North Island New Zealand First Corinthians 13:13 states, “ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love". Love, indeed, is the most substantial gift from God to mankind. Through love, we learn to become affectionate, selfless, and forgiving. The Members Church of God International (MCGI) brethren in the North Island New Zealand were given another opportunity to celebrate love, particularly of the married couples as they held another Couples’ Night on December 08, 2019. This romantic event, which had a theme called “Ngayon at Kailanman” (Now and Forever) was attended by 28 couples and 19 married brethren who are physically apart from their other halves, solemnly shared the evening with memories and lessons in love to cherish. Carrying out the spirit of this gathering, brother Eli Soriano and brother Daniel Razon shared words from the Bible explaining the sanctity of marriage and the unity of two people bound together by the true essence of love through God’s law, which says in Matthew 19:6 “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” A man and a woman bound by the gift of love should, therefore, live together in harmony and faith for as long as the two shall live under the commandment of God as stated in the book of Colossians 3:18-19, which says, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them,” or otherwise, disobey His will and commit the act of desertion. The program was followed by a sumptuous dinner and an open dance floor to enjoy. Young and old, gay and free, everyone was invited to join in and show off their dance moves gracefully. Another worthwhile and successful event happened through God’s help and guidance. The MCGI brethren give back all the glory and honor unto HIM. May the spirit of love always remain in us and be reminded of these words from the book of I Corinthians 13:7-8, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” Written by: Sis Amy Chan Caco
Christchurch New Zealand Most of us want to find the one, once you found the one? Would you fight till the end? Nowadays, we get amazed when we see couples stay together until their last breath. This only shows that true love does exist in a world where divorce, annulment and separation are very common. As husband and wife, you have already fought and won hundreds, if not thousands of battles together. You treat each other as comrades, best friends and lovers. If you truly love someone, it seems like this lifetime is not enough to spend your moments together. In the Church of God, according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is vital for couples to stay together until the end. As the verses in the Bible say, 1 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV) To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband. Ephesians 5:28 (ESV) In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For that reason, on the 18th of August, a couples’ night was held, with the theme “A Thousand Years”. This event was organised to reminiscence the past, bring back the sweet romance and strengthen the couple’s love. A romantic environment was set up to create the ambiance for the couples to enjoy the night. The event paved way for new talents to be revealed led by the hosts Brother Ting and Sister Syhrel. Couples also took to the dance floor to share a sweet dance. The highlight was that Brother Daniel‘s call to rejuvenate the love that once brought them together. Couples were asked to list the characteristics or the traits that brought them to their partners. He also emphasized the importance of not only expressing and showing love through actions, but also once in a while, express the love for their spouses in words. To forgive and forget the mistakes that were done in the past, by saying "sorry" and "I love you" is also vital in the foundation of every relationship. Brother Daniel quoted the song The Past by Ray Parker Jr. singing, “so let’s not bring the past back anymore”. Brother Daniel closed out the evening with the saying “what happens next is up to you”. To God be the Glory! Written by: Sister Mariel Ansit North Island New Zealand A truly unforgettable night of love songs, music, and memories filled up the air on June 2, 2019. Married couples from different locale chapters in the North Island had come together to celebrate the annual Couple’s Night. This successful event was attended by twenty nine couples and eighteen individuals totaling to seventy six participants. One of the important values that the Members of the Church of God International (MCGI) adhere is to love thy husband or wife, as written in the scriptures Ephesians 5:33, “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” The theme for the night revolved around the significance of keeping the love that binds the couple together through thick and thin. Kuya Daniel Razon graced the night, reminding each couple to always look back, reminisce the old times, and never forget the feeling that was once felt during the courtship days. The hall was filled with giggles and realization when Kuya Daniel enumerated instances of the reality of married life. He reiterated that love between couples should be unconditional and unforgettable for this will make them holy as inspired by the verses from 1 Cor. 7:14, “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.” Food and entertainment were served for everyone to enjoy. Song numbers by individuals and couples serenaded the crowd. The fun games for couples tested their familiarity and solidarity towards each other. This was wrapped up by a group photo and cheerful hearts as everyone ended the night. Truly, the spark of love should never be forgotten. Apoc. 2:4-5 states, “ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” Always look back to where the love had started and appreciate everything that comes with it. Glory to God in the highest for the beautiful gift of love! Written by: Sister Amy Chan-Caco |
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