Report: OIC 2019 Planning Retreat, Philippines
core team of Odyssey in Christ, Philippines (OIC) took a two-day time off from work to plan for an initial retreat for the current year at the Christian Development Center in Tagaytay City on January 12 and 13. The team is composed of team leaders Dr. and Mrs. Rey Taniajura, Justine and Auey Parcasio, Carmina Gonzales and Vicky Constantino.
The need to do the workshop-retreat came as a result of an invitation for OIC to facilitate a two-day retreat for students, parents, and teachers of a private school in Los Banos, Laguna. The initial retreat could open up opportunity in the school to do retreat for the three groups of students, parents and teachers. And since the founder-directress of the school is also the president of the private schools of the province the retreat could also lead to OIC doing retreats for other private schools later.
The team reflected on this possible breakthrough and prayed for the youth in schools all over the country to be ministered to by those whose ministries are involved in this significant sector of Philippine society. Since OIC’s ministry focuses on spiritual renewal, the team likewise was reminded of the key verse in Malachi 4:10 which states, “His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
The workshop-retreat was interspersed with brief prayers which included among others a prayer for God’s blessing on the New Testament translation, the “Pinoy” Version published particularly for the millennial generation, and as well a prayer of blessing on the youth of the land.
The team also came up with a draft outline of a retreat participants guide which hopefully with be used in the upcoming retreats, particularly those involving the youth in both public and private schools and their parents. We welcome those whose hearts are turned to these youths and parents to join OIC in prayers of blessing and success for these potential retreats among the youth in 2019 and beyond!
Rey Taniajura
January 14, 2019