Wednesday, May 28, 2008

FOJC Youth Congress 2008 - Raven Resort, Bataan, Philippines





I’ve been in the Philippines for the past 8 days. The Friends of Jesus Christ Ministries International brought me in to speak at their 25th Anniversary Youth Congress at the Raven Resort in Bataan.

I spoke 7 times and covered the topics found in the Encounter materials that I wrote for NUCOMM. I tried out some new materials that came out of my reading on neuroanatomy. It worked out well enough to keep in the new version. Clearly, the most powerful session was the one on “Experiencing Forgiveness.” Several of the young delegates shared about how they were set free from the hatred they had in their hearts. Yes...HATRED. Much of this hatred was directed towards their parents!!!

My closing words were very simple and was an echo of a message I gave a few years ago and continues to linger in my heart: Dream Big! Act Now! Stand Out! Apparently, that talk was just as memorable.

It amazes me at the wealth of potential found in those young people. They just need someone like a “father” to give them permission to be a mavericks for the Master. :-)

11 comments:

JenShinrai said...

I wasn't able to attend the Youth Congress, but I'm still blessed. The Lord is never limited. =)

Most, if not all, of my friends who attended the Youth Congress would usually share the topic about "Forgiveness." It's really nice and encouraging to see my fellow youth keeping their passion for the Lord.

We've got the DNA of Jesus. Anak ng Diyos eh! ^__^

Jill said...

Mark --
sounds like it was an awesome time of ministry. I can't wait to hear about it in more detail :)

Anonymous said...

It was indeed an awesome encounter with the real Father.

This congress was exceptional. I was so much leaping, so much enjoying inside out,
so much enlightened, so much fulfilled.

It was the first time i understood the whole package of privileges for being a child of God. The new authority God has given us. The amazing things we can do with the Lord. The new purpose He has instilled in our hearts.. WOW!

I also learned that true worship is making the most of everything you have for the Lord. Experiencing breakthroughs during Praise and Worship is the best! Ptr. Mark taught us how to jump high for Him, shout, smile, laugh, dance crazily for the Lord. Just giving it all to the Lord.

During the congress itself, I've witnessed the strength God has placed in each of the young hearts. Strength to humble down, reconcile, love, hug, make peace, and FORGIVE.

It was made clear that forgiveness is the most precious gift God has offered to the sinners and the same is the best we can offer to others.

Having this kind of character, we will definitely stand out!:)

Thanks Pastor Mark for gracing the event. We had a fabulous, joyful, blessed time with you.

Rosalyn Uy @ CDOC, Phils

Anonymous said...

the congress was sooooooooooo AWESOME!!! uhm uhm uhm Ü

-many NFF in Christ
-worship
-dance
-forgiveness
-returning to the father
-healing for our souls
-christ sets me FREE
-power of the spirit
-the exchanged LIFE
-God's vision for Us
-kapampangan recipes..Ü
it was really my encounter with Y'Shua..
nxt tym ulit!! mga anak ng DIyos.. Ü
lets keep the spirit!!! ÜÜ
Thank u Lord... Ü
thanks Ptr MArk (BATMAN) hehehehhe

Anonymous said...

the congress was sooooooooooo AWESOME!!! uhm uhm uhm Ü

-many NFF in Christ
-worship
-dance
-forgiveness
-returning to the father
-healing for our souls
-christ sets me FREE
-power of the spirit
-the exchanged LIFE
-God's vision for Us
-kapampangan recipes..Ü
it was really my encounter with Y'Shua..
nxt tym ulit!! mga anak ng DIyos.. Ü
lets keep the spirit!!! ÜÜ
Thank u Lord... Ü
thanks Ptr MArk (BATMAN) hehehehhe

jonna nabatlao @cdoc,phils

t w i n k l e said...

Thank you Pastor Mark for waking up our senses! :)

the Congress was wonderful! and it's all because you were God sent to make it all happen :)

i had a drastic transformation. i knew i was in the light since i was a lil kid, but i never realized that i am really part of the bright light til i realized my DNA! :)

hallelujah for the wonderful blessings!

Anonymous said...

BATMAN ^^

Anonymous said...

this experience was truly AWESOME! two words to describe the feeling! "extreme happiness!"

i've never felt so inspired in my life! after knowing all those cool stuff you've shared with us!

i feel like i'm completely in love with our Father in heaven! that everything i do will be out of love and not only because i'm following rules... i'll never be the same again!

thank you Pastor Mark for showing us how significant it is to be like our real Father! syempre! anak ng Diyos eh! we should be more like Jesus!

though i'm still shy like you.. i'll try to sing, dance, and jump like the saved!

ralph roa@CDOC, Philippines

Anonymous said...

I am extremely blessed to have been a part of this year's Youth Congress! I think it was truly God's plan for me to have come to the Philippines and expreience God's overflowing love and grace along with the young friends of Jesus Christ.

Everything Ptr. Mark taught hit close to home. I thought coming to Philippines would give me a break from all the hardships back home, but instead, once Ptr. Mark started talking, all the pain, stuggles, and conflicts came flooding back into my mind. I couldn't believe it. In my mind I thought, how could he have known that I was going through similar struggles in my life? But it was God who knew! He knew exactly what I needed, and he used Ptr. Mark to bring me back to realtiy and help me face the problems I was going through head on, instead of trying to escape them. God is truly wonderful!

This congress helped me let go of the things of this world that were holding me back from truly putting my full faith in God. I am truly blessed! I felt so much of God's love during my time there, and I know that this is only the beginning!

All the glory belongs to God! =)

Joelle Uy
FJC Canada

Anonymous said...

Youth Congress 2008.!

"DREAM BIG, ACT NOW, STAND OUT"
~words from Pastor Mark,
which has really been our shout out. aha.!

so many things unexplainable happened during those three days with GOD.!

man, it was such a great experience.!
right from the start you could really feel the anointing.! i could say that God was really in our midst when we were in the youth congress.

the topics which we have tackled,
they all struck me. it all was like lightning.!

having to burst out on tears like that. having to jump, dance, sing and shout for God. it was so great.!

really great.!

i don't have the words to explain it.!

we were all totally blessed and touched by God.! our father in heaven, which will never ever leave us.! ever.!

Rom.8:28-29
Gal.2:20
Eph.2:14-18

whoo.!

let's make,
not just a dent in the universe, but an explosion.!

God Bless y'all guys.!
Take Care always.!
don't just be a toilet bowl.!
keep the FIRE burning.!
"Let It not Die Down"

special thanks to GOD,JESUS, and the HOLY SPIRIT.! and pastor Mark Juane. our speaker during the congress.ü

~DJ.ü

Anonymous said...

The Youth Congress has been an answered prayer for me, as it made my life so much different.
Much has been said [in church] about the toilet bowl thing, referring to the experience of most of us where the Youth Camp just serves as the "cleanser" only to come back with the same dirt a year later.

*Healing from my my past, haunted mostly by my bad school memories that I've blamed for my problems I have in college...
*Reconciliation, especially with some leaders...
*Insights into some verses, serving as a launching pad into my ultimate destination - heaven...
*"Infectious worship," as I've never seen the youth worship God in a very radical way.

Capping my summer vacation with the Youth Congress, as well as the Thanksgiving Anniversary just made my summer more memorable, as well as instrumental in inspiring me to face all the challenges that I face.
God deserves the glory, and I hope that the people Pastor Mark will meet will be radically different - they will be more like Jesus!

Kit [Manila]