By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — Servant Communities EMMAUS from Blessed Sacrament Church (BSC) organised a Life in the Spirit (LSS) Youth Camp from 19–21 July 2024, for Sunday School students from BSC, St Peter’s Church and Chapel of Mother Mary.
The LSS was to prepare the youths aged 15-17, to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The 100 young participants included members from the Emmaus Youth Ministry of BSC Parish. They were invited to assist the youths from the different parishes, to get to know each other through ice-breaking activities, games, and praise and worship.
Opening at the BSC hall on 19th night, the LSS moved to the Christian Worship Centre (CWC), Sungai Pinang, Bau on 20–21 July to begin a weekend of “personal encounters” with God.
Talks on Salvation History
The talks explaining Salvation history to save mankind from sin and bring them to eternal life focused on God’s Love, Sin and Effects of Sin, Jesus Saviour and Restorer, and Repentance by Emmaus Teaching Ministry members Pauline Lim, Christina Eng, Thomas Ngu, Adeline Bong, John Wong and Ivy Chai.
The youths were fed “spiritual food” from the Bible to help them understand Jesus Christ and the extent of God’s love for them, and the importance of Praise and Worship.
Inner Healing and Deliverance
After listening to the talk on Inner Healing and to prepare them to receive spiritual and emotional healing at the Inner Healing Prayer session on Saturday night, participants were advised to go for confessions. Fr Leonard Yap (BSC rector who also celebrated Mass on Sunday), Fr Patrick Heng and Fr Ramon Borja, SDB were at the CWC to hear their confessions in the afternoon.
Emmaus members also provided a “listening ear” to the youths needing advice for the problems plaguing them. Assisting them was Yvonne Yeo, a counsellor from St Joseph’s Private Primary School.
With repentance, forgiveness of sins and a clearer mindset, many of the youths experienced healing and deliverance in so many ways, but especially their emotions.
The Holy Spirit and Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The talks on the Holy Spirit and Baptism of the Holy Spirit helped these teenagers understand who the Holy Spirit is, and the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Both the Inner Healing and Baptism of the Holy Spirit sessions had a profound impact on the youths. Many were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit. Some even learnt to speak in tongues.
Personal Testimonies
Participants were asked to share their feelings before and after the LSS Youth Camp, through cardboard testimonies and feedback forms. They described how they felt …
Before LSS Youth Camp: Insecure, no friends, nervous and scared, lost, lonely, angry, sad, hatred (myself and others), lost finding Christ, lust, sinful, hurting myself, disrespecting others, constantly falling into sin, doubtful about God and the religion, irritated, stressed, empty, always complaining, depressed, anxious and low self-esteem.
After LSS Youth Camp: Good, secure, light, happy, know more about God’s love, have many new friends, free, peace, calm, fulfillment, closer to God, want to serve more and want to keep the fire of Holy Spirit alive forevermore, thankful for what God has given me, met another new family in Christ, comfortable, happy, joy, humble, repented, loved, founded in Christ, started to help people, love the people, respect them and not lonely anymore because Jesus is with me, feel stronger with the help of the Holy Spirit, more aware and appreciative about Catholicism, I feel free to praise and worship God, I don’t care about people judging me or talk bad about me.
The transformation in almost all the young participants was obviously visible, even to their parents who turned up to listen to their cardboard testimonies and to fetch them home.
EMMAUS says “Thank You”
As with every LSS organised by Emmaus, it took great team effort to prepare for the seminar. Ministries involved were the Greeters, Intercessors, Praise and Worship, Martha (food), Healing, Counselling, Media, and Teaching.
There will always be those working “behind the scenes” as well, like the Sunday School teachers, advisors and senior Emmaus Youths, to ensure a successful seminar. Emmaus says “Thank You” to one and all, including the BSC Sunset Choir and sponsors, who made the LSS Youth Camp 2024 such an amazing success.
 organised a Life in the Spirit (LSS) Youth Camp from 19–21 July 2024...){kind=link}