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 EMPOWERING
JUNE
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By Loren Sanchez
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June means happy days for the school kids and the whole
family as it is vacation time! But more than this, it was a happy
June in the Community with the empowering events where we
particularly experienced God’s love and presence.
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June 3, 2005: First Friday Mass
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“Come to ME, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will
give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
This was Jesus’ invitation to everyone as once again the Community
gathered to celebrate First Friday Mass at Istana Kana with Fr.
Ignatius Madya Utama, SJ, (right photo) GENESIS’ Spiritual
Director. In his homily, Fr. Ignatius reminded us all not to be
afraid to surrender our lives to God despite our sinfulness.
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After the Mass, the GENESIS Youth Ministry rendered a
beautiful poem specially composed in tribute to one of its leaders
- Sis. Leslie Freires, (right photo) who has gone back to the
Philippines after her 4-year stint here in Jakarta. Sis. Leslie
has been very active in the Community, offering her time and
talents for the Lord as a Care Group leader and in the Youth
Ministry and the Newsletter Ministry. To our dear Sis. Leslie,
thank you very much. We will miss you and we look forward to
seeing you again!
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June 17, 2005: General Assembly with
 Bro. Bo Sanchez
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The June General Assembly was one special gathering with the
presence of Bro. Bo Sanchez and his son Benedict. Bro. Bo has
been and continues to be a true inspiration to GENESIS for the
life he lives for the Lord in his various work in his community,
the Light of Jesus Community, in his various publications and
other ministries. More importantly, he continues to be a strong
support for GENESIS!
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In Bro. Bo’s talk, we were reminded
to GIVE -- not just to our family and friends, but to those
who really need it -- to strangers, to the poor, and to the
abandoned. We also need to know what God wants us to give – not
just money, but our time and talents as well. He shared a
touching story about being an answered prayer to the poor orphans
that he had adopted, proving how wonderful God works. He then led
the Community in prayer, and asked God to make each one a channel
of His grace and blessings. Thank you Bro. Bo and may God
continue to use you as His powerful instrument.
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Our thanks also to Bro. Percy Cabauatan who led the worship
and to Bro. Jay Sta. Ana who was the night’s Prayer Meeting
Leader.
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June 18, 2005: Empowering Seminar and Worship Nite
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GENESIS, in cooperation with its Indonesian sis
 ter community, Komunitas Keluarga Kudus Allah,organized the
Empowering Seminar and Empowering Worship Nite held at Carrefour –
Duta Merlin. These initiatives were intended to raise funds to
support the evangelization mission in
Borneo.
The whole-day seminar was participated in by hundreds of
Christians in Jakarta, including foreigners, young and old. All
were eager to praise and worship God, and hear HIS words through
Bro. Bo Sanchez, as translated in Bahasa Indonesia by Bro. Wimpie
Santoso.
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Bro. Bo talked about ways on finding happiness and
abundance in life. We have realized that in order to be happy, we
should know what we really want. Speak forth! And ask – even if
sometimes the answer is NO. And in order to have abundance in
life, we should share what we have. He also shared one secret of
success, i.e., “to look for mentors – in our career, family and
spiritual lives – those people who will help us become better
persons.”
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The worship night was filled with beautiful songs of praise
and worship as well as the very inspiring personal sharing of Bro.
Bo on God’s forgiving love. The seminar and worship night were
truly empowering and wonderful experiences that opened our hearts
and minds to the Lord. Our heartfelt thanks to all
the organizers, sponsors, performers and all those who
participated in these events. May God bless you all!!
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