Makati and was transferred under WWCF’s Outreach Deparment. I remember gathering with a few of my friends whom I worked with in a previous ministry. With only two months to go, we were about to embark on something none of us went to school for. We were about to start a Sunday service.

Now, this was not just a small ministry we’re talking about here. This was a big responsibility. We knew what we were getting into. Once we start a weekly Sunday service, it was a proclamation that the The Rock Campus will become a full-pledge church. There was no turning back. Though the future was uncertain, we were determined to realize the vision God put in our hearts. Yes, we lacked a lot of things. But God provided. If its His WILL, it’s His BILL.

May 23, 1010. Sunday. We rented a place that can comfortably fit around 100 to 120 people. If we can fill even half this place, its good for us. We set-up our equipment. Some bought. Some borrowed. Lent by a pastor-friend from another outreach, the band was doing sound check. The staff prepared everything they could prepare. This was it.

Three hours passed. The Rock Campus had successful launched its first Sunday service. The place was so packed that some people had to remain standing during the service. It provided the momentum we needed to begin this church.

Permit me to be honest. When we started the Sunday service, we did it all in faith. Unlike other church-planting initiatives, we didn’t have a lot of money. It was just enough to keep us going for another Sunday. We didn’t even know if we would be having a service two weeks from now or even reach 6 months. We had limited manpower and we didn’t have the expertise most seasoned church-planters have. We just decided to follow God’s vision and trust Him that He will make it work.

And did He deliver.

Since we started the Sunday service, The Rock Campus is self-funded. From the tithes and love offerings given by the faithful attendees of the church, we use it to pay for different expenses such as rentals, purchases and pastoral support. And from these funds, we give tithes to the mother church. We were able to have a steady attendance and have water baptized some of them. We were able to raise new leaders and bring more people to Christ. We’ve witness lives turned around and changed. We’ve seen people start a new beginning. The list goes on and on. God is at work at The Rock Campus.

A year passed, we’re still here. And God has been faithful all this time.

We share these to you not to boast our abilities and talents but boast that God is faithful. We would not have done all these without Him. And we will never take the glory away from Him.

Like Don Moen’s Song goes, “Thank You LORD! I just want to thank You LORD!”

At this time, please give me the opportunity to express my gratitude.

To all those who supported us through prayers, finances and encouragement, thank you very much. You have truly touched countless lives through your support.

To all the volunteers of The Rock Campus, thank you for giving your time and energy unselfishly. You are not merely workers but partners in shaping this church for the better.

To the people who walk through the doors of RC, we hope you continue to feel the warmth and sense of family in the church. The doors of this church is open to EVERYONE. Thank you for letting us nurture you in your walk with God.

To our mother church, Word for the World Christian Fellowship, God has used you as the training ground to prepare us to lead The Rock Campus. Thank you so much.

To the unnamed faces who continue to believe and pray for what this church does, thank you so much.

To The Rock Campus Core of Leaders, thank you for trust and confidence in me as your pastor. I’ve always said this: It is not often one is given the opportunity to start a church with your friends. I value your friendship and your love.

And I just say this to all who attend RC: your Core of Leaders are passionately working and praying hard to make sure the church continues to do God’s work. We work as a team with one heart and passion. I am in very good company. Continue to pray for us.

On a personal note, I want to thank my daddy,Jun, my mommy, Lulu, and brother, Rainier. You mean so much to me. Thank you for your invaluable love and support. I love you all!

To my wife, Aida, and son, Rafa. Both of you make me want to be a better husband and father. Thank you for believing in me. I love you both!

And, finally, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for everything. Every single thing this church is about is all because of YOU. WE LOVE YOU, LORD!

And so we end one year and prepare for another.

What does God have in store for The Rock Campus in the coming year?

Whatever it is, all I know is that it is going to be AMAZING!

Are you ready to ROCK? MAKE SOME NOISE!

First and foremost, I am a pastor. I preach. I teach. But sometimes, I do get the opportunity to sing even during the service. But this time, it’s different. I’ll be singing an entire fast and slow set of worship songs like what worship leaders do every week.

In a warm room full of musicians and singers, we went through the line-up for Sunday: a mixture of new songs and old hymns. That’s something we do in RC.

Let me tell you, it was not easy.

A lot of people think that worship leading is easy. You may think that it is just singing a song or two, putting them together and that’s it. You’re wrong. It is more than that.

Making a worship line-up takes skill. It’s not just putting three songs together but making sure they jive in tone, beat and thought. Worship leaders need to know the essence of the songs. Does it speak to the heart? Do the songs complement each other? And more.

For the band, they have the big responsibility to make the songs sound good. It is more than strumming a guitar, hitting a snare drum or punching the keyboard. It is making music that reaches the highest heavens.

Putting this together, it is the worship team ushering people into an attitude of worship.

I went home tired and exhausted. I felt like wrestling The Undertaker in Wrestlemania. It’s not just singing a song. All your senses are working: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

I will be just doing this one time. Worship leaders do this every week. Even before, I have had a tremendous amount of respect for worship leaders. Now, it is much greater.

We are so critical with our church singers and band. We criticize if they botched a song. Some even call them and discourage them for not doing “their best”. But we don’t realize that what they do is very difficult.

Folks, let me say this: On Sunday, please approach your church’s worship team (band and singers) and appreciate them. Give a word of encouragement. A pat on the back. Even give them a gift. They are putting their all on the line to lead you and I in worship.

Worship teams around the world, KUDOS to you all.

As for me, it’s preparation time. See you on May 8 – Sunday at St. Giles Hotel, Makati ave., Makati City for THE ROCK CAMPUS Mother’s Day service.

“Honor, to people like General Reyes, is of great[er] value than life itself, and they’re willing to give their lives to defend that honor,” retired Philippine Navy chief Mateo Mayuga told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday night at the wake.

Now, this article is not judging General Reyes or the current Armed forces scandal. That is not the issue. But I do want to set the record straight – there is nothing honorable in committing suicide.

I may not be a military man. I may not understand the inner workings of the military. I may not understand the mind of a military man. But there is nothing honorable in committing suicide.

I write this message not to bash General Reyes. I respect him as a person who has served his country well. That is not the issue of this article. But I write this because I do not want people especially the teens and young adults to think that committing suicide is honorable.

I write this article for my son who might read statements like this one day and think of suicide as something to be celebrated. I make a stand for my son.
There is nothing honorable in suicide. Killing one’s self is not honorable.

What is honorable?

Honorable is a mother who leaves his family to go to another country and become someone’s servant just to provide dollars for her family. Honorable is the teenager who cleans toilets in your favorite fast food chain just to put himself through college. Honorable is the government employee who doesn’t accept bribes and does fair service in spite of his low salary. Honorable is the father who sacrifices his personal happiness so that his son may have a better life. That, my friends, is honorable.

In the eyes of God, there is no little or big sin. Sin is sin. Period. Though we may not know what God’s judgement is on us, I do still believe that we need to decide properly for ourselves about what is right and wrong. Suicide is wrong.

Considering the state of our people today especially the youth and young adults, let us be careful in labeling suicide as honorable. Taking one’s life is not to be glorified. It is to be condemned.

There may be people reading this article who might contemplate in committing suicide. Please do not. There is hope. You may be suffering because of the choices you have made. That is something you need to face. But I believe that God’s grace will help you go through it and conquer it.

Folks. Let us face life’s challenges head on. Let us make good and wise decisions. Ask God for supernatural strength and believe that this, too, shall pass.

Never give up. Now, that is honorable.

7:30am.

Zahn Garduce has passed away.

I was shocked. My heart sank. My tears flowed.

We have been trying to get in touch with him for weeks. The last time we saw each other was during the Christmas Rocks party for the street kids and during one of the last Sunday services he attended. We wanted to know how he was and that we missed him.

Kuya Zahn walked into the doors of THE ROCK CAMPUS on November 25, 2009 as an invited guest. He arrived just on time for me to give my talk during a typical Wednesday night Speaklife. Somehow, the inspirational message spoke to his heart. During the usual fellowship time, I got to shake his hand as I looked him in the eyes. He was happy to be there. Over iced tea and house music at the background, he couldn’t help but audibly appreciate me and the message I just spoke of. He publicly told people how impressed he was. Frankly, he made me feel like a million bucks.

Most people who attend Speaklife start off with curiosity and don’t come back. But Kuya Zahn returned the following week. He arrived on the scene with his big smile, warm hug and even tugging a few friends along. He wanted to share what he had experienced in the church to his friends. And share, he did. He understood the concept of “EACH ONE. BRING ONE.” with, sometimes, bringing three.

After a few months, he got more involved. He attended bible studies. He was one of those who helped us during the Sunday service launch. Eventually, he was being trained as an usher, welcoming people to the service and collecting tithes and love offerings. His jolly countenance was a perfect fit for the task. I’ve heard stories from people who felt good because he was greeted by Kuya Zahn.

In spite of his age, there were times that he would help carry heavy speakers, arrange chairs and push carts. One time, I remember Aida, my wife, receiving a phone call from Kuya Zahn because he got lost. He was going to the place where he will help haul the equipment for the Sunday service. During Sunday morning set-up, he would even climb ladders to post the tarpaulins. Then, he would change hats and collect the tithes and love offerings before the end of the service. Truly, he was dedicated to his new found passion for God.

During the PLUNGE water baptism event we had last September 4, 2010, though the water baptism was ongoing, he hurriedly came over, changed his clothes and went through with it. One of the attendees asked him why he was shaking. “Are you cold?”, she asked Zahn. “No.”, he said. “I’ve never felt like this before.” We knew it was the Holy Spirit already moving inside of him.

I can write a lot of instances how Kuya Zahn was able to touch my life and those he met in THE ROCK CAMPUS. He was the embodiment of INSPIRE TO IMPACT.

This is not to exalt myself. Please. That is further from the truth. But permit me this opportunity to just share how much his words meant to me. As much as I spoke life to him, he breathed life into me. Being a young pastor, you also aim to get the approval of those older than you. He did just that. Not only did he approve me but appreciated me in public without hesitation. He made sure people knew how happy he was with the church and with the things I spoke about.

I have spent some time with him regarding his personal struggles and innermost pains. He spoke to me about his bitterness and those who may have stolen his earthly wealth. During our talks, I believe that God was able to calm his heart, assure him that He understand his pain and that He will replace everything that was taken away with something more precious. God did deliver.

We are deeply and truly saddened by his death. We never expect that this giant of man would leave us in such an untimely fashion – at least in our own judgement. In the short time he was with us at THE ROCK CAMPUS, he has done so much and even beyond what was expected of him. But we are happy to know that, by God’s grace, He is now with Jesus as promised in His word.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“ – John 3:16

We miss you Kuya Zahn. Your impact in our lives is felt deep. You will never be forgotten.

I’ll be honest. One of the toughest times for me is the night before I preach. Many things happen. My mind starts wondering what could happen on Sunday morning. Will people come? Will the worship be great? Will the sermon speak to their hearts?

Then, you start becoming excited and anticipative at the same time. I don’t know if you’ve felt that way. Trust me, it doesn’t help you sleep. Of course, there’s the last minute jotting of notes here and there which I hope to remember by Sunday morning.

Next time you know, you’re typing this blog post at 1:14am wishing you can close your eyes and rest. Yet, your soul is alive and kicking.

Perhaps it is more about excitement than worry. Maybe it’s the thrill of seeing your friends on a Sunday morning, singing songs to the Lord and speaking life to them during the sermon. Perchance, it could be the electricity you expect when people gather to worship the ever-living God. Or maybe just the mixture of anticipation and agitation because you will be preaching the Living Word of God to their people.

No matter the thought, it is obvious that the energy level is high and that church can be exciting. All I know is this: we will do our best to exalt God’s name and proclaim His word so that people’s lives are changed for the better.

It’s almost 2am. Just a few more hours before the Sunday service. Off to bed.

See you in a few hours in church.

Allow me to share an insight I learned as I prepared. May I also invite you to join us on Sunday at 10am at the church I pastor called THE ROCK CAMPUS. We are holding church at the MetroClub (Estrella cor. Rockwell Drive, Makati City). Attire is casual. Come as your are.

By the way, the video you are about to watch was shot, edited and sent to YouTube using only my iPod Touch.

Be blessed.

More blessings to all of you!

I’m currently preparing for the first series for 2011 entitled THE “F” WORD: FAITH. I’ve been praying and considering this theme since last year. I know that this sermon series has been considered and marinated in prayer. We’re going to talk about faith and how we have a wrong mindset, perception and application of this life-changing supernatural personal decision.

I hope you can join us starting January 9, 2011 (Sunday) from 10am to 11:30am at the Metropolitan Club (Estrella cor. Rockwell Drive, Makati City). Don’t worry about anything. We’ll provide the music and the warm smiles. By the way, if you want to come in your jeans, go right ahead. We want you as comfortable as possible.

Continue to pray for me please. I’ll see you on Sunday.

I witness how people selflessly gave themselves because they love what they do and they love God more. They understand that they are offering back to the Lord their talents and abilities. In the midsts of the creative chaos, I stood back for a while and appreciated God.

“Lord, thank you for blessing me with friends and co-workers in the ministry that love to do your will.”

I am privilege to be part of a group that makes excellence a lifestyle.

After the meeting, though tired and sleepy, you know that they gave their all and did a wonderful job. I know there will be more meetings like this. Sometimes, I shake my head in awe and I smile because I am blessed to have them by my side.

Why do I share this to you? I share this because, through this blog, I want to appreciate them. Though I do not mention their names, they know who they are. I share this story to you because I want you to know that excellence can happen if you want it. I share this story to you because I want you to know that teamwork can get things done.

When people come together with one goal, IMPOSSIBILITIES become POSSIBILITIES.

And when God comes in the picture, POSSIBILITIES become REALITIES.

PR

When I first watched this video, I was led to tears and had a great conviction in my heart. I showed this to Team Rockwell and they too felt the deep burden. Let me share this to you as you start 2010. If you gave you life to Jesus Christ, then you are not just a spectator but a gladiator. You are part of a battle between good and evil with the soul of people at stake.

As you watch this five minute video, may you be challenged this 2010 to encourage more people to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

God bless you.

PR