"'Itong ampli ko, Bro!" Tawag ko kay Greg na siyang in charge sa mixer ngayong araw na ito. Nag-thumbs up siya at sa kaniyang pagtungo narinig ko na rin ang paglakas ng volume ng Electric Guitar. Perfect.

I lifted my wrist. Fifteen more minutes to 10:00. An atmosphere of glee and excitement was evident in the air, one so evident that anyone stepping in would immediately be influenced. I watched in admiration. True, I had been attending churches before, but this is my first being part of a Church Anniversary.

I checked once more how my guitar was tuned and after a few last twists, I placed the guitar to its stand. The other instrumentalists were still on their positions, making sure theirs' sounded right. I was rest assured. Alas sais pa lang ay nandito na kami kanina upang magpractice. It was only an hour ago that we ended when Grace told us she must get on to preparing already.

With her in mind, I scattered my gaze, looking towards the entrance as I did. Marami nang mga tao ang pumapasok sa pinto, boxes and plastic containers in hand as they did. Kaniya-kaniya kasing nagdala ang mga church members ng mga potahe na aming pagsasaluhan mamaya. I smiled. Truly, this is how a spiritual family looks like.

"Gabriel?" I heard a familiar voice from behind, and with this I turned around.

"Hello!" She greeted, waving towards me as she approached.

For a moment I couldn't speak, breathless as I watched her from head to toe. Her waistlong hair was let loose behind her back, a crisp white blouse tucked in a vibrant red Tapis clothed her shapely frame - the same shade of red that tinted her full lips. I swallowed hard.

"Uy!" In a snap I blinked back to my senses, scurrying my mind for words to say. She looked up at me with her rounded eyes, a gleam of wonder in it as she did so.

"Hello, Grace," I breathed, my gaze still upon her as I spoke. I smiled as I saw her face slowly show a tint of red.

She forced a laugh, "So paano na? Should I call you Pastor? Ordination niyo nang naki-weekly Bible School eh."

Natawa nalang ako at umiling, "Associate Preacher lang naman, Grace, Pastor ka d'yan."

Her smile widened, giggling as she did so, "Gano'n na rin yon!" She drew closer "... Pastor?"

A smile made its way to my lips. Was it just me? Or was there something in the way she said 'pastor' that seemed so alluring? I shook my head. "Tara na sa harap? Three minutes nalang mag-sastart na eh,"

She nodded with a smile, walking ahead of me towards the platform at my word. I took in a breath, only to find my lungs filled with her fragrance. I shut my eyes, restraining myself as I felt a fire within me kindled. Ay sus ka pay, Gabriel. I took a step and followed behind her, uttering a silent prayer as I scaled onto the platform. Oh Jesus, forgive my carnality.

It only took ten minutes mula nong magsimula ang service at tinawag na rin ang Worship Team para sa Worship. One by one, we scaled onto the platform, taking hold of our respective instruments as Grace's voice was heard from the speakers.

"Naimbag nga agsapa, kakabsat!*" She greeted, and at her word a wave of responses followed after. "Indeed God has been good, amen!?"

"Amen!!!"

"Hallelujah! So since you all have responded 'Amen', let's begin to give God praise right now for what He's done, and for who He is, shall we?"

As soon as she spoke those words, she broke into High Praises, shouts of praise and adoration sliping her tongue as she did so. Sumabay na rin kaming mga instrumentalist, volume heightening in response to the people's voices. Immediately the atmosphere seemed to shift, as though being elevated with each moment that passed by.

I could only shut my eyes in worship, praising along with the others as the worship turned more spontaneous. For months now, tongues seemed to have been a normal part of my prayers, so it didn't take much effort when my earthly words were converted to heavenly ones, declaring mysteries with my mouth as we magnified God.

The High Praise went on for about five minutes, and with a signal from Grace's hand, we began to play the song's intro.

"Come alive, come alive, come alive dry bones!"

She began to sing, her words in tune like a prophecy to the ears. Power resounded with her voice, and with each passing moment fire seemed to overwhelm the building. Hindi ko man nakikita, but there was a spiritual shift going on in the place. In my spirit I felt chains being broken, hearts revived. I lifted my gaze, my whole being filled with awe. Oh God, indeed You are powerful! I shut my eyes and began to sing along.

"Are you waiting on heaven?
Or is it waiting on you?
For the Holy Ghost is already in the room,
So you better get ready,
'Cause who knows what He'll do,
Where the four winds blow there's a
Breakthrough breaking through..."

She lifted her hand, arms in position as though declaring to the heavenlies.

"So I will prophesy again!

Come alive, come alive, come alive dry bones,
Come alive, come alive, come alive dry bones,
Awake, arise! Inhale the light.
Come alive, come alive!"

With hands lifted the congregation sang along, receiving the declaration as they worshipped along. I took in a breath, a smile on my face as God's Spirit took over the place. Be glorified Jesus, yes, be glorified!

A feeling of incitement began to boil within me, joy overflowing as I heard Pastor Fernando declare the call for the Bible School Students. It had been 8 months, 8 full months of rigorously studying, learning, and absorbing the Word of God. Sleepless nights, exhaustive readings, all that we might be considered worthy of presenting and teaching His words. We have a long way to go, but praise God for the opportunity to even begin.

Sabay-sabay kaming tumayo ng mga kasamahan ko, all in our formal attires as we walked off the pew and into the Altar. The face of pastor Fernando, along with pastor Melchour filled my perception, smiles in their faces as they welcomed us to the front.

"Today, young men," Pastor Fernando's voice echoed in the building, "We recognize your desire to become misters of the Gospel. We pray that the good work begun in you will, by His grace, reach completion in His perfect timing"

With this, I along with the four men gathered in front knelt down, our heads lowered as we received the prayers and declarations from the congregation. It was in the midst of all this that I once again heard a familiar voice.

I called you, to be sent.

Tila nabuhayan ang buong pagka-tao ko, the familiar words echoing in my head. It was in that moment that I finally understood what those words meant. Tears of joy began to well down my clasped lids, an unusual warmth engulfing my being.

Instinctively I felt my arms lift, hands now raised in surrender as I began to sense His manifest Presence.

"Here I am, Lord," I called out, "Send me!"

•••

There were smiles almost everywhere I glanced, and with this I couldn't help but smile as well. Natapos ng matagumpay ang unang part ng Anniversary Program. Medyo na-delay nga lang ang lunch dahil napahaba ang Altar Call kanina dahil sa Ordination namin.

Hanggang ngayon tila hindi parin ako makapaniwala sa mga nangyari. The salvation, the deliverance, the empowerment. Almost a year, I have been giving my all for almost a year to finally be able to fully understand His word, and I couldn't help but feel extreme gratitude for all these months, how God took me from utter darkness and into what I am right now. In no way am I already where I need to be, but Praise God, I just realized how far I've gone because of His grace.

I returned my gaze to the circle of chairs that I was a part of, glancing once more at Grace as she ate. My breathing hitched, causing me to lower my head in haste. She looks breathtaking today - so utterly breathtaking.

For a moment thoughts began to overwhelm my mind, the desires once again in a tug of war as I thought. Immediately, a feeling of concern began to seep in.

Oh Abba, I'm in love with Your Anointed.

Please Father, that You would make me a man who can love her right, a man who can lead her to You. My flesh desires instant gratification, but I don't want to do anything that's not according to Your timing. I want to do this right, Lord. Help me to wait, help me to put my raging emotions to rest.

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•Pictures used for Cordilleran Tapis Visuals are mine.