Tales that Inspire, Teaching that Revives
2011 ISSUE 02
Also in this issue:
Transform Your Dream into Reality How to Raise Our Children in Truth and Love Spring Into Exercise and Fitness Now!
U-Turn MARLON VICTORIA
Message from the Lead Pastor BECOMING A PERSON OF PASSION
A beautiful car, equipped with all the latest gadgets, but without gas will sit in the garage and collect dust. It will not accomplish what it was designed to do. In the same way, an intelligent man or woman who knows a lot of things and has tremendous ability and potential but without passion will not accomplish great things in life. I am always amazed by the accomplishments of people with Passion. A person with a passion for God may not have all
the degrees after his name but passion drives him to study and depend on God. He may struggle and get discouraged at times, but passion enables him to get up and persevere. Passion enables you to withstand pain and suffering. People of passion have a high level of tolerance for sacrifice. They never seem to get tired or weary even in the midst of adversity. Secondly, passion cannot be taught — it is caught. You catch it from people you surround yourself with. If you want to have passion — be around people who have passion! Before long, it will rub off on you. In this issue, we hope to inspire you to be a person of passion. The talents and abilities that you possess were given by God not only for you to make a living, but in His wisdom and plan He uniquely designed you to be an asset in the kingdom of God and to make a difference. As you become passionate in every area of your life, God will enable you to achieve great exploits beyond your imagination. Be passionate and succeed to the glory of God!
Staff Box EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jerry Berenguer MANAGING EDITOR Viviene Lotilla - Dela Cruz ASSOCIATE EDITOR Suzanne Leigh Calpito SECTION EDITORS Features Section: Kris Millan Youth Section: Hannah Belleza LAYOUT, DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Hanna Tapang
Jerry Berenguer, Lead Pastor
From the Editor’s Desk BLOSSOM FORTH WITH PASSION Welcome the lovely, refreshing days of spring. The new pleasurable warmth, longer daylight hours, and budding of flowers everywhere, all signal a time of rebirth and renewed fervor. And just as nature is slowly unraveling its beauty, this second issue of the Champion Life Chronicles is blooming with topics that talk about passion and renewal — bidding goodbye to the old and the sad and saying hello to all things good and inspiring — to get you moving! Witness how God’s hand moved to make a passionate servant out of a man who used to find happiness and satisfaction from his notorious earthly vices in our cover story (2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”). See how enthusiastic the budding young people from London and Brampton have become in getting closer to God all the more. Pastor Jerry Berenguer shares with us the secret to how we can make our dreams come true. Part of the formula is to get stirred into action, be proactive and passionate about our faith, and be zealous to follow His Word. In the Family Life section, learn how to lay the correct foundation on
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our children, raising them up with good character to make them mightily useful in Christ’s Kingdom. Plus — find out how one of our Champions, Saldy Imson keeps himself consistently motivated in providing service to the Lord. And finally, just as the Lord rewards those who get moving and start using the gifts He had given us, discover how CLC London built their own place for worship, a product of the Londonites’ proven unrelenting zeal to build a house of God. Now is the time to rekindle the fire! Wake up that passion to know God and make Him known. Unleash that passion about your faith and start today. Viviene Lotila-Dela Cruz Managing Editor
NEWS COORDINATORS/ CONTRIBUTORS Brampton: Cheryl Angela Almojuela London: Edison Fernandez Calgary: Marycris Reyes Events Photography: Marlon Dela Cruz CONTRIBUTIONS Is there anything you would like to share with us? Comments, suggestions and reflections from contributors are welcome! Email us your letters, articles, and CLC announcements at CLC_Chronicles@yahoo.com. ADVERTISING To get advertising information, email us at CLC_Chronicles@yahoo.com. The Management of the Champion Life Chronicles reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions and advertisements on the basis of legal, space or taste considerations. Check out our E-Edition Online! You can find the electronic version of Champion Life Chronicles by heading to www.issuu.com/clcvol01-02 Champion Life Chronicles is a quarterly publication of Champion Life Centre.
U TURN
Incidents happen on the road when drivers would realize they’re moving towards the wrong direction and decide to
make a U-Turn. They achieve this by turning the steering wheel as far as it will go in the direction they want to turn so
they can enter the new lane and start driving again. In other
aspects of life, we resolve to a comparable method when we realize we’re heading towards the wrong course of action. This happened in the life of Marlon in the spring of 1996. It was an instant and total U-Turn towards a new opposite road of his life, with no turning back, a decision he would never regret. Despite the fact that he was standing before the crowd, sobbing and pouring out his guilt, he felt the freedom he had never felt before. It was like there was a heavy load lifted off of him. He knew this was it and he will never be the same person again after this encounter. But what caused him to make this choice? Marlon was once like any other teenager who sought for freedom and to be valued by his peer group. He was worried to be called a party pooper by his peers, that at the age of sixteen, he started with a few puffs until this habit increased to a pack a day. He and his friends also tried marijuana, hash, and cocaine whenever they have it. Apart from this, they all enjoyed their so-called “night mission” of club–hopping to pick up girls and party with them, in which he was given a profane name to distinguish his involvement in those sinister
missions. And so this was his manner of living for many years. But one day, his brother invited him to a party at their place, which was quite different from what he expected. He brought his own liquor as usual and sat comfortably on a couch, but then he realized, everyone except him was singing… at times crying and then was in a discussion reading the Bible. He felt strange, as he had never seen this kind of get-together before. The same occasion went on repeatedly every week until his wife, who had been with this group for quite some time, finally asked him to join them. He felt he was forced into it that he would drag his feet every time he mingled with them. His indifference to this unusual gathering went on until one Sunday he was invited to a church service at Champion Life Centre. As he listened to the preacher’s message about the gift of salvation, he felt like he was speaking to him directly. Furthermore, as he paid attention to his every word, it brought vividly to his mind that the concept of heaven and hell is a reality and that if he didn’t change his ways, he may not join
“He and his friends also tried marijuana, hash, and cocaine…”
his wife in heaven, whom, he just learned, to have received this salvation. He came to a realization that he had to receive this gift through Jesus Christ in order for him to have eternal life in heaven through the aid of the Bible verses, specifically John 3:16. Hence, this was a moment of passionate decision for Marlon, that after many years of smoking, drinking and having a covert night life, he would finally be turning his back from it all and surrender his own life to Jesus. With much courage, he took the opportunity to walk towards the front during the altar call and after standing before the crowd to confirm this acceptance, he lived a totally different life instantly. Marlon Victoria, who was once in bondage of fleshly contentment, was set free and is now a zealous servant of God, his Savior. Today, driven by his passion to serve God, Marlon is the Head Usher, one of the L5 leaders in Champion Life Centre Brampton, and a respected coach for Bible Study groups. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” Let us all take a U-Turn for Christ!
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A NEWFOUND PASSION FOR JESUS
By Elman Macasaet of CLC Brampton
CLC LONDON: “THE AFTERSHOCK” YOUTH MINISTRY Champion Life Centre London has seen how God has been faithful in enlarging the territories of His children, especially through the expansion of their youth ministry. Josephine Lopez tells of the passion that the youth at CLC London have for Christ and how the youth ministry has been expanding for God’s glory.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12 SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
By Josephine Lopez of CLC London
THE “SMALL” BEGINNING… “Let’s Get Hyped For Christ”, these words were shown on the projector screen while five young people attended the CLC London Youth Hangout for the very first time. Over the course of time, the group started to grow in numbers. For a few of these young people, they believed there was more to it…and indeed, there was. The seed, the Word of God that had been planted in their hearts week after week, has sprouted and caused them to be hungry for more… THE “MEDIUM” PRESENT… “We’re gonna take this city, for His glory”, lyrics from one of the songs of the “Unhindered” band. This is now one of the messages the youth at CLC London live by. Not only did they grow in numbers, but they also grew in their relationship with God, embracing Him so close to their hearts until all they can hear is His heartbeat. They are stepping up and stepping out
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to reach others for Christ. On fire and filled with God’s love, nothing can stop these young people from growing into their next size up… THE “LARGE” FUTURE… ”Enlarge our territories”, just like Jabez, the CLC London youth are more determined than ever to not be led away from God and to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of their minds through the Word of God. With God’s guidance, leading, and anointing, they will take other territories for Christ until He comes. Compiled and Edited by Hanna Belleza If you have original poems, compositions, reflections and insights that glorify God, send them to us at: CLC_Chronicles@yahoo.com and we’ll try to feature them in the coming issues.
God is great! He is alive and has been doing amazing things in my life. Looking back at who I was before and seeing who I am now and how He turned my life around all of a sudden, is really unbelievable. All praise and thanks to the Lord. Being a Pastor’s son is not really as easy as it seems. It has been a struggle for me my whole life. I felt obligated to act like I was a holy and devoted follower of Christ, when, inside, I was confused and didn’t know who God really was. It is because when I was about 7 years old, someone took advantage of my innocence. And for a very long time, I just felt left out and all alone. It was that incident that made me doubt God; He was the one I blamed for everything that I did and everything that happened in my life. It held me back from knowing how God works…until October 9, 2010. On that date, I believe that it was God’s will to send a young missionary from Cebu, Pastora Happy Lumasag, who had a similar experience, to speak to me. That night, for the very first time, I really felt God’s presence as He revealed to me who He is in my life and how He works. Thanks to my youth group Living Proof, my leaders, Paul and Michelle who have been continually encouraging and supporting me, my youth pastors, Pastor Ador and Pastor April, who have really strengthened my walk with God, and especially to my Dad Noel and Mom Lynda Macasaet and my family who are always there for me and ready to support me with everything. I am growing steadily and knowing more about how awesome God is. By the grace of God, I am now able to use my talents and currently a part of the Praise and Worship Ministry and a leader in my youth group. I really thank the Lord that He made me realize that my life can be a Living Proof and that our God is a god that changes lives! To God be the Glory!
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS TAKES OVER CLC SCARBOROUGH Christmas time at CLC Scarborough was more joyous as they held the fundraising concert, The Joy of Christmas on December 19, 2010 at their Warden church. The holiday concert top billed the world renowned Toronto Cantata Chorus, who has gone on tour to perform in Montreal, Hong Kong, and all over the Greater Toronto Area. Led by Maestro Lai, Aileen Lee and Winston Man, the Torontobased multi-cultural choir and the accompanying Toronto Cultural Youth Orchestra wowed the audience in the jam-packed venue with their classical renditions of various Christmas songs, and even asked the audience to sing their all-time favorite Christmas carols along with the choir towards the end. The event was hosted by Ptr. Roy Verzosa and also featured CLC Scarborough’s local talents like the CLC Scarborough Youth Dancers, The Kids’ Ministry, and Creative Arts
Ministry’s Hand Mime Team. The concert was a huge success, to the delight of the Scarborough L5 organizers who put up this project for the benefit of the Newcomers Assistance Program — which aims to provide free assistance to newcomers in adjusting and integrating into the mainstream of Canadian life, to enable them to be productive citizens and active participants in nation-building. By Viviene Lotilla dela Cruz
A MEMORABLE TRIBUTE CONCERT FOR PTR. YOLLY CASIM Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise – Proverbs 31:31. On January 22, 2011 that is exactly what people did at the Tribute Concert for the late Pastor Yoly Casim hosted by the Hedgedale Community Centre. The place was beaming with talent as several artists displayed their commemoration to Pastor Yoly through their music. The evening was filled with excitement and reminiscing over the late pastor. Maria Elena Goretzen Colucci, an old friend of Pastor Yoly, hosted the event. The show started with a big bang when the JDoton Band, comprising of Jerry and Jon Doton, as well as Alex Aruta and Nathan Rebuquiao, set foot on stage. CLC’s very own Dazzling Divas, consisting of Rissa Manipula, Benisa Sanchez, Lynda Macasaet and Ivy Joy Maniquiz followed them onstage, along with Rico Callao and his daughter, Jirah Callao. Each artist had something
positive to say about Yoly through the songs that they had chosen to sing that night. Ray An Fuentes, an old friend of Yoly, came on stage and rendered an outstanding performance. He sang several songs of encouragement, and reminded the audience that the evening was “not only to remember her death, but to celebrate her life.” Pastor Yoly had influenced the lives of many people, young and old, and we can see that through the testimonies that were given by her friends and relatives. The evening ended in worship as the the cast and crew came on stage singing their rendition of “How Great Is Our God”. The event was one to remember, thanks to the efforts of the CLC family and to the Casim family.
By Cheryl Angela Almojuela
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How to transform
your dream into
REALITY by Ptr. Jerry Berenguer
SERMON SNIPPETS All of us want to live a better life. We all want to excel in our careers. Students want to excel in schools. We all want to have a great family, a great marriage, and live a happier and healthier life. But all good things are always upstream. Every opportunity comes with difficulty. The Bible calls a high achiever an overcomer, a problem solver. How you become a high achiever will depend upon whether you have the ability to handle the challenges and problems as they go your way. And so in this issue, I want to share with you some principles on how to transform your dreams into reality.
Rom 12:2 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV In the said passage, the Bible gives us a key to become a high achiever – to become a successful person. It is the transformation of your life that will enable you to fulfill God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will for your life. Do you believe that God’s will is for you to have an abundant life – not only in heaven – but here on earth? Yes, it’s the transformation from failure to success, from depression to happiness, from mediocrity to excellence, and from poverty to prosperity.However, that transformation is a process. And it all starts in the mind. THE WORD OF GOD RENEWS THE MIND Most humans suffer “stinking thinking” — you can smell them from a mile away. The truth is even among Christians, you can have a saved heart and still have a pagan mind. You can have a heart that is born again but a mind that is filled with doubts, cynicism, worry, negative thoughts, criticism — totally PAGAN! The way to renew your mind is through the Word of God. Yes, the Word of God has the power to change your life. But the Bible is not a magic wand. It does not change your
circumstances. For example — if you are going through a bankruptcy, having marital problems, having conflict with people — just because you read the Bible doesn’t mean your problems will fly away tomorrow. What it does change is how you see your circumstances… the perspective of the situation. If you see things in a different way, all of a sudden you feel you have the ability and the faith to overcome your circumstances. No matter how difficult the crisis may be, if you can see it through the mind of God, you can solve any problem.
Col 1:21 2 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. NIV The Bible says that before you were saved – you were alienated from the mind of God. The only way you can bridge the gap is by coming to a renewal of the mind through the Word. The more you renew your mind – the closer you are to the mind of God. You will be able to think like Him, talk like Him; see the situation through His eyes; and realize that God is almighty and nothing is too hard for Him. Isaiah 55 says that God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God’s ways are higher than our ways. But just because God’s thoughts are higher doesn’t mean they are unreachable – that’s why we have the Bible. Through His Word, you allow God to begin to change the way you think about life, about marriage, about family, about business, about education, about wealth, about the marketplace, about church, about spiritual things and many others. You are stretching your mind! And do you know that the moment you stretch your mind, it never goes back to the same size? That is why every week it’s important for you to come to the house of God -- because the house of God is the house of possibilities. You are coming with people who want to be high achievers, world shakers, and history makers. In order for you to change your mind you must know His Word. That means in order for you to know God, literacy must go up. That is also the reason why historically, in every society there is Christian
If you have a small dream — you are only going to draw small abilities. But if you are going to have a big dream and it’s from God, it will get bigger and bigger — greater and greater — from glory to glory. 6
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influence. In every society, the missionaries start a church and then they start a school. Why do they open schools? It’s because the Bible demands literacy. So you can read it, understand it — and you can get to know the Lord. Everywhere you find a society of Christians, you find the most educated people. That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us when more and more scholars rise up from among us. The Word of God is only half of the equation. What is the other half? THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO VISIONS AND DREAMS
from God. So what are imaginations? Imaginations are your thoughts visualized. They are the thoughts that you can see in your mind’s eye. Whenever the Bible refers to the heart — it refers to your imagination. That is why Genesis chapter 8 says “the imagination of the heart”. You see Jesus says, let not your heart be troubled. Why? Because the heart is where sin begins. The heart is where doubt begins. The heart is where sorrow and trouble starts to brew. So again and again the Bible says you have to guard your heart. Because if you don’t guard your heart, you let the wrong imagination come in. It is gonna hinder you from having a great vision and dream for a great future. Your heart is like the painter’s canvass (if I can put it that way). What you dream and what you imagine – what you envision is what you paint on this canvass of your imagination. So if you take the brush of faith and paint on the canvass of your heart what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you in visions and dreams, those visions ultimately become a reality. So what you imagine is very, very important. So if your imagination centers on success and faith, you will prosper in life. But if you imagine yourself defeated, weak, being bullied all the time, unable to succeed, always poor, often struggling, never getting out of debt, having an unhappy marriage, being lonely, being grouchy, being unloved — you will end up exactly as you had imagined. Your imagination is the preview of the future. As Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks or imagines in his heart, so is he.” The truth is, even God almighty Himself imagines. In Genesis, God says, “Let us make man in our image.” The very fact that God has an image of us before He created us means that God imagined us into existence. What He imagined, eventually became a reality — and that is how men and women were formed in the earth.
“…if you don’t guard your heart, you let the wrong imagination come in. It is gonna hinder you from having a great vision and dream for a great future.”
1 Cor 2:9-12 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. NIV
Here, the Bible shows us the other half of how we can live successful lives. The Holy Spirit searches everything in the mind of God. So God gives us the Holy Spirit for a purpose – to reveal His thoughts, His ways, His thinking, His perspective, and His mind to you and me. So you don’t need only the Word but the Holy Spirit as well. If you have the Word alone — you’ll dry up. If you have the Spirit alone — you’ll blow up. But if you have them together – you’ll grow up.
Acts 2:17 17 “’In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. NIV So by giving us the Holy Spirit, God gives us immediately the access into His mind. The way you are given access and the gap is being bridged through Visions and Dreams. They are not what you see with the natural eye nor hear with the natural ear. Vision and dreams are special because they operate within the framework of what is called — your Imagination. There is no limit to what you can contain in your imagination — in your dream — in your visions. In it, you can fly through walls, be the richest person on earth, or be the strongest man in the universe. The more you renew your mind, the closer you become like God, in the way He thinks, in the way He looks at everything. The Holy Spirit gives you a dream for success – for breakthrough. The moment you write that dream down — it becomes a vision. Vision turns dreams into reality. So, Vision and dreams are special because they operate in the framework of your imagination – which is your preview of the future… It is the coming soon of the future.
Eph 3:20 20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. NIV If God would take me home, and if there is anything that I could leave with you, it would be the POWER of Dreams and Visions, which I have been teaching in this church year after year. There is a power that works in you and in me and that is the power of the Holy Spirit. This power of God helps us to ask Him and to think. Think in the NIV is to IMAGINE. So your ability to imagine is a gift
YOUR ABILITY GROWS TO THE LEVEL OF YOUR DREAM If you have a small dream — you are only going to draw small abilities. But if you are going to have a big dream and it’s from God, it will get bigger and bigger — greater and greater – from glory to glory. Your ability grows stronger and greater through the years. If you check your life, your ability has grown over the years because your dream has grown. Yes, your ability grows to the level of your dream! Some of you may say, “Pastor you don’t understand my situation… My family is poor. We can never get out of our situation…” or “We cannot achieve that because we are oppressed…” This I tell you — oppression cannot stop creativity. You can be poor today but if you are a Christian – you love God, you love His Word and you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will never stay poor all your life. Sometimes the Lord allows you to be desperately, desperately poor to get your creative juices flowing. Again, being poor doesn’t nullify you from creativity and the power of visions and dreams from flowing into you. Therefore, just because you come from a broken or oppressive environment, it doesn’t mean you can’t dream great dreams for God. Just because you’re young, middle-aged, or really old, it doesn’t mean you can’t dream great dreams for God. Col. Sanders of KFC got into business in his 60s – that proves the point. Just because you have a challenging time at work or school doesn’t mean you can’t dream great dreams for God.
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HOW TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN IN TRUTH AND LOVE Our responsibility to our offspring does not only involve providing them with physical nourishment, caring, and protection... it extends to building up their character. Parenting may be one of the most challenging roles but can be the most joyful and fulfilling experience for us, as parents. This process varies from our different perspectives and we learn as we go along. Nevertheless, it is important for us to understand our children’s eternal value so we can raise them God’s way. The Bible says children are a heritage and reward from the Lord. His plan and purpose for their lives start from the mother’s womb where they were fearfully and wonderfully made. Since they are God’s creation, therefore owned by Him, we are to receive them in the way that God is delighted to give them and are to consider them as blessings and not burdens. More importantly, our responsibility to our offspring does not only involve providing them with physical nourishment, caring, and protection but it extends to building up their character. In Psalms 144:11-12, David’s prayer says, “Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks vanity,
and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” In this verse, he prayed for prosperity for his nation from the viewpoint of the next generation being strong not in the physical aspect but in character. He compared the sons to olive plants as described in Psalms 128 that bring forth fruit in their days and daughters to cornerstones that show inner strength and beauty with Christ as the chief cornerstone. David, in his days, was once a parent like us, whose desire reflected what he valued most in the lives of our young ones. How then will our children become like what David described in his prayer? First, they need to be filled up with the spiritual water which is the Word of God if we desire them to know Him and His
will and walk in truth. God commanded in Deuteronomy 11:19, “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walked along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” As the primary conveyors of His Word, we are to meditate on it day and night, so that we may be careful to do everything written in it. Then we will be prosperous and successful, as promised in Joshua 1:8.
“First, they need to be filled up with the spiritual water which is the Word of God if we desire them to know Him and His will and walk in truth.”
Combined with this, our children need to be planted on good soil. Howard Hendricks says, “Home is the number one influence in the life of our children. The average church has a child 1% of his time; the home has him 83% of his time and the school for the remaining 16%. This does not minimize the need for churches and schools, but it establishes the fact your home is 83% of your child’s world
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and you have only time around to make it of maximum benefit.” To be of the best influence to our children as we can be, it is vital that we lead them by example with Christ’s love as the basic foundation. We can earnestly desire for the best gifts and graces for them, but the Bible says highest of them all is love. We may be seen as the most hardworking, gifted and generous parents but if we do not have Christ’s love in us, we gain nothing. If we do not love, we have not become acquainted with God for God is love. There are no perfect parents in this falled wourld, but if we love our children, we are ready to believe the best of them and have fadeless hope under all circumstances and will
endure everything without weakening. Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in practice and sincerity. To conclude, if we are to leave a legacy to our children, let it be that they speak truth aligned in God’s Word in love and that they may grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.
“To be of the best influence to our children as we can be, it is vital that we lead them by example with Christ’s love as the basic foundation.”
LOVING EVERY MINUTE
OF THE SEASONS OF LOVE, THE CONCERT
For the most part, the Valentine Dinner Concert, Seasons of Love, featuring Ivy Joy Maniquiz, was a wonderful stroll down memory lane. On February 12 at the Hedgedale Community Centre’s Banquet Hall, Ivy revisited songs used as themes from blockbuster movies and broadway hits to make her guests fall in love with love… all over again. It was an event to remember as the night kicked off with Marianne Nicole Ramos and Rico Callao as they sang old songs such as “Part of Your World” from the hit movie, The Little Mermaid and “I Could Have Danced All Night” from the musical, My Fair Lady. The concert guests were treated to a sumptuously delectable dinner, provided by the Extreme Café Crew of HCC while being serenaded by Ivy with Leander Mendoza on the piano. Our very own diva garnered oooh’s and ahhh’s as she sang medleys (which can actually double as contest pieces) of all-time favorite divas whose songs were used as movie soundtracks, like those of Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. Leander took the stage as well as he invited the audience to dance with their loved ones while singing “The Way You Look Tonight” from the movie Father of the Bride and “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera. The duo captivated everyone as they sang “Last Night of the World” from the world-renowned musical,
Miss Saigon. The evening was truly one to love as Ivy, along with her guest performers, captured the hearts of everyone by their soulful, emotionallycharged and powerful rendition of timeless and contemporary love songs. It was a night to remember, thanks to the combined efforts of Alain Maniquiz, musical direction of Leander Mendoza, script and direction of Viviene dela Cruz, the Hedgedale Community Centre group and all the technical and production crew who supported the former ABS-CBN diva.
MEET SALDY IMSON
trusts that “in God’s time, His plan is revealed”. He has learned to be thankful for even the small things and recognized that God is the source of all provision. He got recalled within two weeks. “God has a plan”, he says. Finally, I asked Brother Saldy for some words of encouragement. He says “Life on earth is temporary. Without life in the Lord, there’s no replacement in the world. Problems are a part of life and God allows them to make us stronger. Never fail to communicate with Him. Serving God is not always smooth-sailing, but blessings will come in His time. Watch your thoughts and watch for small blessings. Appreciate them instead of focusing on your problems.” Words that have every bit of truth in it.
On a blessed Sunday night, I had the privilege of talking to one of CLC’s unsung heroes over the phone. His name is Saldy Imson. He is an all-around servant for God as he is involved in the choir, transportation, ushering, setting up for special events and Men’s Ministry, on top of being a care group leader. When asked what keeps him motivated, he states that he desires to serve the Lord and not just men, with an open heart. He makes mention about service being a choice and it comes with re-arranging priorities. While others put serving God lower in their priority list because of circumstances, Brother Saldy says that “problems don’t just disappear but if you draw near to God, you have guidance.” However, Brother Saldy has not always had a smooth ride. He recalls the time when he got laid off as a maintenance mechanic. Nevertheless, he reminds himself of God’s faithfulness and
By Cheryl Angela Almojuela
Do you know a Champion who faithfully serves behind the scenes? Send in their names to us at clc_chronicles@yahoo.com so we can feature and acknowledge their lives of service in our future issues.
By Kris Millan
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Champion Life Centre - London was renting a place for people to gather and to have fellowship for the Lord until such time that God put a vision in the church - have a place of worship 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For many years, CLC – London had been praying for a place that can be claimed as “our very own place of worship”. With much fervor and passion, London Branch Pastor, Ptr. Ronald Valdemoro and the leaders searched for a suitable place but it seemed that the right one just couldn’t be found. In every service on Sundays, Ptr. Ronald kept saying God will provide and that we were almost there finding an ideal place of worship. We kept waiting and started nurturing the wait with trust. Then God led the footsteps of our leaders to an old warehouse after a search that took several months. A warehouse may not be the first choice but God is an amazing God who works in ways beyond our human minds can ever imagine. Looking at the place, it was a building with a high ceiling, scattered wood, lingering dust and a number of dull vacant rooms. Most of us thought to ourselves, “How are we going to do it?” It was hard to imagine but we knew God has already planned everything for us. God set into our hearts that after a month, we were going to have our place of worship. Each time the church members gathered to pray for the place of worship, we always visualized the place in our prayer; from the door, corners of the wall to every single item the church needs. When God moves, He really works. Driven by the passion to build a house for the Lord, the renovation started remarkably and members of the church lent their hands on the work. There were no requirements set in order to get involved – there were no qualifying gender, age, skills, nor experience. Only one thing mattered: a heart ready to build the house of our Savior. Day after day, the renovation went on. Men or women, adults, youth and kids were involved. Some people were busy using hammers and nails while others were holding spoons and knives, preparing meals for the workers. You could see men carrying wood and women painting walls. And there was even a sight of a child handing
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over adhesive tape to a youth as he tried to tape a poster against the wall. God was totally in control for He knew where to place and how to utilize each person’s gift. He provided the needs of the church according to His glorious riches. In God’s time, after a month of renovation, we held our first Sunday service in “our place of worship” on October 3, 2010. The hearts of God’s people were overflowing with joy. There was no trace of an old warehouse for it was completely transformed into a “house of the Lord”. It is now a place astonishingly painted, with different colors of light in the ceiling and with hundred of chairs on the floor. The monotonous vacant rooms are now lively with wall decor and with decent facilities. And the delightfully built altar testifies and reminds us of God’s faithfulness in providing us with our Champion Life Centre building in the city of London. With abounding thanksgiving, the dedication of the new place of worship in 1069 Clarke Road was conducted on October 10, 2010 led by our very own Lead Pastors, Ptrs. Jerry and Elvie Berenguer. We have tasted and seen the goodness of God; and we believe and anticipate that there is more. We are ready to “step up” to another level in our relationship and service to God. Now that the concrete building is done, the real work begins… To passionately build lives in order to build God’s Kingdom.
Continuation of How to Turn Your Dream Into Reality
Just because you are poor or coming from a minority race, a broken marriage, or any difficult situation doesn’t mean you can’t dream great dreams for God. Let your imagination flow freely, have fun and dream great things! Because your God will make it come to pass. And surely — your ability will grow to the level of your dream as you steadily turn your dream into reality. Jerry Berenguer is the Lead Pastor of Champion Life Centre
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health & Wellness
SPRING INTO EXERCISE AND FITNESS!
Still feeling sluggish due to the winter blahs? Throw the season-induced laziness out of the window and get active to get fit and healthy. How do you begin? Well, wake up your passion for exercise! Whether your thing is yoga, dancing, bikeriding, hiking in nature, martial arts, tennis, swimming, running - whatever it is, the important thing is that you enjoy it. Because unless you love and enjoy what you do for exercise, you won’t stick with it. And then go and get moving with these exercise tips!
1. Ready, set - goal!
Research shows that setting specific goals are the most motivating. For instance, aiming to reduce weight by losing 15 lbs. in 3 months will motivate you better than just saying you just want to lose the extra bulges. This goal is far too general to really motivate you in your exercise.
2. Pick your workout area.
What type of exercises do you plan to do? If you like walking, find a place where you can walk. During the summer, this could be your neighborhood, but you may want to find an alternate walking place for when the weather is bad. If you are using a favorite workout DVD, then make sure there’s enough room where your T.V. is located to do all the exercises.
3. Get comfy.
If you chose walking for exercise, make sure you have walking shoes that will give you the right support. You don’t want to damage any muscles just because you have the incorrect exercise apparel. Make sure your clothes are comfortable as well. They should stretch with you as you move. Don’t wear tight jeans or illfitting clothes. You want to stay focused on your exercise and not the fact that your clothes are irritating you.
4. Start slow.
If after a long lull this is your first attempt to exercise, don’t follow the “no pain, no gain” principle. If you feel some muscle soreness the next day, that’ probably okay. But if you can no longer sit up because you did 100 abdominal exercises the day before, then you probably over did it. In fact, if you over do it, you could be damaging the muscle tissues. A good exercise tip when strength training is to alternate your muscle groups. Don’t work the same muscles two days in a row.
5. Don’t skip steps.
Remember to Warm Up → Cool Down → and Stretch.
Your warm up should be approximately 5 minutes. Simply walk or march in place for a few minutes, then maybe lightly skip – warming up those muscles. After the workout routine, don’t forget to cool down. It should also be no less than 5 minutes and could be as much as 10 minutes.
6. Jumble it up!
Spring is a season of change and the perfect time to mix things up. Apart from the exercise, add something you like doing, like water aerobics or even gardening. Changing your workout can alleviate boredom and help you achieve better fitness results. So mix it up, adjust, keep it simple and have fun! By Viviene Lotilla dela Cruz
CLC LONDON STEPS UP IN THE NEW YEAR The last day of the year 2010 is a culminating time worth celebrating. And CLC London would not just let the momentous new year’s eve pass by. On the night of December 31, 2010, we gathered as one family in the church, each wearing a fine outfit harmonized by a necktie as a theme. It was a night of fun games, lively praise songs, and non-stop worship, wherein
Several minutes before the new year, CLC London branch Pastor, Ptr. Ronald Valdemoro, expressed his thoughts, emphasizing that year 2011 is definitely the year of the Lord and that as children of God, we should “step up” to a higher level of faith and be disciplined disciples. After doing the traditional new year’s countdown, everyone welcomed the year 2011 with glee as a bunch of balloons and bright confetti came falling down from the ceiling. This was followed by an exchange of loads of hugs and kisses and a joyful sharing of a gratifying new year’s meal. Another year lies ahead of us, which means 365 days of opportunity to step up in faith and make a difference. The Lord has been faithful in the past years and so will He still be, now and in the succeeding years. We are on our way to a blessed future for it is written in the scripture, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11. By Christine F. Biasura
our church leaders led prayers in between songs.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
WHAT’S COMING UP? April 1, 2011 – Toronto Extreme Praise (Praise and Prayer Night) at 7pm-9pm, Forest Hill United Church April 22, 2011 – CLC Brampton Centre Easter Presentation at 3pm-5pm April 22, 2011 – CLC Toronto Centre Easter Presentation at 6pm-8pm April 24, 2011 – CLC Scarborough Centre Easter Presentation at 6pm-8pm
Champion Life Centre welcomes Rev. Ronald Valdemoro as the new Branch Pastor of its London Branch! Ptr. Ronald is an ordained minister with the PAOC, and has been pastoring for 15 years in various positions. Until recently, he was the Associate Pastor of the same church before assuming his new role last July 10, 2010. Ronald lives in London with his wife, Melinda and children: Jabez and Jeremiah.
June 1, 2011 - Hour of Power Prayer - Brampton Centre Corporate Prayer Time; Join us for an hour with your care groups. Wednesdays at 7:30 pm June 2-4, 2011 – CLC Mega Conference 2011 at Brampton Centre LP Friday - Fridays at 7:30 pm at CLC Brampton Centre Overdrive Service - Saturdays at 6:30 pm at CLC Brampton Centre
SPRING IS THE TIME FOR REBIRTH!
Whatever the need of the moment, the answer is to be found in the Scripture. Whatever we’re feeling, whatever we’re suffering, whatever we’re hoping – The Bible always has something to say to us… Need to be Renewed and Born…Again? Titus 3:3-7 “At one time, we, too, were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” John 3:1-8 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus
Champion Life Centre exists to exalt God through loving worship, edify Christians through biblical teachings, evangelize non-Christians through witness, and to exhibit godliness through a positive presence in our community and the world. Champion Life Centre is a church with multiple locations in Toronto, Brampton, Scarborough, London and Calgary in Canada and has affiliations in the Philippines.
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by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born anew. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:10-25 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
In addition to regular worship services, Champion Life also launched the Hedgedale Community Centre in Brampton in 2007 to reach out to the needy, the lost and the hurting in the local community. The community centre has several programs such as the Feeding Program, Personal and Career Development, senior’s and youth programs, marital and general counseling, among many others.
CONTACT US BRAMPTON 55 Hedgedale Rd. 905.455.9025 info@championlife.ca TORONTO Forest Hill United Church 2 Wembly Rd. 905.455.9025 toronto@championlife.ca SCARBOROUGH Warden Full Gospel Assembly 2210 Warden Ave. scarborough@championlife.ca LONDON 1069 Clarke Road, Unit B London Ontario N5V 3B3 519.453.2131 london@championlife.ca CALGARY Metis Centre 1539 43rd St. SE Calgary, Alberta 403.207.8815 calgary@championlife.ca PHILIPPINES -32 MRC St., Talipapa Novaliches, Quezon City +63.936.6939 novaliches@championlife.ca
Presently, plans are underway to send a missions team comprised of youth and young adults to Cuba in the summer. Truly, God has blessed Champion Life Centre to be a blessing to the nations.