“Seeking For God” ~ Inner Healing through Life in the Spirit Seminar

Article by Susanna Cordova

Sandakan: Once again the Star of Yahweh Covenant Community (SYCC) of St Mary's Cathedral Parish successfully organized an inner healing session through the Life in the Spirit Seminar on 19th August. The Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) has been one of the best tools in leading people to new life in the Spirit. LSS is powerful because it renews and ignites the power of the Holy Spirit that we received at baptism and confirmation. It frees us from the bondage of evils and heals us from pain and hurt.

Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil, the rector of the Cathedral presided over the Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration to mark the auspicious occasion of the 31st anniversary of the existence of the Star of Yahweh Covenant Community (SYCC). 

In his homily, he focused on the first topic of the seminar ‘Jesus is Lord.’ When we participate in seminars, we are like pilgrims on pilgrimage to the Holy Land or for that matter to other pilgrimage centres in other parts of the world because of one reason, that is to seek God. 

He also emphasized the life of Jesus with all the miracles He has done that made us believe with great faith, 'Jesus is our Savior.' Jesus reveals that we are not able to depend on our human strength in encountering the storms of our life, we have to rely on Him. He hoped that the seminar will open the hearts of the participants to acknowledge and value Jesus’ identity. He emphasized, “In Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper, Jesus made a promise to his disciples, “I will pray to the Father and He will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Trust, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows Him; you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (Jn14:16-17) Finally, he added, “May our life be close to Him.”

SYCC members facilitated most of the topics in the 5-day seminar conducted during their weekly gathering on Friday. The topic on 'Growth and Transformation in Christ' would be held during the next weekly community gathering. Bro. Michael Lee, the SYCC elder, one of the main speakers hoped that the seminar would be an avenue for them to grab the opportunity to change for a new life, allowing the spirit to set  them free. Obviously, we need the Holy Spirit in our lives, to be reborn and renewed as in John 10:10 “I come so that they may have life and have it in abundance”

For people to continue to grow and develop in this new life they need to come together, living in a community, supporting and upholding one another. For this reason, the participants are encouraged to join the group where they can receive guidance and support by attending the Praise and Worship at 8.00 p.m. at the Parish Hall every Friday night during the SYCC general community gathering.