A Personal Sharing by Yobel Bautista

I am Yobel Chryselle C. Bautista, an underway member of the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (Joy of the Lord) Community from the Philippines. I’m also a community kid, but I have been blessed to experience the Lord’s love in a very personal manner, which has led me to be currently working as a missionary worker / staffer for Christ’s Youth in Action (CYA) here in Manila, our outreach program for college students. 

Last June 2025, I just came back from the Prep7 household and Kairos Arise 2025: Pamana (Inheritance) Conference, held in Cagayan De Oro, Philippines. Some of you may have heard about these events, and we thank you for your prayers as well, for the Kairos Arise (KA) conference that was held for the youth of the different Sword of the Spirit Communities here in Asia. 

In the three weeks that I spent there, I could simply say that it was a Spirit-filled experience. I try to find the words to describe it – and whenever I try to remember, I just get this feeling – of joy, gratitude, awe, amazement – at how the Lord works. 

I was also at the first Kairos Arise, held 10 years ago in Tagaytay, Philippines. This year, arriving in Cagayan De Oro, a province around a thousand kilometers away from our home in Manila, I was just so amazed – because the people I had met and been participants with at that time, were now serving in various capacities. Brothers and sisters who were just my “tribemates” or group mates back then, were now leaders and moderators of various Christ’s Youth in Action (CYA) Chapters. 

It’s one thing to see the people around me, here in my community, Ligaya, grow up with me and take on service and leadership roles as well. But it was a completely different feeling to see that in a nationwide context – to see it in the picture of the bigger community. To witness other people also taking on their inheritance, their “Pamana.” I had to hold back my tears as we were having our fellowship dinner the night I realized that. That was just one of the ways the Lord was starting to reveal His own “Pamana” (Inheritance) to me. 

Before Kairos Arise 2025 started, I also served in the Prep household. Here, I realize that the Holy Spirit was already preparing me for what was to happen in Kairos Arise (KA). As the Prep7 household concluded and we prepared to go into Kairos Arise, I was really just overwhelmed – not just with everything that was happening, but most especially with the knowledge that the Lord sees me, knows me, and chooses me. 

Little did I know that even if I was dealing with the difficulties of being chosen and called, the Lord would reveal to me what an honor and blessing it is too. I’ll be honest – if you ask me about KA 2025 – I won’t be able to tell you all the titles of the talks – nor recall how our day to day schedule looked like. The program was amazing, executed quite well. But, I mostly remember the people I met, the stories I heard – and most especially, the feeling and experience of the Holy Spirit.

As we went through the days – it became more and more undeniable that the Holy Spirit was really present and at work. One major highlight of Kairos Arise for me, among the many things, was when I fully realized what the “Pamana” is. 

In the middle of Kairos Arise, a sister from Christ’s Youth in Action-Batangas, whom I had served with in Prep7, messaged me, with the realization that she knew who my dad was. This was already after a week of being together – and she said “Omgg, you’re the daughter (pala) of Kuya Rico! I saw your family videos when I followed you on Instagram!” When she first said this, in my head, I was like “hehe, yeah – I don’t really like to broadcast who my parents are when I introduce myself. I think it’s part of how I’ve felt like I really needed to claim my faith journey and community for my own as well.

But then she also messaged: “He was one of the staffers who helped build CYA Batangas. Praise Jesus for his life, we are grateful!” You see, my father also worked as a CYA staffer for a few years after he graduated. While I’ve known his stories about his work and time on mission, this was a very tangible “oh wow” moment for me. 

So, later on that day, I decided to message my father – initially, I just wanted to send a screenshot of the sister’s message and say something like – “oh look what someone said, so cool.” Instead, I ended up composing a short message that really made me cry as soon as I typed the first sentence.

“Remembering you also as I serve here in KA. Thank you for this Pamana, Tatay (Dad). I’m so blessed and honored to be sharing and continuing the same mission as you. Love you lots. From generation to generation: Kay Kristo Buong Buhay, Habambuhay (For Christ Our Whole Life, the Rest of our Life).” 

From generation to generation: Kay Kristo Buong Buhay, Habambuhay. How blessed am I to be a part of this indeed, to be called to this mission – to take part in this community – to be able to hear the Lord’s voice and receive His love – to share that love to other people. To receive the Holy Spirit – and to witness the works of the Holy Spirit around me and in me.

At one point, there was a time of worship in KA – that I really had to take a seat, because that was when I concretely felt the weight of the mantle that was being passed on. It was as if the Holy Spirit was saying – “here you go, this is the Pamana” (our inheritance in Christ).

So, here I am, Lord – your daughter. But also, I am Yobel, the daughter of Rico and Charmz Bautista, from Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. From generation to generation: Kay Kristo Buong Buhay, Habambuhay. For Christ Our Whole Life, the Rest of our Life.

---

Top image credit: Kairos Arise Conference held in Cagayan De Oro, Philippines, June 2025. Photo courtesy ©2025 Kairos Asia.