SUMMER INSTITUTE 2019

CONCEPT PAPER

THE SUMMER INSTITUTE 2019 AND ITS THEME

The Institutes are the flagship programs of, by and for the youth for holistic
development. One of the mandates entrusted to the leadership in the National level of
the UMYFP is to provide possible and usable conceptual frame for the Institutes
throughout the country. This is done to create, sustain and ensure a common ground of
understanding among and between the members of the Fellowship throughout the
nation.

This year’s Summer Institute, armed with the theme LAKBAYAN: Ang Pagsunod sa mga
Yapak ni Hesus, seeks to uphold and continue the visions of CI 2018’s Hiraya by
providing a deeper understanding on the importance of leading a Christ-like life to fulfill
the vision and mission that God has entrusted to us.

In the First letter of Apostle John 2:5-6, it says that “But whoever keeps his word, in him
truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever
says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

The main point Apostle John wants to make in this passage is now that we have known
God, and have experienced His grace through His Son Jesus Christ - it should result with
an evident and significant change in our lives and in the ways in which we live. To put it
simply, Apostle John is saying that a believer in Jesus lives like Jesus.

It is the Institute’s intent to help the young people discover not only what Jesus did, but
also how and why Jesus did what He did. And as we examine why Jesus acted the way
He did, we will be looking for a pattern—a pattern we all can follow in order to faithfully
live a life pleasing to Him.

Therefore, the Summer Institute will revolve around studying the message of His
humanity and His divinity, His journey of making disciples, and His remarkable example
of servant leadership. All of which are aimed to teach, encourage and inspire all the
young people to know Christ, make Him known, follow His steps and become more like
Him.

PROPOSED DAILY THEMATIC LESSONS FOR PROGRAM AND DEVOTIONALS

LESSON 1: LAKBAY
Scriptural Reference:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 ESV

Lakbay means to journey.

As we begin to have visions for ourselves, our church, and our society, we now move
forward and start our journey to fulfill our hirayas. Having visions is just the first step – to
go on a journey to fulfill these visions is another step.
This journey is founded by our unshakable belief in our Savior Jesus Christ who offered
His life for the redemption of our sins, that though we are not deserving of God’s grace
yet it was still freely given unto us.

Our faith in Jesus moves us forward.

LESSON 2: AKBAY
Scriptural Reference:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6

Akbay refers to the act of putting one’s arm around one’s shoulders.

A Christ-centered life begins with realizing that the source of everything we are is God.
God who knows everything, who is always present, and is powerful directed Jesus’ path
and life when he came on earth. Jesus’ trust in Him is complete and absolute. In
everything Jesus did, He acknowledged His God the Father as the source and ultimate
reason. So as followers of Christ, we too shall submit everything to God and
acknowledge His power and wisdom to direct our paths.

LESSON 3: AKBAYAN
Scriptural Reference:
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the
earth?] He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all
things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the
saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every
wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined
and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the
body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
-Ephesians 4:7-16

Akbayan comes from the word akbay. It means collective act of putting one’s arm
around each other.

A walk with God’s leading compels us to walk alongside one another, to journey
together. Jesus, who was the most powerful man here on earth at His time, did not do
His mission alone. He too had his disciples to help Him. He walks alongside with them.

Thus, fellowship is important to fulfill our visions. We cannot do it alone. We are partners
bound together by a common and shared purpose under the same Lord.
Many body parts with different functions work together for the benefit of one body.
Likewise, we with complementary strength and diverse gifts come together and are
used to our best potential. We receive and develop these gifts to offer to each other as
we are bonded and united in one Spirit.

LESSON 4: BAYAN
Scriptural Reference:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious
throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on
the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I
was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him,
saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we
see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison
and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these
my brothers, you did it to me.’
-Matthew 25:31-40

Bayan is a word that refers to a nation. Nation means a large body of people united by
common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or
territory.

Visions have emerged. And as we go behind Jesus’ steps, we take another faithful
move to go on a journey to fulfill our hirayas. The journey bathed in prayer and sincere
desire for God’s will leads every Jesus’ follower to journey together.

Now together, we are called to serve. We serve one another in the example and
command of Christ. We are called to love others as Christ loves us. Jesus fed the poor,
healed the sick, prayed for the people, befriended the outcasts, and taught the
disciples. He provided service for the least, last, and the lost.

While the calling is an inward experience, we can live out that call in various and
concrete ways. It will be a huge responsibility but also a great honor to go on this
journeying together as one nation in faithful and fruitful service to and for the world.