Thursday, December 18, 2008

WORSHIP AT THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

An invitation to lead worship at a gathering of national and international leaders don't happen very often for a lot of worship leaders but I praise God for the opportunity to do so together with the entire GCF Worship Team, Chancel Choir and 4Word.

Our Senior Pastor was asked to give an inspirational address at the National Prayer Breakfast and our Worship Ministry was requested to lead the time of worship and praise.

I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling talking to God the whole night before the event- I was nervous! I have led worship on many occasions, the largest crowd I led apart from my church is at a Hanry Blackaby conference held at one of the large astrodomes and that was the last time I felt that nervous to lead worship. The evening before the National Prayer Breakfast, a GCF member hosted the pastors to a sumptuous dinner at a restaurant she owns. After dessert, our senior pastor asked for prayer jokingly saying that he might end up in jail for the prophetic sermon he will deliver. He too was nervous! So we huddled over our tables and prayed.

National leaders and international guests and dignitaries started pouring into the 1500-seat Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel. My heart began to pound when the former president of the Republic walked in and sat two tables from mine. Big names in politics, business and religion, dignitaries from the diplomatic corps were among those in the crowd.

Worship at the National Prayer Breakfast was amazing! Many said it there should have been a longer time of praise and worship, but we were just given little time. But the Lord is good. It was a meaningful time for me as well as the entire worship team and choir. It was humbling and exciting to see big leaders acknowledge that there is someone even GREATER than them-- GOD alone!

"He that would come to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him," {Heb 11:6}. You say that you do not find God? Then, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. That is always the offer of Scripture. The greatness of God is found only by those who respond to God's invitation, who step out to draw near to him. When they do they discover that God is a God of wonder and redemptive love.

465-unang-hirit1
The Menu
DSC-0322
Singing "You Are God Alone"
DSC-0332
The Worship Team- 4Word and Deacon Ross Tan
DSC-0346
People worshipping
DSC-0347
Former President Fidel Ramos with his hands "raised" singing "How Great is our God"
DSC-0338
Worshipping
DSC-0363
The Mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim's welcome remarks
DSC-0413
The Vice President, Noli de Castro and Former President Ramos
DSC-0440
Chunky Chris, myself and Joy
DSC-0454
The VP addressing the gathered
DSC-0503
Dr. Luis Pantoja, our senior pastor delivering a prophetic sermon
DSC-0489
our little choir- those who woke up at 3AM and rehearse at 6
DSC-0527
chubs....it's Christmas, what else can we do?
DSC-0429
Fidel Ramos offering a prayer for the nation
DSC-0528
chubs...again
DSC-0531
GCF team with the former President
DSC-0535
the band and worship team
DSC-0538
younger pastors and musicians

No comments: