HILLSONG UNITED X YOUNG & FREE LIVE IN MANILA: A reviving experience

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me...🎵

What a beautiful name it is, what a beautiful it is
The name of Jesus...🎶

Sounds familar?😏Wait, how about this?

ONE WAY, JESUS! YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT I COULD LIVE FOR.

Most familiar! Right? I bet you to disagree. Ahuh😂

These are only three out of the many songs by Hillsong United, and I finally got to hear them live last June 15 at the Araneta Coliseum, together with Young & Free.  Moreover, I am soooooo excited to share to you the reviving experience I just had.

But first, who are they?

"Hillsong United is a worship band that originated as a part of Hillsong Church..."(read more)

"Hillsong Young & Free (also known as Hillsong Y&F or simply Y&F) is an Australian contemporary worship music group from Sydney, Australia, where they started making Christian music in 2012 at Hillsong Church." (read more)

OKAY, GOING BACK. It was around March when they announced their Asia tour.  To attend live worship concerts has always been one of my goals, so when my friend, Ainna messaged me, we automatically said yes without even knowing what lies ahead.  Fast forward, we finally came to the moment of seeing them in front of us, hearing the songs live and worshipping the same God with 30,000 people.

We arrived in Quezon City at around 2 PM.  Then, we started lining up at 4 PM.  It even rained so hard, but not for long.  Then, they opened the gates at 5 PM.  We were finally in at 6 PM and found our spot somewhere at the 3rd row from the stage at the left spot fronting stage.

  

We were very near!  And, we chose the spot where the organ was placed because we assumed Aodhan will play there, and we were really right.

Let me share to you a brief personal story.  I consider myself claustrophobic.  Although I didn't really ask any professional about this, but I do fear being in a crowd. Hours before the concert, I experienced fast heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, disorientation of thoughts, stomachache and my mouth was starting to dry up!  I was even locating the exit, just in case.  Yup, I was that nervous.  Yet, I just kept on talking with Ainna and my sister to keep myself conscious.  I kept on praying to God, even months, days, hours, minutes before the concert, that I may survive.  I mean, I could have chosen to stand at the back, but as a first timer, who would want to?  So, I just kept on breathing slowly.  The concert started and I really sang my heart out from the start.  Giving it all that night, I barely noticed I was actually surviving the crowd.  God is really great!

Thus, I share to you some of my snaps and allow me to let these do the rest of the talking of what happened during the 3 hour concert.

"Just Jesus , the way, the truth, the life"

"When I let go, then I find life"

The best night ever!

"Peace is a promise you keep"

Aodhan playing Sinking Deep

Wonder, their opening song

"If the stars were made to worship, so will I"

Taya bowing down to the One True King

Here's a compilation of the videos I took during the concert.

----------------------------

It was indeed a reviving experience.  I was partially spiritually dead for a year. I was slowly pulling myself away from the responsibility of being a committed Christian. I felt unworthiness and guilt. Yet, you know what's the good news? "No matter how we try to run away from Him, He'll keep on chasing us!" I had a pause for a year, and this allowed me to lead myself back to Him.  

This June, I decided to let the Lord set me on fire, again. I'm very grateful that my parents are always ready to invest in our spiritual growth.  Recently, my sister and I, joined the Christ Youth in Action's (CYA) National Youth Fest at Chali Beach Resort last June 6-10.  I was with 400 delegates with different stories but with the same goals: to get close to Him and be a light to this world.  There was so much healing I received during the conference.  

Secondly, this concert!  So much love for United x Young and Free because I did not only witness how great were they as performers, but they let us witness that our God is always greater!  

I was broken but I am found, again. 

This is Hannah saying, we are never too broken for the Lord.  It's really okay not to be okay because our weak points remind us that we have a powerful God.  

To follow Christ is never easy.  The real world is full of temptations.  However, He did not say that we will journey alone.  

...and throughout the way, always remember that "God will always look at our brokenness."

Come back to Him.  Come to Him.

---------------------------------

Additional information:

• Are you a first-timer in Araneta Coliseum?  Here are some things to note:

1. If you bought the ticket for standing only, then, bring only a very light and small bag.  Belt bag will do!
2. There are food and drinks inside! Don't worry.
3. The comfort rooms are convenient.
4. The system of entrance and exit is organized. So, don't overthink of being stamped.
5. Don't forget to enjoy!

• The Hillsong Worship Concert tickets ranged from 400-2500 pesos.
• The concert started at exactly 8 pm and ended at 11 pm.  
• I mentioned about being claustrophobic.  I actually gave up during the 3rd to the last song.  I went out and transferred at the back, where the space was much bigger.  It wasn't that bad at all, witnessing the crowd from a wider view :) 

AND I TELL YOU, IF THERE IS THIS THING CALLED "LSS", THEN I GUESS THERE IS ALSO A LAST PLAYLIST SYNDROME (LPS) because I'm still hyped with the set of songs they sang!