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North Island New Zealand The Members Church of God International (MCGI) in New Zealand have once again held its get together activity where brethren from all throughout the North Island region flocked as one to participate, experience, learn and strengthen both their spirits and bodies as they continue to strive for holiness through the gospel and good works. The team building event was held on the 28th of October (Labour Day) at the Howick Leisure Centre in Auckland where a total of 160 attendees were present to experience and participate in the event.  Gathering together as one is part of what Christians do. In this day and age where most people gather for their own personal interests and not for the Lord's, brethren from North Island were given an opportunity to hold the unprecedented team building and sports fest event strengthening both their spirit and body as they exercised and listened to the word of God. As it is written in I Timothy 4:8 (KJV), “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." Bodily exercise is beneficial, but practicing Godliness through good works is profitable in this life and in the life which is to come. Doing bodily exercise and Godliness at the same time is indeed beneficial! The event kicked off with brethren conditioning their bodies for the day. Psalms and hymns for the Lord were sung not only to unify the brethren but to guide the day that was ahead of them. The congregational singing was followed by a short prayer led by the church workers. Afterward, the workers gave their opening remarks to welcome the brethren and guests. After that, the brethren were asked by the organizers to gather around and were grouped into four - each given instructions to do as what they were instructed. This marked the beginning of the team building event. The KNC’s or the Kawan ng Cordero’s (Flock of Lambs) were given games and activities as their part of the said event. In their activities, the children of the brethren showed that even with how little and fragile one maybe, with God’s help, they can cooperate and unite to achieve a common goal. Meanwhile, in the main hall, the brethren showed their willpower in every way possible to complete the tasks. Through teamwork, each team was able to lift their team members one by one using merely strings with which they ran to and fro, back and forth, and successfully completing the task given to them. This shows how members of a team can work together to get the job done. Through sheer willpower, strength, and cooperation, no task is impossible to do with God's help. Brethren also showcased their wit and ingenuity in building a tower made out of scrap papers. Each team used all allowed means possible to build a tower from scratch. This shows that even the faintest idea of how the structure of the tower's going to be, members can collaborate, cooperate and finally, act by carefully putting pieces together to build a tower. To sum up the culminated team building activities, the brethren listened to the inspirational message and assessment delivered by Brother Daniel Razon. He began by saying “...hindi ito ordinaryong team building.”, “...this is not a ordinary team building.” In his speech, he emphasized the importance of every member especially the weak. He also explained the importance of doing team building activities for brethren to better understand the will of God on working together. He related each activity to actual situations. Nonetheless, all the activities teach the value of teamwork. The brethren learned that working as a team involves caring for the weak because however small or weak they are, they are part of the team. Intermission numbers were performed as the brethren ate their lunch. Songs from different artists and generations were sung to entertain the brethren. May it be old or modern, music speaks to everyone that hears it. As the day neared its end, the brethren took one last picture to remember this day as they not only exercised their bodies physically but also spiritually in faith. United as one, the brethren parted ways. Even though distance may separate us all, faith brings us closer together. To God be the Glory! Written by: Brother John Gabriel Alovera |
