Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God…
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
Last April 30, the lines of the Chris Tomlin song, “Our God is Greater” proved to be true as the Lord’s presence was felt at Takbo Para Kay Kristo 2- I Choose Life, a run advocating Pro-Life and promoting the sanctity of life. From the preparations months before until the end of the event, we experienced God at work.
It was indeed the Lord who was orchestrating everything as He brought together the youth from the different communities of the diocese to work hand in hand in sharing God to others and making this event a success. We were once again able to establish and develop new friendships along the way. We experienced a lot of struggles and obstacles in the process, but so many big and small miracles and victories for God as well. Looking back it was really His way of telling us to put complete faith and trust in Him as we do His work.
On “THE DAY”, which started as early as 12 midnight for the organizing team, you could feel the electricity and excitement in the air as we started setting up the venue. Even the sudden downpour at around 1:30 AM failed to dampen the spirits of the service team as we started the preparations with a short worship that was led by TPKK event head Toffee Chan. It was amazing to see the rain getting slowly stopping as we ended our prayer.
Little by little, the different youth groups started arriving and the Alabang Town Center became bustling with activity. It was an awesome feeling, working as the Singles for Christ music ministry started rehearsing songs for the worship. Eventually the sponsors, volunteers, guests and runners started to arrive and the next few hours again became a blur as there were still a few things to iron out. Before we knew it the sun was starting to rise and it was time to begin the program which started with a message from Bishop Jesse Mercado who also blessed “I Choose Life” baller IDs as the people raised their fists in the air in support of life. Next came the ”aeropraise”, which allowed the runners to warm up to tune of worship songs. After the exhortation and prayer, by Marc Sebastian several priests from the diocese led by Fr. Rodyn Dela Torre officially started the 10, 5 and 3k categories . The run proper was over in less than two hours with more than 2,000 people from all walks of life(professional & recreational runners including a Kenyan, kids, parents, grandparents, dogs), enjoying the cool and shaded route inside Ayala Alabang Village. What followed next was again an overwhelming experience as the SFC band and “flash-mob” dancers from the youth, and worship leader, JO-i Villas led the whole assembly to worship our Lord. It was a sight to behold as everyone started praying, dancing and singing their hearts out to God. Even staunch Pro-lifers Cong. Roilo Golez and Former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza joined in.
What started as a small community run by the Diocese of Paranaque Commission on Youth to promote the advocacy of being Pro-Life and raising funds for the different diocesan beneficiaries, Tuloy Sa Don Bosco Foundation, Paranaque Diocesan Seminarian Funds, Paranaque Diocesan youth Commission became an event that captured the attention of people on Facebook and other social networking sites, media (ABS-CBN covered the event and featured it on TV Patrol that same night.), and hopefully the hearts and minds of our government officials as they decide on the fate of the Reproductive Health bill.
Even a week after the event we continue to receive texts and positive feedback on the TPKK 2 –I Choose Life Facebook page congratulating the entire team on a great event. Up to know I still feel truly humbled and privileged to be part of the organizing committee along with the dedicated youth groups of the diocese as we all experienced how amazing God is as He orchestrated everything from day 1. So many people gave their time, talents and treasure most of them sacrificing sleep, rest and other things just to make this event a success. The Lord blessed us with a tireless organizing committee and service team, so many generous sponsors, media partners, suppliers, volunteers and friends during the course of organizing this run.
In the end it was not about the organizer, the sponsors or the runners, it was really about Him. God was victorious in “Takbo Para Kay Kristo 2”, a run which allowed all of us to share and experience Christ with and through each other as we ran, worshipped, and made a stand for God and made a stand to choose life.
“We have done our best in the race, we have run the full distance and we have kept the faith…”
