The room was buzzing with excitement, as VCF-Pioneer’s main “sanctuary,” where the church services are usually held, was transformed into a concert room for the youth and the young-at-heart, as they attended VCF Pioneer’s Youth Ministry’s first big event... Ever...

Pastor Armin Torculas had been so excited for this event. Expecting 500 guests, and praying that at least 150 of these would get plugged into church, electricity was making the air crackle, as anticipation and excitement hung thick in the air.

Soon, as the sets started, with a cover of Higher by the Alter Lights, a portent of the rest of the night --rockin’ and über fun-- was soon established. From alternative music to break-dancing by Mycs and the other dancers from Robinson’s Pioneer’s Dance Ministry kids, to a Rap set by D Rodd down to a slow, melodious rap set by MC Lara and AWOL, it was truly a world-class entertainment event.

But the house was brought down by the rafters when Ms. Lei Bautista anointed a couple of mainstream greats by other OPM artists, the songs Kapag Umulan and Cool Ka Lang, with her powerful vocals. I’m sure that those were not just the vocals there, but I sure felt that the admiration was more for her humility, and how the Holy Spirit truly moved through her music.

Ms. Lei, as well as MC Lara talked about their lives before and with Jesus, and truly, this showed the audience, the youth who are aching to make a difference, that even formerly undesirable lives could be used, powerfully, by Jesus.

The sets were ended with Acel (former Moonstar88 lead singer) singing and exhorting the youth that it’s only God who can truly satisfy: not money, not fame, not anything else. Just God. And even then, He’ll give back all the things you’ve been asking for, as add-ons to His presence.

Truly, Jesus is the only One who can make us laugh and cry at the same time, and He is the only One who can satisfy our innermost needs; who can inspire us to lift our hands, without being shy... (Words paraphrased from a song from Acel’s solo album)

I’m sure the youth were inspired with how Jesus could turn lives around and use even their own lives as an influence with His glory. I’m sure that over and above the donuts, the coffee or the LIFE SIMs freely given throughout the event, about the cellphone they raffled out... It was about how Jesus could truly be glorified in our lives, when we enroll our lives on the Rock of Ages.


***

Rock Enrolled ended at 10:00 P.M. on the dot, on my clock; 10:05 on VCF’s clock.
Artists and sets:

Alter Lights: Higher and You’re a God covers
No Name band: Green Tinted and To Be With You
Hazel and Krystle with Nimrod’s Band
D Rodd
MC Lara and AWOL
Lei Bautista with Nimrod’s Band
Acel with Nimrod’s Band