Singles SOARing in Manila

It all started on Thursday afternoon with a Bible Talk Leader Workshop where Todd Asaad, Dallas, Texas, USA, lead evangelist, challenged us to lead Bible Talks where “men can be men”. Too often we focus on building relationships, on nurturing; we emphasize safety of risk, stability over change, predictability over adventure. All good things, but men want action, adventure, tension, intrigue, impossible odds. To build Bible Talks (and churches) that attract men, requires a focus on adventure and daring.

 

Thursday night’s Opening Night Celebration was exactly that – an amazing celebration. The Manila church gathered acrobats, singers, dancers, music, songs, and scriptures to inspire and set the mood for the singles to SOAR.

 

Singles were called to

 

Andrew Moreno from the Dubai church in the United Arab Emirates, walked the crowd through Joseph’s life, noting how all along it was God’s dream, God’s timing, and God that was being glorified as Joseph SOARed to greater and greater heights in his life.

 

Friday morning saw a (very!) early start with the first classes already beginning at 8am! But the singles rose to the occasion and classrooms were full as they heard people from around the world teaching and sharing about Relationships (with God, with your physical family, with other singles), Excellence in your character, SOARing as single parents and being Single & Joyful.

 

After a fellowship break another series of classes were held on Purity, Living a Disciplined Life, special needs for addictions were addressed and the singles were inspired to recommit themselves to the Mission as men and women of conviction.

 

A long lunch break allowed for extended fellowship as the singles descended on the city of Manila to nourish their stomach and their souls and lots of evangelizing along the way.

 

In the afternoon another series of classes inspired the singles to SOAR in their careers, SOAR in their maturity, singles were reminded of and inspired to once again have Visions & Dreams. Another class shared about HOPE, another addressed Dealing with Past Hurts and an Apologetics class gave faith-building insights on being a Christian worldwide.

 

If that wasn’t enough –and it wasn’t! – the single sisters then got a chance to meet together and worship God in song and hear Lin Beaty preach about living a passionate life. The sisters then turned the hall over to the brothers for their own time of worship and preaching from Morris McCormick.

 

The day concluded with a Worship Devotional where songs and scriptures were interspersed for a time of worship to God.

 

 

Saturday morning saw another very early start with a 6am physical fitness session to inspire the disciples to SOAR in their physical lives as well.

 

Then it was onto the busses to visit and volunteer at the Center of HOPE village in Laguna, Philippines, where HOPE offers short- and long-term holistic care, treatment and placement for children that have been sexually and/or physically abused. The Center is a safe-harbor for children where they are offered a place to stay in a family setting and trained staff offer a wide range of skills to treat each child’s individual needs.

 

Saturday night the SOAR 2010 mixer saw over 1,000 singles experience pure, clean fun. In line with the “Heaven” theme, singles were encouraged to dress in “pristine white” and wear wings.

 

What better way to celebrate the lessons learned and the friendships forged than to party in the Spirit!

Singles danced the night away, reveled in the concert music, and engaged in wholesome conversation with interesting company in a coffee lounge ambience.

 

Sunday, the singles joined with the entire Metro Manila church for a time of praising God. Over 6,000 disciples praised God in song, dance, prayer, communion and fellowship. Brothers prayed in 5 languages. Good news was shared from Thailand, the Middle East and Manila. Marco Pelizzeri from Los Angeles, challenged everyone to be Sold Out And Rejoice.

 

The words of the theme song, taken from Isaish 40:28-31 and written/arranged by disciples in Manila’s AMS ministry, captured the conference’s desire to reinvigorate the singles ministry and inspired the singles throughout the conference and as they head back home to

 

 

Singles acknowledged that

 

The singles were reminded that

 

 

 

Many many thanks are extended to the Manila church for the phenomenal job they did in organizing and hosting the first ever International Singles Conference outside the United States. Truly they served and inspired the singles to SOAR to greater heights.