SET FREE

Vol. 1 No. 1 May 2019

The Official Publication of Free Youth Movement

INTROSPECT: ME IN CHRIST
Youths, pastors converge for FYM National Camp
LJOHN G. VILLANUEVA

O
ver 800 young people and pastors
gathered for the Free Youth
movement National Camp with
the theme “Introspect: Christ In Me” held
on May 27-31, 2019 at Agusan del Sur State
College of Agriculture and Technology
(ASSCAT), Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.
This camp, which happens once
every three years, aims to help the delegates
to see their identity in Christ in order for
them to become a blessing in their family and
in the community.
ME IN CHRIST
Pastor John Max P. Campos
emphasized that the true identity is really
important for it defines a person. In addition,
Pastor John Dale Camarin
said that if young people
will ground themselves with the identity in
Christ, they are already in a status of worth,
they are already in a status of a beloved
person. They are His masterpiece.
ME IN CLAN
Every family is unique according
to Kenneth and Mavy Mangadlao. Every
family is an imperfect family. Even the Bible
mentioned lots of flawed families yet there
is God who can restore all kinds of family
mess. These messes in the family reminds
people that God wants them to be aware of
their sinfulness, aware that they are powerless
to save themselves, believe and love Jesus
and the Gospel, and to graciously love one
another. Moreover, Pastora Sharon S. Barro
said that they also have to let go of the
bondages of their past. God uses their present
to create a new generation who are godly in
serving the Lord forever and ever.
ME IN COMMUNITY
Knowing /Christ doesn’t stop
personally but it must be shared with others,
as well. The moment we believed and received
Christ as your Lord and Savior, you’ve
become His disciple and follower. We are
called not to be stagnant in our faith but we
are called for a mission which is to reach out
others for them to personally know Jesus.
What you learned in camp should be shared
not only to your Judea but to Samaria and
even to the ends of the Earth. As the word of
God says in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go and make
disciples of all nations.” Are you reasy to take
on the challenge for His mission?

Bishop’s Message: A call to minister as ONE

On the last night of this year’s FYM camp,
the young people received a challenge from our
very own Bishop Alan P. Bacus. His message was
anchored on the book of Romans chapter 12. The
first point he emphasized was about our spiritual acts of
worship. Though we may have our physical acts of worship
like reading the word of God, attending Sunday worship
service and others, we should also do our spiritual acts
of worship which is through making our body as a living
sacrifice.
The second point that was emphasized is that each of us
has a function in the body of Christ. The moment we receive
Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become part of the body of
Christ and each of us has an important function. All of us
have a role in the kingdom of God. The last point he stressed
is that when a person is in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no
reason for him/her to be alone. The moment one is in Christ,
you are your brother’s keeper so you become accountable for
others. For Christ died on the cross alone, not to make us feel
that we’re alone but for all to feel otherwise.
We are not alone in God’s ministry for we are one in
Christ. The work in the kingdom of God becomes lighter and
easier when we utilize the members of the body of Christ.
Each of us has different gifts that were given in proportion
to our faith. That is why, we should not do ministry alone
because our giftings is not complete. Thus, it is really vital
to have partners in the ministry to pray and encourage one
another. This is the challenge posed by our bishop, that we
should minister to each other not individually but as one
body in Christ. Sons and daughters, are you ready to take on
this challenge? JEANETTE F. FRANCISCO
 EDITORIAL
Introspection: A Moment of Solace
W
e are so keen to observe and
censure what others do and
criticize their ways of thinking
while we overlook ours. We forget to
analyze our own thoughts and feelings
which results in repetitive mistakes. Thus,
it is very important to examine and look
inward of our own mental processes – the
introspection.
In a research done by Wood
(2013), it was found that humans have
50,000 thoughts floating in our mind on
every single day. Out of this, more than
90% thought is repetitive and attributed to
be consuming our mind space. 50% of our
thought content comes out to be negative
in nature, which has no real basis, but
are consuming our minds and energies
in wrong direction thereby hampering
our ability to think with clarity and
conviction. It will always happen so long
as we continue to let it transpire without
reflecting on the things that come across
our great minds.
Moreover, according to
Kendra Cherry in her article ‘A Look at
Introspection’, the use of introspection as
a tool for looking inward is an important
part of awareness and is even used in
psychotherapy as a way to help clients
SET FREE STAFF
Vol. 1 No. 1
The Official Publication of Free Youth Movement
JEANETTE F. FRANCISCO
Writer
LJOHN G. VILLANUEVA
Writer
NAHRON C. ANCHANGCO
Lay-out Artist
gain insight into their own feelings and
behavior. Self-awareness is in so much
importance to know your worth and the
things that you have to do.
Furthermore, Kedar Parikh Sr.
said that looking within ourselves is the
best practice. We should spent some time
on daily basis for introspection. It would
draw our attention towards the things
which can be improved in ourselves. It
gives us the chance to catch our repeating
patters that can cause us pain and change.
When we ensure introspection,
we get a spiritually anchored and seeking
mode of life, we give ourselves a chance
to rejuvenate and purify our thoughts’
processes. To get rid of the evil thoughts,
we need to sit quietly with ourselves,
talk to ourselves in a moment of solace.
Let’s engage in activities which is purely
directed to the Lord’s will in our lives. As
we continue to reflect on ourselves, let
us never forget to know our real identity
as children of God. We are expected to
obey what the Lord has commanded us
to do. More than anything else, we shall
acknowledge who we are in the very eyes of
the Lord that as we introspect, it will result
to the illumination of His glory through us.
May 2019
TRIZZ JIRA B. EVANGELISTA
CRISTY ANN V. JAYOMA
Copyreaders
ROBERT LOUIS B. BEBIS
Cartoonist
PTR. JOHN MAX P. CAMPOS
National Youth Director
ON THE EDGE
JEANETTE F. FRANCISCO
“Disconnect to
Connect and
Reconnect”
Technological advancement had been so
evident in this 21st century. On a daily basis,
almost all of us are engaged in the use of
technology. Undeniably, it had posed benefits
that helped people’s lives much easier and
enjoyable. Everything had become instant
through the use of technology like messaging,
gaming and the likes through social media
sites and even phone applications. However, it
is so alarming to note that most of the youth
of today especially Christians tend to spend
more time on these than being founded by
the word of God and communicating with
other people. Are we becoming the chosen
generation or the other way around?
Truthfully speaking, a single person
cannot become bored by playing mobile
legends or checking his/her facebook account
the whole day compared to reading a book
like the Bible or even talking to anyone. In
as much as the world is concerned, we can
benefit so much from technology but come
to think of it? Would that worldly pleasures
suffice the heavenly pleasures that you can
enjoy when we have the right relationship
with God?
Not only does our relationship with
God will suffer but also our relationship with
people for it had been shown that we had
less communication and fellowship with our
co-believers because of technology. Well,
nothing is wrong with the use of technology
but we should learn to control the use of it and
balance it with our social and spiritual growth.
Moreover, the word of God says in
Joshua 1:8 that we should meditate on the
word of God day and night so that we will be
prosperous and successful in our lives. Thus,
in order to reconnect with God, we should
disconnect with technology; in order to have
a strong relationship with Him, we should
disconnect with the relationship we have on
our worldly pleasures; in order to experience
heaven on earth, we should stop making the
earth, our heaven.
Sons and daughters, it is a challenge to
disconnect to connect with the people around
us and to reconnect with God.
 JEANETTE F. FRANCISCO
A
woman clothed with strength and
dignity; a woman of courage and
pursuit for God’s kingdom. She is a
woman who doesn’t see her imperfections
as a hindrance but rather an opportunity
to take on the challenges of this year’s Free
Youth Movement National Camp held on the
scenic campus of Agusan del Sur State College
of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT),
Bunawan, Agusan del Sur from the 27th
to 31st day of May 2019 with the theme
“Introspect : Me in Christ”.
She can be easily noticed not because
of her condition but because of the courage
she has despite of it. She was born normal
but an unexpected accident happened to
her when she was eight years old for she
fell on the stairways. From that time on,
her backbone was deformed and so she
had to undergo an operation to bring
it back to normal. However, because of
financial issue, their family just accepted
what happened to her and so she also
had to. But that didn’t stop her from
living a normal life. In fact, she always
helps in doing household chores like
dishwashing, cooking, cleaning and
others. She maybe physically unwell
to look at but she is perfectly normal
when she acts.
Perfectly imperfect
As for her studies, she recently Their host pastor, Pastor James became the
graduated from Senior High School last April channel that she accepted Jesus personally.
2, 2019 and she also planned to pursue a She was invited to a Sunday worship service
degree in college. To her, she was really excited in a house church which is located just in her
to be part of this year’s national camp for this neighborhood. She felt accepted in the church
happens just once every three years. She also and her knowledge and understanding about
wants to experience the fun and learning in God and His word were enriched. It helped
the youth camp. What’s more interesting is her transform her life to be more Christ-like.
that she is the only Free Methodist member She may had experienced bullying in her
in her family and school and community but it never stopped
she had known and her to live her life in a way God wants it to be.
accepted Jesus Although she had these
as her personal imperfections, she never questioned God
Lord and about it. Instead, she thanked Him for the life
Saviour just and strength that she was given. This time, she
last March is still in a journey with Christ and is striving
2019. to become a light not just to her family but to
others, as well. She promised to continue in
serving the Lord and help in the expansion of
His kingdom.
“Life may not be easy but I have a Lord
who is my great help. I may not be perfect
in the eyes of everyone around me but I am
deeply loved by a perfect God”, she uttered.
The woman behind these words, the woman
of strength and dignity is 26 years young from
Lumbocan Free Methodist Church. All hail
for the courageous Ms. Jeny Mara Canete Ayo!

Your next generation, your choice- Pastora Barro

LJOHN G. VILLANUEVA
“As you build your story in the
present, you are preparing to create a
new generation. A new people of your
descendants that come from you.”
It was verbalized by Pastora Sharon
S. Barro during the second night of
FYm National Camp with the theme
“Introspect: Me in Christ” heldon May
27-31, 2019 at ASSCAT, Bunawan,
Agusan del Sur.
“In this generation, we are connected
to our past and we are bridging to our
future. What is our past? Who are the
people in our past? What kind of person
are they before until you have come to
this time,” Barro asked.
Moreover, she challenged the young
people to see the future generation ahead
of them while preparing to create another
generation for the future.
God’s plan for us is to multiply. In
book of Revelation, a large multitude that
nobody can count will go to heaven,” she
uttered.
However, if people haven’t forgiven
their past, they cannot go to heaven. The
people who are unforgiving will not be story of your life. But you are
forgiven as well. creating that story for your next
“This is the right time to say ‘I’m generation. That your line of
sorry’ to the people who have offended generation will be serving the
you. You are the present generation. You Lord,” heartily said by her.
are the link of your past and a bridge to On the other hand,
your future,” the pastor stressed. she emphasized that
On the other hand, she said that everyone should ask
according to one of facebook posts, the God to forgive their
influence of a father, mother and children ancestors and pray
to influence their family to bring to for a generation
Christ are 93%, 17% and 3%, respectively. that is obedient,
“Can you imagine the family? worshipful, loving
Your ideal family in the future? You and has fear to God.
are creating a clan next to you. You are Everybody must
creating a generation you desire to have. desire that their
But, we may have our own ideals, God’s household will
will always prevails,” she stated. serve the Lord.
Additionally, everyone should desire “The next
for next generations who are obedient to generation you will
the Lord, and those who are praying and be creating is your
meditating the word of God and serving choice and you are
the Lord. making that today,”
“If you don’t like the past story of the she concluded.
lives of your older generation, you are the
present story. You can create a brand new