VOLUNTEERS HOLD REGULAR BIBLE STUDY & WORSHIP ASSEMBLY

        The worship assembly which was started last April, was intended for Alpha and Tukod volunteers who do not belong to any groups. Thus,  Tukod Volunteers Network finds it necessary to support these volunteers apart from giving them opportunity to serve the parish and sectoral groups through Tukod’s  ABC approach to parish renewal.
        The assembly is an opportunity to teach, announce and update volunteers on the current parish and sectoral projects or ministries, and an opportunity to pray their needs and the mission, to intercede one another and others as well.

         This also holds true to the regular Bible Study which we  conducted for volunteers   every Wednesday morning at the Alpha Training Center, which was started informally since January this year.
         Amazingly, from 4 volunteers, God gave us regular volunteers attending  every week, to 12 volunteers. This is started with a worship, intercession and then mini-teaching on the Gospel reading for the day or the week, followed by our personal reflection and testimonies, and end this with a follow up on our ministry activities.
        We are happy that volunteers with communities and groups   made a commitment to come regularly. “This is our committed support which we felt that is really needed by new volunteers especially the youth.”, they said.
        Finally we take our simple lunch together from our ‘pot luck’ and donations from our guests. This is the great  time to fellowship with the other guests.
        Furthermore, we would like to  extend our thanks to  Fr. Perseus Cabunoc and Fr. Mike Fabello of Mt. Carmel Parish and  Archdiocesan Bible Apostolate respectively for their advices and  the supply of BEC Bibles which we bought this at a very reasonable price.   

EVANGELIZING  MUSIC
By Omar Reyes
When I first started to initiate a secular-religious band, I knew God inspired me. I thought that since I have a complete set of instruments (Reyes Rehearsal Studio), this is an edge. The band was intended to serve God through music evangelization, and at the same time the group will grow and be closer to the Lord through service as well.

       My first step to forming the group was to look for members or group of people who had a passion for music, a heart for service and who understand and relate to the Tukod mission which is “Renew the person, sustain through BEC and transform the Church and Society”.
        John Fernandez (Lead Vocals/Guitarist) was my first   recruit. He was my friend in college, and was passionately and musically inclined. I explained to him the purpose of the band and he loved the idea. He introduced me to Carlo Ellezo (Keyboardist), and was also with the same interest. I had a lot of prospect for the drummer. In my own opinion choosing a drummer for the band is crucial. The role of the drummer will determine the liveliness of the music. Emmanuel Tancongco   was one of them. He was exceptionally skilled. Fortunately, he too finds the band enticing.
        I had a lot of options for lead guitarist. Most of them were not interested, and some had other priorities. I invited Carlo Velasco. He was a good friend of mine. Initially he hesitated to join. But eventually changed his mind. Playing music is tempting to him. He too understood the mission of the group. Dan Cyrus Macapayag (Guitarist/Back-up Vocals) a full-time Tukod volunteer was automatically part of the group.
        Finally, I reported and seek counsel with Tito Benie (Tukod Network Founder/Alpha Regional Director), and I was overwhelmed with happiness because he fully supported the idea of the band. He advised me then that the band should be given a special Alpha Course.
        The Course was held at Reyes Rehearsal Studio. Before the band rehearsal, we had compressed talks on Alpha. Tito Benie was our first speaker. In our discussion, we already shared deep expression of our insights and experiences. It was a good sign of their responses. Then, we scheduled informally the succeeding sessions depending on the group’s availability.
        We had our “Weekend Away” or the empowerment of the Holy Spirit at the Alpha Office.  They had the most unexpected experiences, a very good and exciting one. After the empowerment, they shared what happened.
        “I felt that God was really present and showed his loved to me. After the praying-over I felt peace and I felt light. I didn’t even know that I’m slain in the Spirit”,  Em-Em

          The two day Alpha Summer Conference was held last May 13 to 15 at Mt. Carmel Parish, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. This 3 day conference was sponsored by the Basic Ecclesial Community, Ad-Intra Minstries, Alpha Course Phillippine Foundation Inc., Tukod Voulnteers Network, and S&L Training Resource.
        The purpose of which is to  present the framework for BEC formation, the basics of  ecclesial community and evangelization, the current practices of BEC, and presentation by Tukod volunteers network a model using Alpha Course as one of the tools to answer the framework and direction of Archbp. Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. D.D. for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.  

         The speakers who shared in the conference were: Archbp Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, D.D.  on the framework that also touched on the new way of being church and  church of the poor; Fr. Roy Barros (Archdiocesan BEC Coordinator) presented the BEC in a very practical and simple approach based from Vatican II; Fr. Boy Salvador, Jr. (Director, CLEMOACO Ministries) on evangelization and community building that challenged the previous thought on the subject; Fr. Perseus Cabunoc (Director, Ad-Intra Minstries) the current BEC practices in relation to the Canon Law.  

         On the tool for BEC formation, the following  Tukod Alpha volunteers shared the Alpha Course and community building using the Tukod’s ABC approach to parish renewal (see page 7): Benie A. Sy, using Alpha as BEC initiation course with the Alpha principles & practicalities; Elvin  Oliveros, using Alpha effectively at the parish; Angelo Rodriguez, equipping the team to run Alpha Course; Rene Pacana, on how to lead the prayer meeting in a BEC cell group; and Bebs Camaddo, on how to conduct a  bible sharing in a BEC meeting.

         The variety Alpha Courses as option to BEC formation that were currently used by some sectoral groups,  were also presented by: Siony Sumaoy, Alpha Course in the workplace; Oca Japitana, Alpha for the Elderly; Brgy Chair Joshua James Frias, on the Youth and Campus Alpha; and Rosarita Sy, on practical course for married couple, the Marriage Course.     

        At the end of each talk, an open forum was provided to clarify the presentation and bring out some actual issues in the parishes. This part of the conference was appreciated by the conference paricipants as shown in the pie chart below.

         Aside from the resource speakers, the conference was blessed by the young facilitators that conducted the lively ice-breakers and games and the continued songs and powerful worship led by “The River Flows Band”, an evangelistic band organized for Tukod for the youth. 

       The conference was culminated with the Sacrament of Reconciliation and  the Eucharistic Celebration.    These are some testimonies from the conference guests:            

        “I am a member of the Couples for Christ. I am very much thankful of today’s healing & empowerment of the Holy Spirit because I am   healed of    my right arm. I was able to raise it high and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I thanked   Jesus for being so alive in my life today. Praise be to God.” -  Winston  

         “Before I attended the Alpha Youth Campus, my life is unclear and no direction. As a happy go lucky kind of individual, living in sin, my faith and belief in God was shallow but after  the course, my faith in God deepens and I have a personal relationship with Him now. As to the conference, it taught me about involvement in the parish renewal thru BEC and I asked God’s forgiveness of my shortcomings. During the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I   was forgiven and felt the joy of resting in Him alone. Without knowing, I was already slain. – Nova  

          “I served the Households of Christ since 1992 but this is the first time I am filled with the Holy Spirit. I felt light, mixed of warm & cold feeling, feel down the floor & wanted to stand up but my whole body was weak. The Lord touched me that time and one cannot fathom God’s ways, mercy and forgiveness.” – Boy  W.  