But First, Let Me Tell You About

One Of The Most Beautiful Concerts I’ve Ever Watched…

 

Alvin Barcelona singing with Lola Rosario,

a woman stricken with Alzheimer’s–

yet she sang the lyrics perfectly!

I shed many tears that day.

I watched one of the most beautiful concerts in the world.

It was the birthday concert of my dear friend and Kerygma Preacher Alvin Barcelona.

Alvin knows concerts. He was born to sing. With the Legend Freddie Aguilar, he has wowed audiences all over Europe and Asia.

But on his birthday a few days ago, he performed a very different concert.

Instead of his usual “folk singer” clothes–loose shirt, rugged pants–Alvin came dressed to the nines, complete with a dark suit and tie. (Hint: He believed he was performing to dignitaries.) Even his band wore ties!

And instead of his usual repertoire of inspirational, rock, and folk, he sang kundiman (Traditional Filipino love songs). Songs like Dahil sa Iyo and Ikaw lamang ang aking iibigin.

On his birthday, Alvin sang to the very old, the sick, the blind, the paralyzed, the mentally handicapped, the poorest of the poor–people who would never be able to pay for a concert. Except by their smiles and tears.

Yes, on his birthday, Alvin Barcelona gave a very exclusive concert in Anawim, our little ministry for the abandoned.

I always love watching Alvin perform. But that day was different. Though the poorest of the poor were his audience, he performed as though he was singing for Royalty. He gave all he had because he believed his audience deserved the best.

I cried a lot that day.

I cried because I saw my old friends crying for joy.

I cried because I saw Lola Rosario sing the lyrics of each song from perfect memory–even if she has Alzheimer’s.

I cried because I saw Gilbert, a wheelchair bound man, who can’t speak straight because of a car accident, sing like Tom Jones.

I cried because I saw Judith, a 50-year-old woman who has the mental age of 6, dance with a freedom that many of us have forgotten.

Believe me, all of us were crying and laughing at the same time.

On that day, it was as though Heaven came down and kissed them.

And the kiss was named Alvin Barcelona.

It doesn’t take much to be God’s kiss in this world.

Alvin has a gift from God. It’s to sing and perform in terrific concerts. So what did he do? He used it, nurtured it, grew it, and shared it to the world. And He gave it to those who could never repay him.

And God used Him to be His kiss on that special day.

Wherever you are right now, there are people around you who needs God’s kiss badly. They are the lonely, the abandoned, the poor, the sick…

What is your gift, my friend?

Find it. Use it. And you too will be His kiss in this world.

May your dreams come true.

Bo Sanchez

PS1. You can be my partner in sharing God’s kiss to others. Sign up at www.kerygmafamily.com You’ll be amazed at the FREE mountain load of spiritual nourishment that members receive! And as one team, let’s share God’s Love to those that desperately need it–like those in Anawim. Sing up at www.kerygmafamily.com now!

PS2. Change Your Financial Life Now! There were so many people who wanted to get into my How To Be Truly Rich Seminar last week, but we had to turn people away again. (So sorry! We couldn’t fit all of you in the seminar.) So I’m announcing this early so YOU could book now and reserve a seat. I’m giving again the How To Be Truly Rich Seminar on February 2, 9am to 12noon, at Quezon City. By the way, I give this Seminar to companies at P7,000++ per person, but because I want to help more people, I give this Seminar to the public at the subsidized cost of P475 only. (Yes, that’s not a typo.) And those who attend this Seminar will be qualified to attend the Truly Rich Financial Coaching Programon March 7 and 8, 2008. Bonus: You join the Truly Rich Club. Call up Beckie at Tel. (02) 7229562 (Tuesdays to Fridays, 9:00 am — 6:00 pm) right away before you run out of seats (we always do). Or email her at beaconlightevents@gmail.com Don’t delay. Reserve now!

PS3. Go with me to Eastern Europe this April for a pilgrimage. For more information, email beaconlightevents@gmail.com and ask about it.

PS4. And here are a few other photos from Alvin’s concert…

Lola Neneng, still serving Anawim at the age of 82, still enjoyed being serenaded.

 

Judith is a 50-year old woman with a mental age of 6. One of the most loving women in Anawim.

 

Alvin giving his all as though his audience were royalty.

 

This is Alvin’s lovely wife Tess.

 

This is Tess again. But this photo represents what everyone was doing in the concert.