WE HAVE COME THIS FAR BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME, SO KEEP THE FAITH!
The Lord of the Harvest Global Ministries Gunma Ken chapter celebrated its much awaited 15th year anniversary at Isesaki bunkkakaikan last July 7,2013. With the Philippines’pop/jazz superstar “Pop Diva” Kuh Ledesma and her daughter Isabella as special guests, the event was as expected, a total blast.
Knowing the LOTHGM Gunma Ken’s history, it is truly amazing for the church to have reached this point. “We have come this far but the best is yet to come, so keep the faith!”, being the theme for the anniversary celebration, we can easily picture out a congregation of godly people striving to push further, breaking expectations and exceeding limitations all for the glory of God, and that’s exactly what occurred in the last 15 years as narrated and presented by Lothgm Gunma Media Ministry in a short film of the LOTHGM Gunma Ken’s history.
Sweat and blood were shed in mere preparation for the church’s biggest event of the year. From Ptr. Monty Izon’s critical planning, the leaders’ passionate efforts, down to the supporting members’ willful cooperation, everybody stepped forward and contributed to the success of of the celebration. It was such an astounding feeling seeing everybody filled with the holy spirit and witnessing how God exercised His sovereignty taking control of every situation and making every detail fall into its perfect place.
The event was kicked off by the event hosts Brother Leonerio Mondejar along with Sister Lorna Matsushima and Sister Erika Ogino recognizing all the sponsors who have been supportive with the church’s activities and programs ever since. The hosts’ humor quickly got the attention of more than 500 attendees which warmed up the pace of the program and was followed by Brother Koike’s solemn opening prayer. The LOTHGM Gunma Ken Music Ministry lead by song leaders Sister Giselle Sayas, Sister Liza Murooka, Brother Jebb Alibutod and Brother Walter Parabuac and in collaboration with some members from the Kashiwa team rocked the stage and got the people hyped for praise and worship with some of the hits from Hillsong United’s album ‘With Hearts as One’ such as: The Time Has Come, One Way, From the Inside Out, and many more.
In between segments, prizes were given to those who joined the raffle. Member of the Ushering Ministry Johnver Montano won the ipad mini which most seemed to be excited about. Coming from the upper area of the auditorium, he went down to the stage in split seconds. What a blessed guy! Another big winner is member of the Music Ministry Sister Zenaida Nakajima who won the grand prize of a 47inch LG flat screen. Many other attendees claimed their prizes and already, blessings were being poured upon God’s people.
The Kashiwa Music team wore uniformed t-shirts with a print of Nike’s logo and a caption that says, “LOTHGM Knows Worship”, which they proved as they performed a special intermission number singing their own song remix of the hit boyband ‘One Direction’ and a couple of familiar Christian songs. Their energy and passion got people off their seats screaming for more.
Senior Pastor of the Lord of the Harvest Global Ministries Ptr. Monty Izon received compliments on all directions and a warm welcome from the hosts. Ptr. Monty talked about the theme “We have come this far but the best is yet to come, so keep the faith.” focusing on the phrase “the best is yet to come” and tried to expand it more for the people to understand.One good quality of Ptr. Monty is that he always takes a verse in the bible or any topic and relates it to the realities of life where people could relate to. Ptr. Monty talked mainly about the perks of being a Christian. The things we didn’t know we are capable of doing and how God values us more than we can imagine. Many were blessed as Ptr. Monty preached yet another smooth-flowing sermon.
Shortly after Ptr. Monty sealed God`s word on the people’s hearts, Ms. Kuh Ledesma was called to have her grand introduction on stage. She started out with one of her popular hits “I think I’m in love” and people were suddenly on their feet. Midway through her song, she called a volunteer from the audience and one came up right away and did a sing-off with her. They both did really good on stage and were actually just having fun with the song and looking like they have known each other for a long time. Ms. Kuh Ledesma again, displaying her humility and vulnerability even to the fans. No wonder why her fans love her so much.
After a couple of songs, Ms. Kuh Ledesma went and cut to the chase as she shared the story of her life, the hurts, the pains, the struggles, and how God remained
faithful to her. She had a song prepared in line with every phase of her story making the whole thing a lot entertaining. Many were blessed with Ms. Kuh Ledesma`s story since majority of the attendees were women who got to relate with everything she said. Ms. Kuh Ledesma is a symbol of every strong woman out there who just desperately want to serve God in spite of the hard blows she took in life. Nothing could ever stop you or should ever stop anyone from serving the Almighty One. It was a mix of emotions that stirred up the crowd as Ms. Kuh Ledesma delivered her life story. A few moments after Ms. Kuh was done with her whole speech, she then introduced her lovely daughter Ms. Isabella Ledesma, who is also a sister in the faith. They did a duet performance and showed good chemistry.
The event was closed off by another song performed by the LOTHGM Music Ministry entitled ‘Salvation is Here’, joined by the whole cast of the LOTHGM Dance Ministry.
It was the perfect song to wrap up the show since it talks about the salvation that has been given to us only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This was followed by a powerful closing prayer led by Sister Helen Koike and a prayer for Ms. Kuh and Isabella lead by Ptr. Monty Izon. 500 other people laid hands on the two special guests as Ptr. Monty declared blessings upon them and the whole congregation.
2Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of rightheousness, which the Lord,
the rightheous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
By: Bro. Sean Guttierez
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