JANUARY 2021

Talk: Rhythms of Grace

The Feast Family January 2021 started with Bro. Bo Sanchez, our founder, SFH—Serving-from-Home—and his introduction of The Feast Talk series for January 2021, Rhythms of Grace.

The January 2021 Feast talk series brought us back to our long-running study of the Gospel of Matthew.

We discussed how Matthew described the different ways people respond to Jesus:

1) Some are positive, believing in Him and saying, “You’re the Messiah!”; 2) Some are negative, rejecting Him and saying, “You’re the king of demons!”: 3) Others are neutral, still asking, and doubting.

Mercy Ministry:

Anawim Home for Abandoned Elderly

The Coronavirus Disease Pandemic may have stopped mass gatherings, business operations, even family reunions –but not mercy and kindness.

Long before the COVID Menace, Sis. Aida Dy (above right) and Sis. Lynda Reyes (extreme right) benefactors and Board members of our Anawim Home for Abandoned Elderly, have been raising funds for Anawim. One of their projects: selling fashion accessories at The Feast Bay Area.

They also organized members of The Feast to visit our lolos and lolas regularly. The pilgrims in action for the lolos and lolas, from top: They sing; They dance; They go crazy following wacky action song led by a lola.

FEBRUARY 2021

Talk: Rhythms of Grace

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight…

Yes, those are the first lines of Sonnet 43, How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrettt Browning, English poet of the Romantic Movement which we quoted since February is Valentine Month, and our issues indeed counted the way God loves us… We continued the Feast Talk series, Rhythms of Grace, focusing on the part of the Gospel of Matthew discussing the Pharisees “demanding” that Jesus produce a miracle, revealing the emptiness of the soul apart from God. Here, Bro. presents a key message of the Talk series: “God is inside you.”

Mercy Ministry:

He Cares Mission for Street Children

In Genesis 15:18, God promised to give Abraham and his descendants a land: “I promise to give your descendants all this land from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates River.”

The land, as we know now, is Canaan, located on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.

From Abraham’s story, He Cares Mission for Street Children borrowed the name of its latest project, yes, The Promised Land. By God’s grace, a supporter donated to He Cares 5.5 hectares land which He Cares, led by Bro. Joe Dean Sola, is now developing to provide food for the children under its care.

Since He Cares’ Day 1, the Light of Jesus Family has supported the Mission as Bro. Bo has included the Foundation as a partner beneficiary of The Feast Family, part of LOJ’s Mercy Ministry, now with Bro. Hermie Morelos as chairman.

MARCH 2021

Talk: O.G. Tales

In March, Bro. Bo started a new Feast Talk series titled O.G.Tales because it goes back to the Original Tales of Jesus—the parables.

One of the parables discussed by Bro. Bo was The Story of the Mustard Seed and Yeast—about how small can be beautiful.

Bro. Bo said before the COVID Pandemic, The Feast we held at the Philippine International Convention Center in the Manila Bay Area gathered 7,000 every Sunday.

And then the Pandemic came.

He added, “And in one snap, God brought us back to 40 years ago when our Light of Jesus Family began—when we started as a tiny bunch of people in my family’s garage…

We now start “micro” Feasts in garages too (because the gathering has to be open air!), street corners, offices, coffee shops, and Zoom calls. We’re back to where we started: Small. God’s Kingdom, His plan to overhaul humanity, starts with you. Will you be God’s mustard seed?”

Mercy Ministry:

Grace To Be Born

March being National Women’s Month, The Feast Family focused on women not only of the month but all days, being taken care of by Grace To Be Born, our Feast Family’s partner beneficiary devoted to taking care of unwed pregnant mothers in crisis. Aiming particularly to prevent abortion, Grace provides shelter, health care, and counselling for the women throughout the nine months of their pregnancy.

The Feast Family checked out the challenges the Ministry faced amid the COVID onslaught and found God’s amazing response: God has touched members of our Feasts to support Grace, so the Ministry got its regular funds for its basic necessities. Grace health officers made sure the employees observed the usual fitness drills and the anti-COVID protocols— monitoring each staff’s temperature for signs of infection, requiring everyone to wear face masks, wash hands, even take a bath before they attend to the mothers and the babies.

APRIL 2021

Talk: Side A/Side B

We continued with our Matthew Expedition we started in December 2019.

In April 2021, Bro. Audee Villaraza introduced a brand-new series, playfully called Side A/ Side B—because most of the talks are about twos —two stories, two kingdoms, two kings, two parties.

Holy Week Retreat Special

With the COVID Pandemic getting worse, we could not help feeling afraid of its horrible effects.

But the Light of Jesus Feast’s main event, the Holy Week Retreat, bravely declared:

NOT AFRAID! Starting on Holy Thursday, April 1, 2021, the Retreat climaxed with the Grand Easter Feast on Resurrection Day, April 4, 2021.

Bro. Bo reminded us that Jesus’s great gift to us was His life and His death. Our Easter gift to everyone was The Feast Family Special on the Holy Week Retreat– featuring the powerlines of speakers on Courage, plus highlights of the Grand Easter Feast.

Mercy Ministry:

Thank You!

The Feast Family Special on the Holy Week Retreat featured The Feast Mercy Ministries expressing gratitude to our supporters and donors.

MAY 2021

Talk: Side A/Side B

We continued with our deep dive in Matthew.

In Talk 4 of our Feast series, Side A/Side B, Bro. Bo asked a disturbing question: Are you fighting for others?

The question was not “Are you fighting others?”

The question was: Are you fighting for others? Are you living for something bigger than your own wants? Are you dreaming, struggling, working to serve others?

Key message: “Multiply your blessings for others.” Blessings are not designed to be kept but to be scattered,

so that they multiply and bless the world.

Mercy Ministry:

Jesus Christ Cares for Cancer Foundation

Jesus Christ Cares for Cancer Foundation hosted a monthly get-together event for its beneficiaries in Feast Ortigas Galleria in Mandaluyong City.

Feast Builders and other motivational speakers gave life-changing talks in line with the Ministry’s desire to bless cancer patients in need and their family financial aid and pastoral care.

During the Pandemic, led by chairman Bro. Alo Gelano, JCCCF resorted to the most efficient way to send financial assistance without putting volunteers at risk— by remitting money through online bank transfer and GCash.

From being helped, beneficiaries are now the ones keeping their family afloat.

Serving the Lord is life changing, and it is an opportunity to share the overflowing love of God to those who need it most—as we are called to embody the love of Christ to others.

Blessed to serve, from left: Maritess Cordero, JCCCF board secretary; Hermie Morelos, chairman, Light of Jesus Feast Mercy Ministries; Rowena Cequeña, LOJ Finance officer; Alo Gelano, JCCCF chairman; volunteers Dang Ramos, herself a cancer survivor, and husband Gil.

JUNE 2021

Talk: Side A/Side B

Bro. Audee Villaraza led The Feast, continuing the talk series Side A/Side B, with a key message: “God is in the Ordinary.”

Some think God is only in the extraordinary and supernatural. We think God is present only in Church or in a retreat or in a religious event.

But God is present in your ordinary life. In your ordinary day. In your ordinary house. In your ordinary office. In your ordinary relationships.

Adjust your expectations. Find God in the ordinary.

Mercy Ministry:

Concert for a Cause

On May 28, 2021, Feast TV led a concert for the benefit of Jeremiah Foundation, our Ministry taking care of sexually abused teenage girls.

Feast TV mounted the concert on Kumu, a video sharing and e-commerce social networking service owned and developed by Kumumedia Technologies Inc.The Feast Worship team served as lead performers.

The concert raised P26,449.20 in GCash donations and also received diamonds on Kumu and stars on Facebook that can be converted into cash.

Thank God for technology, even amid the COVID Pandemic, we were able to still gather, worship, and give for the glory of God!

JULY 2021

Talk: Side A/Side B

The Feast Talk series Side A/Side B continued with the key message: Love is tough.

Love does the hard things. And love says the hard things. Do you like correcting people?

Bro. Audee Villaraza said, “Based on my informal guestimate, I believe 8 out of the 10 persons are allergic to confrontations. And I’m part of that demographic. Personally, I find correcting people as pleasurable as giving birth to triplets without an epidural.”

The talk focused on the teaching of Jesus how to correct people.

Mercy Ministry:

Jewels Conference

Jeremiah Foundation and Grace To Be Born received more blessings in July as Jewels Conference chose them as beneficiaries of its event this month dubbed Common Ground.

Sis. Marowe Sanchez, on the lead, said, “The Jewels Conference is a one-day event that seeks to empower women in their personal journey of balancing their roles, careers, relationships, and dreams.”

The announcement on the Conference said: “Through the years, women have been discriminated, violated, and abused. We stand on common ground to support women who have been victims of these injustices and help in any way we can through community, through friendship, through family.”

AUGUST 2021

Talk: Side A/Side B

On August 8, 2021, The Feast Talk focused on Talk 17, Commitment and Service, the last of the Side A/Side B series of our study of the New Testament.

Talk 17 focused in the message: We go up to go down. Bro. Mike Viñas said going up means to suffer and to serve.

Bro. Bo pointed out: “If you ask people today, ‘What do you want to do with your life?’ millennials and Gen Z, the answer might be… ‘do what I want to do, when I want to do it, where I want to do it.’

“… The answer is all about “me”. It’s all about my desires and my dreams. And that’s why many aren’t happy. Because God created us for bigger things than “me”.

“If a Jesus Follower is asked that question, I think her answer will be a little different. She’ll say, ‘I want to be crucified with Jesus, and through my life, be a blessing to others.’”

Jesus said, Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)

Mercy Ministry:

Jeremiah Foundation

In the August 15, 2021, issue of The Feast Family, we presented the need for a new home for the Jeremiah Foundation.

Early on, the Foundation rented a house for the girls in Pasig City. Of late, however, amid the COVID Crisis, contributions to the Foundation have dwindled, so that it can no longer afford to pay the rent for the shelter.

The big dream is to construct an appropriate, comfortable house for our Jeremiah girls. And so, the Foundation launched a campaign aptly called Bahay at Pag-asa.

August 8, 2021

The Feast Family Special Report: Hidilyn Diaz at The Feast

At 3 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, Hidilyn Diaz sent a text message to Bro. Bo Sanchez, thanking The Feast Family for praying for her.

By this time, the world already knew Hidilyn Diaz made history on Monday, July 26, 2021, as she won the first ever gold medal for the Philippines since our country has been competing for close to a hundred years in the Olympics. In the Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, she snagged the top place in the women’s 55-kilogram class, after she lifted a combined weight of 224 kilograms, breaking Olympics record in that category of the women’s weightlifting competition.

And, yes, among the first to whom she expressed deep gratitude for her victory is our Feast Family through Bro. Bo because before the big event, led by Bro. Bo, we mounted online posters with the cheer, “Go Hidilyn!”

Actually, we have always been praying for Sis. Hidilyn. Yes, we call her “Sis” because she is a member of our Feast, and thus our sister in Christ.

In The Feast Family Special Report, Bro. Alvin Barcelona shared that in 2014, a friend invited Sis. Hidilyn to

The Feast Bay Area afternoon session where Bro. Alvin is builder and main preacher.

“We prayed and claimed that in her Olympics competition she would get the gold,” he said.

Where She Belongs

Feeling so blessed, Sis. Hidilyn mentions The Feast in media interviews as she claims that it is here where she found a strong relationship with God and where she feels she truly belongs.

In a recent interview, she recounts how she used to lack

self-worth and thus she had no self-confidence. And then she says why she loves to be at The Feast:

“Nagustuhan ko kasi na-feel ko na belong ako sa lugar…

Yun ang kulang sa akin: na wala akong personal relationship with God… Like, pag close ka kay God, nagsisimula kang mahalin ang sarili mo…nagsisimula ka na paniwalian ang sarili mo…sa mga ginagawa mo…na may goal ka nga…”

SEPTEMBER 2021 Talk: Heal

In August, we had three Feast Big Days: the first on August 15; the second on August 22; the third on August 29, 2021. The Feast September started with another Big Day on September 5, 2021.

Our Big Days focused on our mini-Feast series Heal: H for Hope; E for Encouragement; A for Aspiration; and L for Love.

On the topic Love, the key message of Bro. Bo was this: How we perceive that something changes that something.

We learned more refreshing lessons about Love from co-preachers

Bro. Audee Villaraza and Bro. JC Libiran.

Mercy Ministry:

Jesus Christ Cares for Cancer Foundation

The Feast Family September 2021 focused on the Jesus Christ Cares for Cancer Foundation which provides financial assistance and pastoral care for patients in need.

A beneficiary, Zebedia ‘Bea’ Refil, attested: “At JCCFC, I met angels God sent to help me… By God’s grace, on September18, 2019, to be exact, JCCFC began to give me monthly cash assistance for my treatments…

I am beyond grateful…”

Here is Bea (blue dress) and her son Jeremiah with her benefactors, from left: Bro. Angelo Gelano, JCCFC chairman,

Sis. Maritess Cordero, JCCFC board secretary, and Sis. Susan Cruz, volunteer coordinator.

 OCTOBER 2021

Talk: The Clash

After our Big Day on September 5, 2021,

the following Sunday, September 12, we entered

into a new section called The Clash because it’s about the aggravating events that led to the crucifixion.

We tackled Talks 1-3 in the succeeding Sundays of September.

We continued The Clash series throughout the rest of the Sundays of October.

On October 3, Bro. Bo continued The Clash series with Talk 4: Invited vs. Chosen. He said, “When we meet someone with different beliefs and practices, we think we’re better than them. But Jesus is condemning this elitist attitude. God is building a Kingdom that embraces everybody.” Jesus is saying:

Mercy Ministry:

Pag-asa ng Pamilya Scholarship Foundation

For October, our featured Mercy Ministry was the Pag-asa ng Pamilya which provides scholarships to out-of-school youth so that yes, they become the hope of their family.

A scholar, Jelly Cordoto, attested: “I am a fourth-year student at the from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta Mesa Manila, working on a degree as Bachelor of Business Technology and Livelihood Education, major in Home Economics.

“My father died before I was born. My mother lives in another house. So, I take care of my younger siblings.

“How have I been coping during the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic?

“As is often said, if you get only lemons, make lemonade. Meaning, make the most of what you’ve got despite the crisis.

“My teacher hired me to help her with her household chores. And my earnings have been a big help for my family to make both ends meet.

“Now, I attend online classes. At the same time, I work as a tutor-from-home.

“My deepest gratitude to Pag-asa ng Pamilya which has been giving me financial assistance, practically seeing me through college.

“Thank you, thank you for everything!”

 OCTOBER 2021

The Feast Family Special Report:

The Feast Mercy Ministries Thanksgiving Gathering

In October, we gave you an extra gift:

The Feast Family Special Report on the recent Feast Mercy Ministries Thanksgiving Gathering.

On Saturday, October 2, 2021, Bro. Bo Sanchez led the roster of speakers – all expressing gratitude to those God sent to enable our Feast Mercy Ministries to obey His mandate to serve the poorest of the poor.

Bro. Hermie Morelos, chairman of our Light of Jesus Feast Mercy Ministries, presented updates on the Mercies, how well they have progressed despite the Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Pandemic.

Bro. Randy Borromeo, executive director of Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation (SVRTV), which produced the event via Zoom, welcomed and expressed gratitude to our supporters for their good heart.

Bro. Monching Bueno, builder of Feast San Mateo, presented the abundant blessings God promised to cheerful givers.

Bro. Hermie said: “The tagline of our Light of Jesus Feast, our weekly faith gathering, is You are loved. In our Mercy Ministries, what we are doing is giving love. That’s what we are doing for our beneficiaries, the poorest of the poor —making them feel that they are loved.

“God’s promise I’ve claimed is the one in Genesis 9:16:

‘When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will look at it and remember my covenant with all living creatures.’ God promised this after the Great Flood during Noah’s time. God saved Noah, assuring him – and us– of His Presence during our difficult times.

“My prayer is all of us serve as the Rainbow of the Lord for those in need.”

  NOVEMBER 2021

Talk: The Clash

November is the month we reflect on Death as we commemorate All Saints Day, November 1, and All Souls’ Day, November 2.

But as we think of Death, we naturally also celebrate the Gift of Life! And this was what we did

in our first issue of our The Feast Family in November.

Bro. Bo Sanchez and Bro. Audee Villaraza continued our Feast series, The Clash, focusing on

Talk 8, the clash between Master vs. Servant—and who should you be if you want to have a life—here on Earth and in Heaven.

The following Sunday, Bro. Bo introduced the Feast talk Superficial Spirituality vs. Genuine Humility, Talk 9 of The Clash series, focusing on—yes, again, choices you make to celebrate Life!

Mercy Ministry:

Light of Jesus Disaster Recovery Ministry

The Feast Family’s featured Mercy Ministry for November was the Light of Jesus Disaster Recovery Ministry led

by Bro. Marvin Tan (extreme right, here with Bro. Hermie)

One of our big donors is the Feast Orchard Thursday Singapore led by Bro. Paul Hernandez. Thank you to Sis. Laarnie Buenaventura, part of the Council handling Events, who shared: “Singapore’s retail heart, Orchard Road is popular upscale establishments…God has blessed us to build a Feast here, the Feast Orchard Thursday Singapore.

“Through the LOJ Facebook page, we came to know about a call for donation for those affected by earthquakes and floods in the Philippines.

“So, readily, we responded, donating cash from tithes and Love Offerings of our generous members.”

 NOVEMBER 2021

The Feast Family Special Report:

The Feast Conference 2021

By God’s amazing grace, we were able to mount our Feast Conference 2021 online—bringing Joy to the world!

Indeed, we had reason to be joyful, joyful, because even amid the mega-busy preparations for FEASTCON, The Feast had gone live as the Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Quarantine limitations was then at the safe enough Alert Level 2.

Our Feast Bay Area District Builder Bro. Alvin Barcelona warmly welcomed attendees at the Barcelona Academy in Marilao, Bulacan, all responsibly still following Quarantine protocols.

Bro Bo and Bro. Audee tackled the End-Times in our Feast Talk series, The Clash, with Talk 10 titled Tearing Down vs. Coming Down. Tearing Down may be sad but Coming Down was to rejoice about.

FEAST CONFERENCE 2021:

Where You Find Joy!

BRO. BO SANCHEZ: WHAT makes you happy? What puts a smile on your face and in your heart?

Joy is wonderful! Joy lifts you up. Joy comforts those who are in pain. Joy gives hope to those who do not have hope anymore.

Let me tell you that where you find joy is as important as joy itself. Think about it…Where does your joy come from? Does it come from your passion? Yes! Hobbies? Favorite food? And, of course, friends, family. God Himself.

And so, here at the Feast Conference, we gather together in celebration of where people find joy.

The Feast Conference is jampacked with talks and classes and worship– all the good stuff where joy can be found. Because God is the source of our joy.

But let me tell you that there is a joy that maybe you are not aware of. He finds joy. Where? Get ready to be shocked. He finds joy in you. He loves you.

You are His delight!

 DECEMBER 2021

Talk: The Clash

In December, we were nearing the finish line

of Matthew. On December 5, Bro. Bo and Bro. Tony

Valenzuela presented Foolish vs. Wise, talk of The Clash series.

We call this season Advent which is Latin for coming.

Jesus comes in three ways: Every Time–He comes to us at every single moment of our life; End-Times– We believe in the

Second Coming of Jesus; End of Our Time–Yes, mamamatay ka rin. But if you’re a Jesus Follower, that statement doesn’t have to scare you. Because where you follow Jesus doesn’t matter– Earth or Heaven– as long as you’re following Jesus.

The simple message: While you’re waiting, God is working.

Mercy Ministry:

Light of Jesus Disaster Recovery Ministry

In The Feast Family December 19 issue, we presented a volunteer servant

of the LOJ Disaster Recovery Ministry, Bro. Jhun Que, who serves as assistant head, helping Ministry head, Bro. Marvin Tan, in the efforts to source donation, process and deliver assistance to various relief operations and charity ministries

of the LOJ Community.

His wife Liezl found out about The Feast online, she joined, and eventually Jhun joined too.

He said, “I was amazed how Bro. Bo can bring together under one roof people with different faith convictions, saying that everyone is welcome to The Feast.”

Jhun got acquainted with Bro. Marvin Tan, he joined the Ministry, and soon, together with several members of LOJ, they founded Feast Light Calumpit which has also become their base of operations for most of the latter outreach programs of the Light of Jesus Disaster Recovery Ministry. Pre-COVID, they held live Feasts at the Eden Oasis Events and Banquet Hall, 22 Garnet St., Capitol View Park, Malolos City, every Wednesday, at 7 p.m.– “To infinity,” added Bro. Jhun.