“Keeping the Vision, Building Upon the Foundation” has been the theme around which the youth and singles activities of UCG-Manila revolved for more than a year now. The recent development in the Manila congregation of acquiring on long-term lease a central church activity venue which our pastor Mr. Rey Evasco officially called UCG Activity Center (UCG-AC) has created a contagious feeling of excitement and anticipation among us all in Manila.

The question now is: “What’s next?”

To date, we have our Youth and Singles Bible study before the service every last Sabbath of the month, Speech Club meetings are scheduled every other month while other related activities are also scheduled to balance off the expected lull especially between the Fall and Spring Festivals.

One of the games played during our recent meeting was the “honk-beep.” In this game one of the members of the group was blindfolded and asked to pass through a narrow trail only trusting on the “honk and beep” shouts of directions from his/her teammates.

Another activity was called “The Perfect Model” wherein the group tries to imitate the appearance of a model in another room as described by a group mate.

Then we had this final activity for the day, “The Art of Appreciation.” In here, the youths and singles took turns in passing the yarn to the person whom they wished to convey their appreciation. Each person was given a few minutes to say something positive to the person who was holding the other end of the yarn.

We also had our brainstorming session where we shared different ideas for future activities around the theme. One of our aims is to assist during Church services. Regarding this, assignments were given to youth coordinators for the current year. The new youth coordinators to assist specific functions are: Jeremy Ellamil (Activities Planning), Karlo Santos (Ushering), David Jonathan Remo (PA System), Nona Gizelle Ellamil (Flower Arrangement), Audrey Ruth Angcos (Secretary), and Gracielle Remo (Treasurer). The assignments, on rotation basis, were meant to organize the youths during their training stage.

Undoubtedly this is a wonderful start for the year 2007. We all hope that God will bless our small efforts to train our youths in developing a godly and service-oriented character striving to keep the vision of the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Last February 25, 2007, the youths were privileged to be the first to “put their hands to the plow” as we first used the UCG-AC for our “Team-Building and Planning Activity.”

With this, everyone must be sober on the great responsibility in keeping steady hands on our little plow, our vision clearly focused and never looking back as our Almighty God unfolds with great excitement His answers to our youthful question: WHAT’S NEXT?

© 2007 United Church of God, AIA - Pilipinas