On a clear and breezy Wednesday, December 17, about 100 CCFers gathered at the foot of Mt. Makiling for the ground-breaking ceremony of the CCF Prayer Mountain and Retreat Center.
There was no bustle in Batangas. Pastors, parents, and friends enjoyed snacks and lunch beneath a large mango tree. Children followed the ponies that had free run of the land. A handful of people picked spots on the grass for reading or a nap. It was a lovely day.
The program began at about 1:30 P.M., with a few songs of praise. The sun was high, but the wind was cool, and there was plenty of shade.
Project Head Albit Rodriguez then gave a brief message and started by citing the motivation behind the Prayer Mountain project.
“Where’d we get the inspiration?” he said. “From no less than the Lord Jesus Christ,” who himself went up to the mountains to pray.
Rodriguez also cited the Korea Prayer Tour of 2002, which enriched the prayer life of many CCFers who had gone. He described an experience at a prayer mountain facility in Osanri, South Korea and said that they had been moved by the Spirit to make prayer a greater part of their lives, by helping CCF to set up a similar facility here in the Philippines.
Pastor-in-charge Roy Felipe followed with a devotional message based on the parables of the sower and of the mustard seed. He also mentioned Ezra and Nehemiah, two men who led the exiled Israelites back to Jerusalem in order to rebuild their walls and temple.
“Nehemiah said, ‘The gracious hand of God is upon me.’ I believe that as we break ground this afternoon, the gracious hand of God is upon us, is upon this project,” Ptr. Felipe said.
After the pastor led a shout of “Lord, Lord, Lord!” everyone was encouraged to pray for the success of the CCF Prayer Mountain, “that many people, all who come to this place, will have changed lives, transformed families, and renewed relationships with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Pastor Joby Soriano then closed the program with a prayer of thanksgiving:
“We know, Lord Jesus, that this place will do miracles in many people’s lives. It’ll be a quiet sanctuary for people to commune with you and experience you in a very personal way. We look forward to the day when we can all come here and worship you together.”
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