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Richie Ferrera: In Dallas, Texas, choir members from all across the United States gathered in one place for a momentous and unforgettable event, the first ever US Choir Special Gathering. Larlyn Hinkle gives us the details.
Larlyn Hinkle: Airports from all over the United States were filled with members of the Church of Christ all going to one place, Dallas, Texas, for a special and once in a lifetime event, the US Choir Special Gathering.
Larlyn Hinkle: Once we landed, we went straight to the Dallas chapel with lines and lines of eager members, filled with excitement, eager and looking forward to a weekend filled with blessings. And through the southern hospitality of the brethren in South Central States, we were welcomed by the hosts of this highly anticipated gathering.
Zachary Vadney: It feels good to see a bunch of people that we don’t know, but we all come together for the glory of God. So it’s nice to see. It’s very humbling.
Dean Malabanan: We got so excited, and we couldn’t wait for that day to come. We started planning already, three months in advance, up to the day of actual special events. So Dallas was really, really anticipating, and we were so, you know, we couldn’t wait for that moment to come. The brethren, the officers. We had a lot of fun doing it, you know. So it was like a different level of brotherhood and unity, because we knew something special was going to happen.
Jane Manahan: Our district is basically all hands on deck. As soon as we heard about it. First of all, everybody was excited. Everybody was and everyone just wants it to be a success. So we’re just, we just feel blessed and humbled about it all.
Larlyn Hinkle: We arrived here last night in Texas, and that’s when I checked in, got our badge, and it was really nice being able to see all the different brethren from across the whole U.S. all coming together to unite for this activity. But what I’m really looking forward to is our practice tonight. Meanwhile, there’s actually a workshop going on behind me, so let’s go take a look at what they’re doing in there.
VO: As part of the events this weekend, all kinds of workshops were held aiming to help further the knowledge of choir directors and organists, in hopes they’d also share what they learned to their respective districts. Before this moment, we’ve all been practicing on our own, and this is the first time we’re all hearing all our voices come together. This was only the beginning. It’s 5 a.m. and choir members have begun arriving at the CCC. Everyone is so eager about this first ever choir special gathering.
VO: It was magnificent. All in attendance could feel the Holy Spirit through the hymn singing and the lesson prepared by the Church Administration, led by Brother Eraño Codera, one of the primary helpers of the executive Minister, the lesson we heard inspired us all. This was a moment that was filled with many blessings. Connected via video streaming, we were also sites in Alaska, Micronesia and Hawaii.
Julio Gallegos: Well, this activity by itself, it’s going to be, it’s going to be one of my favorite things, where you’re gathering as one choir, just to harmonize and sing to God. Singing to God and pouring out your soul in our voices in perfect harmony. It’s just, it’s so beautiful, so beautiful.
[Hymn singing]
Don Jesusa: Everything that’s going on in the world and a lot of bad influences, staying active in their duty.
Faye Kay Jesusa: Our salvation, like in the hymns, rests in our duties. So continuing in our duties may lead us to our salvation.
Josephine Jesusa: It’s such unmeasurable blessings for us, since our goal is to actually perform as a choir, as a family. So it’s a great blessing.
Kelvin Moncera: To hear the message coming from the Church Administration. In addition to singing the hymns, the power of the Holy Spirit was just so powerful, and to sing that in unity with the my fellow brothers and sisters, who are basses and tenors and with all the other voices combined, it was something that I will always treasure for the rest of my life. The biggest takeaway is really that to level up in our performances.
[Hymn singing]
Jamie Santos: The biggest thing I’m taking from the lesson today is how important this duty is in the worship service.
Emilie Juatco: With that lesson, you know that God loves that you are in the choir and you are fulfilling the plan that God wants, because you are helping the brethren. Every message of the hymn, the brethren will pick up those messages. It’s really so nice to be a choir member.
Cristina Callejo: The moment he started, you already know you are receiving something beyond expectation. It was so enlightening. I really feel so blessed. I learned a lot, and I got stronger.
VO: The Children’s Worship Service choir members also had their part, uniting with the rest of the choir members in singing these wonderful hymns of praise.
Anabelle Yambao: It was a very blessed occasion. I’m thankful for the Church Administration. My son and then my daughter got to join us in the choir special gathering. I’m thankful that they were both, you know, in the choir when this happened. It helped them see how important it is to be a strong member inside the Church.
Don Baylon: I feel great. It was amazing. The hymn singing was beautiful. The lesson was really inspiring. The biggest takeaway was the message to keep going, that God’s going to be with you no matter what trials you face, no matter what hardship you might face, any challenges and struggles, God will be with you.
Brother Andrey Silva: The most blessed experience for so many brethren, especially the choir members. You know, it was different generations of choir members that were there to experience that special gathering, the reaction of the brethren, even the reaction of us the ministers, it was just such a blessing, a blessed moment, a blessed experience. This is going to be one of those occasions that won’t soon be forgotten by our brethren, who are choir members.
[Hymn singing]
Larlyn Hinkle: So we just finished our US choir special gathering, and it was such a spiritual activity to be able to hear 1000s of choirs singing together. And now we have, as you can see behind me, different booths set up for all of the choir members. We’ve got professional booths, those who are still in school or those who are looking to grow professionally. And then we also have health and wellness booths and booths that also cater to the different hobbies and activities that the choir members are into.
VO: And as much as there were fun booths, what took center stage were all the informative booths that were beneficial in so many ways, from professional development to educational and health advice.
Gemma Stirba: We are helping lead the health and wellness segment. We have the eye and vision screening, we have the vocal care, or vocal health, and then also the posture care. So putting this together with all recruiting choir members who are also helping professionals has been very exciting, special for us too, as the Church had something in mind to gather health professionals who have been in the choir for many years. And how is it like to be able to juggle being physicians and being a dentist or palmetrist and also stay in your choir and go through that education.
Cliff Stirba: Life is going to come at you, whether you’re in choir or not. People when they start, when it gets tough, people tend to wonder, should you stop attending choir practice or step down? Just think about that. And the thing is, it’s just you going to just keep going.
Brian Berling: As choir members, we love performing our duties, of course, but it’s not the only thing that we do with our lives. We’re all well rounded people. Of course. We all have our careers. Many of us are studying. We all have our many interests. So the administration really wanted to express that as well, to really explore the different facets of our lives. Testimonies from our choir members who are performing their duties while still having all of the other aspects of their life is a great way for everyone to really understand the value of taking on that duty, of taking on those responsibilities.
VO: For choir directors like Lei, being part of this first choir gathering brought her back to when she first became a choir member in a small locale in El Paso Texas at the age of 19, where she was the only choir member, organist and TSV officer all at once.
Larlyn Hinkle: So what are your thoughts on the whole choir gathering that we’ve had and the overall activity that we’re having today?
Leilisa Garma: It was very spiritual. I think it really edified a lot of the brethren today. This is the first of its kind. It’s a big blessing. It was very spiritual and very enlightening.
VO: The event ended with a short but very fun program that was so special and tinche perfect way to end the event before we all parted ways.
Rhodora Megia: I am so fortunate to be able to have witnessed so many talents, and not only choir members and all the support the ministers, you know, and then Brother Eduardo approving the concept. And then, of course, our those that are helping him, who has been such a great support to the choir. You can feel in them every time they come up with a project, it’s only to edify the choir members. And their love for the choir is really overwhelming, in a sense that we are so fortunate to have them as leading us.
Brother Ryan Malabanan: We hope that the goal will be accomplished. See the major impacts of what the event has, not only in the congregational hymn singing, but even in individual lives of the brethren, you would be able to see their progress, not only in this life, but their progress in spiritual life.
Larlyn Hinkle: It’s really hard to put into words how special today’s activity and even this whole weekend’s activity has been for the choir special gathering. Even though we are so far apart, we all share that same commonality as choir members, as that experience and understanding, knowing what we go through, it’s the same as a choir member. From Dallas, Texas. I’m Larlyn Hinkle, reporting for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network.
Richie Ferrera: That was amazing and historical. If you were there, tell us about the greatest blessing you were able to experience, and stay tuned to INC News World for a special episode featuring a more in-depth look at this once-in-a-lifetime event coming soon on YouTube. Well, that does it for us on this episode of INC News World. Tune in every weekend for new episodes of INC News World on INCTV and our YouTube channel. I’m Richie Farrera, thank you for joining us. Stay safe. We’ll see you next time. God bless.
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