Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Message From Lorenzo "Kiddo" Cosio

of the Elim Community in Manila, Philippines.

**********

GenRev in Malaysia

The lights went out and the people went wild. It was time for GenRev Live in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Over a thousand people had come to spend the night in crazy worship. The comedic intro video played on the two large screens on either side of the stage, much to the delight of the now restless crowd of young people. The action was about to begin and they could feel it. We, the team waited in the wings for the time to get out on stage. We could feel it. It was in the air. God was moving.

Behind the Scenes
The past week found a team from Elim in Kuching, Sarawak (the biggest state in Malaysia, if I'm not mistaken) for the Fan Into Flame Conference and Concerts. The conference went great, with many leaders and members of communities from all across Malaysia in attendance. Throughout the sessions, God was manifesting Himself in a special way, revealing Himself powerfully.

There were two concerts scheduled during our trip, one of which was GenRev Live. And so we found ourselves backstage, feeling the electricity in the atmosphere, ready to get out onto the stage and give our all to God. We had prepared, practiced and prayed up for the past few months. We had come a long way and were at the moment of reckoning.

So we got out on stage...

The music played...

And the place blew up in praise.

It was insane.

People were singing their heads off and dancing like crazy in worship. Leading the people in worship, I didn't know if I should laugh out loud or cry because it was that awesome. So I did a lot of both - laughed and cried - as everyone rocked out. God is awesome, and He was there in power.

The Youth of the Nation
The Malaysian youth are amazing people. Even while preparing for the conference and concerts, I could sense how much God wanted to do through the youth of that country. A deep love for them had already been welling up in my heart as we prepared for the trip, and it just came forth during those days of the conference. I could just look at their faces and feel the potential, have a little taste of the vastness of what God could do through them. It was is if God was saying, "Hey, Kiddo, get a good long look at these people. I'm gonna use them to change the face of the earth."

And that's biblical. Jesus said that He would send His spirit and we would be His witnesses to the World, we would stand for Him, we would do the great things He did - and far greater, as well. And Psalm 104:3 says, "When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth." God is going to use people - us, young people included - to change the face of the earth, by the way we live, because we are filled with His Spirit.

I guess that's what I saw happening in Malaysia the past week. I saw it as such a privilege and honor to share the company of the youth in that part of the world. Young people, taking a stand for God, choosing to live for Him above all, giving their lives to Him in worship, and being filled with the Spirit. Spirit-filledness is world changing.

Thank You
To the Malaysian youth (and yeah, even the older people), thank you for being a light to me. I know that our team went to your country with the hopes of sharing something with you; but I feel like we received so much more than we could have ever imagined. This little essay doesn't do justice to the impact you have had on my life (and I'm sure I speak for many in the GenRev Team as well).

Thank you for the love and warmth, for the hospitality and for being so generous. Thank you for being yourselves, because it was such a blessing to be with you. I believe that there are so many great things God has in store for you, and your country, and us and our country as well. So, together let's stand for Jesus and change the world!

9 comments:

Audrey Yu said...

Gosh, how did you know about GenRev and Elim? I was one of the participants in the Fan Into Flame conference! And GenRev ROCKS!!!!

chowkueyteow said...

Hi Audrey!

Ah, I heard about the conference from a friend who stays in Kuching who then invited us over for it. =)

I was one of the participants too, actually, hehe. They ROCKS!!!! indeed...I was just telling those in my community (who had the chance to bump into me) that I've never seen praise and worship so on fire for God before, and it's with hope that I look to the day that we in Malaysia are able to burn with such fire and passion for Jesus Christ.

In my opinion, I would say that the GenRev team appears a tad more passionate and heartfelt in praise and worship as compared to Planet Shakers, which - with all due respect - seems more...performance-based. Just my opinion.

And it's Catholic! =)

It'd be interesting to know how you came across this blog, though... =)

Audrey Yu said...

Oh yeah, they really ROCK! And I had the opportunity to meet all of them in person too. I've not been to Planet Shakers concert, but going to this one by Elim Youths has already set me on fire. Who says we Catholics don't know what is a worship concert? :)

Gosh if I knew you were there, we would be able to have a little chat. You attended the whole seminar?

Oh well, I came across your blog through Peter Tan's MyRCBlogNet. Oh, please visit my blog for the pictures of the Elim members.

God bless!

Anonymous said...

wahhh sounds like you had good time!

chowkueyteow said...

Hi again Audrey!

Ah, yes, we managed to hang out with three of the girls for a bit as well, as they were staying at my friend Julius' place... =) they're really cool, eh?

Haha, I doubt we'd have been able to recognise each other...besides, we didn't even know each other then, did we? =)

Yup, I was there for the whole thing, with the exception of the Women In Revival session, hehe...in case you didn't know, I was there at the "youth" meeting at the BOL centre as well... =) if you look carefully enough at the first picture you posted up of the session, you can just about see my feet on the far right - the one without pants attached...

Ah, the MyRCBlogNet...he hasn't updated it for a while now, has he? Great to stumble across another fellow Catholic blogger from it anywho! =)

God bless!

**********

Hi Meit!

I did have a good time indeed! =)
Welcome back to Malaysia!

Thanks for dropping by!

Audrey Yu said...

Haha... looks like this is a small world after all. :) I checked the other photo which I've taken from another angle, and I think I know which one is you. :)

Well, looks like you've spent more time with them than I. Good thing. :) Yes, they are definitely cool. Young, hot, cool. Hehehe.

Well, there's always a way to meet each other even though we don't know how the other looks like. There's always something called the handphone. Anyway, if you happen to attend any kind of conference again, let me know eh? :)

Oh, are you going for the IMAGINE Conference in Philippines in October?

God bless!

chowkueyteow said...

Hi yet again Audrey!

Aha, you'd have had to know how I look like by now...my face can be found at various places within this blog, hehe.

Ah, yes, we could keep in touch through our blogs and stuff like that...will definitely let you know if I'm around in Kuching or anything, hehe.

I highly doubt I'll be going for that conference, as classes would have started by then, and I'd have tons of things to do, with ministry and all. Are you? =)

God bless!

about a izzat said...
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Anonymous said...

it's very amazing to know that there is still someone like you alive in earth.. young yet very outspoken about your faith.. i'm actually reading a book of yours right now.. very inspiring indeed!=D