Pasay City—Clergyman and English poet John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”—now a Christian hymn—has made yet another record and may as well find its way into the pages of the World Guinness Book of Records. Last weekend thousands of people from 45 nations all over the world trooped the SMX Convention Center and attended the Every Nation 2010 world conference, with 18,000 people singing one unifying song: “Amazing Grace”.
Every Nation (EN2010), which is held every three years, according to Pastor Julius Fabregas, executive direcror, was originally intended to be held in South Africa this year. But the World Cup schedule intervened, and organizers chose predominantly Christian Philippines, the majority of whose 95 million population profess the Christian faith.
With internationally acclaimed worship singer and songwriter Darlene Szchech leading the singing of the worship song, the scale and lyrics certainly made a rhythm and beat for the book of records, according to impartial observers.
Szchech, one of the speakers during the conference, had a singing style that put platinum on the notes as the 18,000 participants sang the lyrics composed by the 18th-century poet Newton.
The lyrics underline the message that forgiveness and redemption are truly possible, whatever sins God’s creatures might have committed which made most of the participants overwhelmed with great joy. Rey Corpuz, VCF senior pastor in Abu Dhabi, described the experience as “Exhilarating! It’s like experiencing heaven down here, sort of an ‘appetizer’ and a preview of what it will be like having ‘Amazing Grace’ being sang all at the same time by worshippers in thousands languages when we get to heaven!”
“I felt humbled knowing that I, whose life was no better, maybe even worse than that of a wretch, was loved and died for so that I may live a wretch no more, and witnessing all the different delegations sing in their own languages was the most powerful declaration they could make to the world of God’s grace knowing no language nor boundaries even to those who have yet to know Christ’s name,” Glo Anne Guevarra, a student of University of Asia and the Pacific, for her part said.
A foreign linguist expert from China, Christie Wong said, “‘Amazing Grace’ is not our story! It is God’s amazing love for all peoples of the earth—that we are one in His eyes.” Thana Nguyen of Vietnam added: “I feel like the grace is for everybody, no matter where you come from—God is here, there and everywhere.” Meanwhile, Quisha Johnson of the United Kingdom said, “Jesus is active and alive right in this world, and the Gospel is real and wants to pour out His amazing grace for all of us regardless of who you are.” A loving wife and a caring mom of thee boys, Penn Berdan said: “I had a glimpse of heaven, of how I will be worshipping with the multitudes in our respective language. It was pure bliss, a joy which only God can give.” Eon McCrindle of Germany said: “I’m deeply grateful for the amazing grace He has given me in my life. I did nothing to deserve God, but still he loves me.”
Through Newton’s lyrics, which are now sung worldwide, the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God.
At the SMX Convention Center, under thick clouds that day with the threat of rain all over the metropolis, the conference participants sang in more than 50 languages in unison:
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound/that saved a wretch like me/I once was lost but now I am found/was blind but now I see/’Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear/and Grace my fears relieved/How precious did that Grace appear/the hour I first believed/The earth shall soon dissolve like snow/the sun forbear to shine/But God who called me here below will be forever mine.”
The number of singers as registered in Pasay City was higher than the record of 200 people singing at the same time the one song that glorifies the merciful Lord.
The 18,000 who sang their hearts out in a melody that echoed throughout the metropolis and the world, as participants from different nations raised their voices for the song, have achieved a record that will not be erased in a long time. Understandably, the song “Amazing Grace” brought the grace of God to the throng of worshippers and singers as they demonstrated in unity their expression of thanksgiving to God.
It was a moment when the participants, born into different languages, sang the melody with their own lyrics. The song, done portion by portion and in the choral scale sung at the same time, was sung live and was part of the Christian ensemble that raised the throng’s hearts to God.
The organizers are now looking forward to another moment of song and worship three years hence, hoping to duplicate the feat or even better it. The organizers can well do it, according to some theologians, with 1,000 churches in 60 different nations all wanting to celebrate what God has been doing since the beginning of time.
The well-attended conference was, to some extent, the first step to a greater leap, the first bar of a full symphonic masterpiece in God’s allegretto beat.
Every Nation (EN2010), which is held every three years, according to Pastor Julius Fabregas, executive direcror, was originally intended to be held in South Africa this year. But the World Cup schedule intervened, and organizers chose predominantly Christian Philippines, the majority of whose 95 million population profess the Christian faith.
With internationally acclaimed worship singer and songwriter Darlene Szchech leading the singing of the worship song, the scale and lyrics certainly made a rhythm and beat for the book of records, according to impartial observers.
Szchech, one of the speakers during the conference, had a singing style that put platinum on the notes as the 18,000 participants sang the lyrics composed by the 18th-century poet Newton.
The lyrics underline the message that forgiveness and redemption are truly possible, whatever sins God’s creatures might have committed which made most of the participants overwhelmed with great joy. Rey Corpuz, VCF senior pastor in Abu Dhabi, described the experience as “Exhilarating! It’s like experiencing heaven down here, sort of an ‘appetizer’ and a preview of what it will be like having ‘Amazing Grace’ being sang all at the same time by worshippers in thousands languages when we get to heaven!”
“I felt humbled knowing that I, whose life was no better, maybe even worse than that of a wretch, was loved and died for so that I may live a wretch no more, and witnessing all the different delegations sing in their own languages was the most powerful declaration they could make to the world of God’s grace knowing no language nor boundaries even to those who have yet to know Christ’s name,” Glo Anne Guevarra, a student of University of Asia and the Pacific, for her part said.
A foreign linguist expert from China, Christie Wong said, “‘Amazing Grace’ is not our story! It is God’s amazing love for all peoples of the earth—that we are one in His eyes.” Thana Nguyen of Vietnam added: “I feel like the grace is for everybody, no matter where you come from—God is here, there and everywhere.” Meanwhile, Quisha Johnson of the United Kingdom said, “Jesus is active and alive right in this world, and the Gospel is real and wants to pour out His amazing grace for all of us regardless of who you are.” A loving wife and a caring mom of thee boys, Penn Berdan said: “I had a glimpse of heaven, of how I will be worshipping with the multitudes in our respective language. It was pure bliss, a joy which only God can give.” Eon McCrindle of Germany said: “I’m deeply grateful for the amazing grace He has given me in my life. I did nothing to deserve God, but still he loves me.”
Through Newton’s lyrics, which are now sung worldwide, the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God.
At the SMX Convention Center, under thick clouds that day with the threat of rain all over the metropolis, the conference participants sang in more than 50 languages in unison:
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound/that saved a wretch like me/I once was lost but now I am found/was blind but now I see/’Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear/and Grace my fears relieved/How precious did that Grace appear/the hour I first believed/The earth shall soon dissolve like snow/the sun forbear to shine/But God who called me here below will be forever mine.”
The number of singers as registered in Pasay City was higher than the record of 200 people singing at the same time the one song that glorifies the merciful Lord.
The 18,000 who sang their hearts out in a melody that echoed throughout the metropolis and the world, as participants from different nations raised their voices for the song, have achieved a record that will not be erased in a long time. Understandably, the song “Amazing Grace” brought the grace of God to the throng of worshippers and singers as they demonstrated in unity their expression of thanksgiving to God.
It was a moment when the participants, born into different languages, sang the melody with their own lyrics. The song, done portion by portion and in the choral scale sung at the same time, was sung live and was part of the Christian ensemble that raised the throng’s hearts to God.
The organizers are now looking forward to another moment of song and worship three years hence, hoping to duplicate the feat or even better it. The organizers can well do it, according to some theologians, with 1,000 churches in 60 different nations all wanting to celebrate what God has been doing since the beginning of time.
The well-attended conference was, to some extent, the first step to a greater leap, the first bar of a full symphonic masterpiece in God’s allegretto beat.
