"KCON STORY"

(my journey from Glory to Glory to being Brave)

I can still recall the first time I attended my first Kerygma Conference way back in 2011. It was my first time stepping inside PICC, and I remember how awe I was in its beauty especially the grandeur of the red stairs that seem to be taken out from a movie or a teleserye and the chandelier that exudes its magnificence. When I entered the Reception Hall, I was flabbergasted at its size and its seating capacity as if the event that will take place is a meeting of all world leaders. After the attendees settle in and the program finally started, I soon found out that I was not prepared for the blessings God has in stored for me that day.

I didn't expect that this conference will soon start a yearly tradition of me discovering new insights and directions, collecting practical tips and studying new lessons based on the testimonies and speakers who are selfless enough to share their journey with us. And as the Kerygma Conference that started 12 years ago will come to a close, I can't help but reminisce about the highlights and memorable experiences I had ever since I became an attendee.

KCON 2011's theme back then was GLORY TO GLORY wherein I took the Inner Healing stream. At that stream, it focuses on the root cause of our brokenness, how this brokenness affects our self-image, confidence and our self-esteem. It also through this one full day talk I learned that after everything we went through in life, God is still our ultimate healer. We may cover our inner wounds with many false images of love but at the end of it all, it is only the perfect love of God that can truly and completely heal us. After a series of talks, I went home that day filled by the Holy Spirit and become more aware of my self.

The conference ended with a Grand Feast on Sunday at the CCP Open Grounds. We didn't mind the cold wind that rushes through our heads as we raised our hands as one family in worship. The moment we all sing together and give praise to God was just remarkable.

KCON 2012 came in with the theme CHAMPION'S ARISE. This is the year when we transferred to two newly built locations which we held our conferences up to today- the SMX Convention Center and the MOA Arena. The venue is spacious enough for the growing numbers of attendees and the event became bigger than before. This year, we are taught that there is an innate champion within us that is just waiting to be unleashed. We are conquerors of souls for Christ. We are already victorious because our God is victorious. Life is not a race where one competes but a marathon where one has its own pace and as long as we kept in mind that Jesus is our ultimate prize, we can endure anything.

KCON 2013's concept was EMPOWERED which means that God is the one who gives us the strength and ability to do all the things we need to do. Also in that year, I was surprised because of the number of classes that are available for us to choose from. From the standard classes like Leadership, Singles, Inner Healing, it has now expanded wherein additional topics such as Worship, Church Systems, Education, Health were introduced. Although this creates excitement for new avenues of learning, it also creates some unforeseen situations. From a shorter time given for each class, to the huge crowd of people transferring from one room to another - everything seems to be in disarray. Nevertheless, everyone seems to understand the situation and chose to be patient. At the end of it all, the blessings of God still overflowed and all attendees went home happy and blessed.

KCON 2014 LIFTED HIGH's highlight for me is when one of my favorite Catholic preacher Jason Evert became our guest speaker at the conference. He is famous for his advocacy of promoting chastity and purity for the youth and giving tips on dating and marriage. This year, KCON showed us that there is a God who always pushes us higher than we can ever imagine. It means that the success and victories that we are dreaming of are nothing compared to what God can do in our lives.

"COMING HOME" was KCON's theme for 2015. It is about going back to the One who is the source of all love and to the One who longs to bless us and anoints us. Coming Home for me means that you retreat, you step back. I imagined a warrior after exerting all his efforts and giving his best to fight in the battle which is the real world, the warrior takes refuge and comfort in his home and that is the arms of Jesus. It is a place of regaining your strength, filling up with His love, it is a moment of peace, of tranquility.

The following year, Kerygma Conference the country's biggest Catholic learning event celebrated its 10th year of inspiring people. That is why it is appropriate that this year's theme is FORWARD. Moving forward in this KCON means that you leave all the past behind and be ready for what lies ahead. It is not just moving from one place to another but it is a place of being nothing to becoming something. As I write this, I remember the story of the woman in the bible who was caught in adultery. If you recall the story, we see that the people are ready to stone her. But Jesus, who is the source of forgiveness told them "Who doesn't have sin cast the first stone." and one by one the people left leaving the woman unharmed. When Jesus looked at her, he did not condemn the woman, instead, He looks at her full of love and told her "Go and sin no more". In this scenario, we see that people treated her as if she is "nothing" but Jesus sees different, He sees her future and that IS something.

After coming home to God and going forward to our future, sometimes we tend to give up easily. When all the excitement faded away, and adrenaline started to fall, what happens next? Do we just abandon our dreams or remain COMMITTED to the promise and goals we set in our lives?. KCON 2017 posed that question in my head when I attended that year. Admittedly, we sometimes forget that the hardest battles are fought not in the beginning nor when you are almost at your destination BUT in the middle when nothing is happening. The way I see it, the "middle" part is a time of waiting. Because this part is when you are not seeing the results yet of your efforts. You might overcome the fear of beginning, but being COMMITTED is a different story. When you keep on praying that your husband stops being alcoholic but nothing happens, will you still serve him? If your income doesn't reach your target, will you continue? When you decided to exercise but you don't seem to lose that extra weight, will you still go to the gym? Life is not always being present in the big moments. It is (or most especially) being consistent in the small things.

The following year, we were introduced to a God who is LIMITLESS. A God who has the whole world in His hands. God is always ready to bless us and pour out His abundance on us. We are reminded that the problem is not whether God will bless us or not. The problem is we are too closed fisted that we missed His blessings. God has already given us the resources we needed to fulfill our dreams. It is up to us whether we use it or not.

Last month, I have attended the "last" KCON ever. Kerygma Conference 2019: BRAVE. I must admit that this year's KCON is the most amazing KCON I've ever been to. From the very diverse topics to powerful guest speaker Ken Yasinski, it was indeed a marvelous and spirit-filled moment. During the conference, one preaching that I was able to connect with is the bravery of Mary. Just to give you the gist of the story, it said that like Mary, we should be BRAVE enough to follow God even though we don't see yet the other end. In Mary's story, despite being fearful of bearing the Son of God, she still chooses to obey and follow. I wonder, what if she knew the effects of her "YES", will she answer the same? Being brave is not having fear. Being BRAVE is even though you are fearful, you still willing to face the unknown head-on.

Kerygma Conference helped me change my perspective on so many levels in different aspects of my life. It shattered my perception of certain things and introduced new tips and lessons that are simple and practical. It showed me that we are made from GLORY to GLORY and made us realize that there are CHAMPIONS within us waiting for ARISE. We are EMPOWERED and LIFTED HIGH by the God who is the source of all blessings and strength. But beyond all these things, we are also reminded that we can always COME HOME anytime so that we can move FORWARD later on. As long as we are COMMITTED to our dreams, I believe that we can receive the LIMITLESS abundance of the Lord. Just hold on, trust Him and be BRAVE.

Now that a new decade has come, I'm just excited where God will bring me. What more blessings will He show me and I'm sure I will learn new things about Him. There are more things need to be discovered, moments that need to be experienced. We may say goodbye to the Kerygma Conference, but don't worry FEAST CONFERENCE 2020 is coming! Let's start... In the Beginning.