Passion and purpose lift the Church up, says musician

Jesse Manibusan

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Is it possible to make disciples of children when Jesus himself had difficulty making disciples of adults?

"I want to believe it is possible, but I am open to the possibility that it might not be true," says Jesse Manibusan. "Jesus hung out for three years with adults and didn't do very well."

But if we are passionate and truthful, we may succeed, the lay evangelist stressed. "That's how you build the faith - by your passion, by being truthful about your living.

Be passionate

"So be passionate and truthful and make a connection (with someone). And when you see them, tell them, 'I see you, you matter, you are not an apprentice; you are a full-fledged member.' Affirm that."

Now, if you want to destroy, "just walk right past them," Manibusan said. "And that counts for adults too. If you want to nurture the life of someone and the faith of someone make sure every time you pass by them you say, 'Hi, good to see you.'"

The 47-year-old singer, guitarist and storyteller from Texas made the comments at a workshop called Fire & Smoke: How to Ignite or to Extinguish the Faith. About 50 people, some of them youth ministers, attended the March 18 workshop at the Shaw Conference Centre. The workshop was part of the Catholic Education Conference.

The hefty bleached blond musician wore high-top sneakers, shorts and a yellow T-shirt emblazoned with a happy face. He stood out in the crowd. But his appearance was part of his message: no matter how different you seem to be, God believes in you and loves you.

Passion is what nurtures the faith, he said. "Passion, purpose, that's what lifts the Church up. That's what gives life, what renews and resurrects."

Passion is to be alive, is to be truthful. "Peter, the first disciple, had passion," Manibusan noted. "Clearly when Jesus calls them, Peter immediately says, 'Yes, let's go. We are going fishing with Jesus.' And his life changes dramatically. His faith is lifted up. Everything is enriched in his life. Jesus is saying, 'Be passionate, come, follow me.'

"Do you think it is easy for those guys? Jesus is not inviting them to a workshop experience. There is risk involved. When Jesus says, 'Come, follow me' he is saying, 'Come, live a life of purpose, come and really see God's presence in the world; come and see and explore God's purpose for your life in the world.'"

Manibusan urged his audience to affirm and acknowledge others like Jesus did. "He was different than other rabbis: He stopped, he acknowledged and he listened." Jesus even acknowledged the blind beggar, a person everyone else ignored. "Affirm folks," he urged. "Affirmation is everything; in affirmation there is invitation."

During the workshop Manibusan played the guitar, told jokes and stories and made the audience sing songs of praise and worship. He said every endeavour in faith makes Christ present, including singing. "Singing is a good way to ignite the faith because to sing is to disarm, to make vulnerable."

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