PARTICIPANT’S

MANUAL
 true life
an ENCOUNTER 1 retreat

ENCOUNTER 1 RETREATS ARE PART OF

TRUE LIFE: PARTICIPANT’S MANUAL

Copyright © 2020 by Global Leadership Center

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording, or any other, without the prior
permission of GLC.
 Welcome to
True Life!
The true life for many is living out their dream and attaining great
measure of earthly success. For a few, it means breaking free and
going beyond the normal experience. Living has been reduced
to enjoying the balance among possessions, relationships and
accomplishments. But what is the true life, really?

All human attempts at living the true life cannot fill the inner
longing for joy, hope and forgiveness. Only God can fill the
God-shaped emptiness in our hearts. In John 10:10 Jesus
promised to fill our longing for a purposeful and meaningful life. He
said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
Jesus Christ is God’s free gift and those who have faith in Him can truly
live both now and for eternity.

This is the True Life we present in this retreat. May you have
time to search your heart, share your story and partake of the
victorious life we can have in Jesus.

Thank you and God bless you!

Your True Life Retreat Servant Team

Reminders
Personal valuables
Please do not leave your personal valuables unattended. Organizers
and personnel are not liable for any losses.

Security and identification

Please wear your ID cards or tags at all times. Going out of the retreat
premises at any part of the program is strongly discouraged.

Plenary Sessions
Please arrive on time and remain for the duration of the whole
program.

Kindly switch your mobile phones to silent mode and refrain from
repeatedly checking them. Avoid unnecessary distractions and
be sensitive to other participants. Listen to the speakers and actively
participate in your breakout activities to fully enjoy the sessions.

Recording parts or the whole of the retreat messages is not allowed.

Breakout Sessions
Please stay with your designated group for each breakout session.

Use this time as an opportunity to think through the messages,

respectfully exchange views and stories with groupmates and
nurture new friendships. Use of offensive language and behavior are
not welcome.

Baptism
Participation at the baptism rites is optional. Registration will be
facilitated by the retreat organizers.

Participants who wish to be baptized are asked to bring extra black

(or closest to black) shirts and shorts. Towels and extra clothing are
also needed.
 Table of
Contents
FATHER’S LOVE 7

WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT SIN 9

THE CROSS 11

HOW TO PRAY PART 1 13

THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE 15

OVERCOMING STRONGHOLDS 18

BAPTISM 26

HOW TO PRAY PART 2 28

VISION 29

WHAT’S NEXT 32
6
 SESSION 1

Father’s Love

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 EXPRESS
Get acquainted with your group! Give your name, what you do, are
you single or married, the number of kids you have, what you are most
passionate about.

EXPLORE
Please share your thoughts with your group on the following discussion
points:

1. Why were the Pharisees, scribes, and religious people grumbling?

2. What insights about God’s love did you get from the message? Do
they make sense to you?

3. What was your previous understanding of God’s love? How does

that compare versus what you learned from the message?

4. Between the prodigal son and the older son, whom can you identify
with? Why?

5. How does your understanding of God’s love, compassion, patience,

and kindness affect your attitude towards Him?

EXPERIENCE: MY LIFE APP

• My Response: Do I know God personally?
Do I want to know God personally?

• PRAY
Thank the Lord from your heart for loving you unconditionally and
eternally. Ask God to let you understand the depth of His love for
you and to help you love Him with your whole heart.

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 SESSION 2

What’s So Bad About Sin?

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 EXPLORE
1. How did the message affect me?
2. Do I think of myself as a basically good person or sinful person?
Why?

EXPRESS
1. What is the danger of defining my goodness in relative terms such as
comparing myself with others such as notorious villains/criminals?

2. How does the Bible describe us in Romans 3:9–10, 23?

3. What is the consequence of sin as stated in Romans 6:23? How

does it affect my life? James 1:13–15, John 8:34

4. What are some of the religious activities that people do to compensate

for their sins?

EXPERIENCE
• Ask God for Forgiveness – 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:1–4
• List of Sins You Want to Confess

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 SESSION 3

The Cross

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 EXPLORE
• What are some of the ways by which people try to pay for their sins?

EXPRESS
• What does the cross mean to me personally right now?

A. Who can bridge the gap between me

and God?
Who can only pay the penalty for my sins?

1. John 14:6

2. Acts 4:12

B. Why did Jesus Die on the Cross?

1. Romans 6:23

2. 1 Peter 3:18

3. Hebrews 9:22

EXPERIENCE
I. What should I do now?
1. Repent – Acts 17:30
2. Confess – Romans 10:9–10
3. Invite – Revelation 3:20
4. Trust by Faith – Ephesians 2:8–9

II. What happens when I make a decision for Christ?

1. John 1:12–13
2. 1 John 5:11–13
3. Hebrews 13:5

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 SESSION 4

How to Pray
Part 1

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 EXPRESS
1. How would you define prayer? How do you view prayer right now
in light of what we discussed today?

2. How delighted are you in praying? What changes do you intend to

apply now to be more delighted in your prayer life?

EXPERIENCE
Individually spend time in prayer using the pattern of prayer Jesus taught
His disciples. After you are done, you may close in prayer as a group.

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 SESSION 5

The Spirit-Filled Life

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 EXPRESS
ICEBREAKER
Comment on the statement: “The Christian life is not difficult to live, it
is impossible.”

EXPLORE
In order to live the supernatural Christian life, we must be filled with the
Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit? Read Romans 8:1–15.

Why is the Holy Spirit important? Read Acts 1:8.
When do you receive the Holy Spirit? Read Ephesians 1:13–14.

How do we become filled with the Holy Spirit.

A. Read John 7:37–39. What do we need to do?

Only those who truly seek His empowering and direction will
experience Him. We need to pray in faith to be filled and
empowered with the Holy Spirit.
B. Read Romans 12:1–2. What do we need to do?

What should be the condition of our sacrifice (ourselves) which we

need to offer to Him?

How do we become holy and acceptable before Him?

If you become aware of an area in your life (an attitude or action)

that is displeasing to the Lord, you need to...

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C. PRACTICE SPIRITUAL BREATHING.
(Exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure) is an exercise in
faith that enables you to continue to experience God’s love and
forgiveness.

1. Exhale – confess your sin (1 John 1:9)

2. Inhale – Read Ephesians 5:18. Who should you allow to control

or influence your life?

D. What else do we need to do according to Galatians 5:16–24?

What can we learn about the Christian life? How do we
overcome the flesh?
1. What is the promise?

2. How do you walk in the Spirit?

E. READ Galatians 2:20. What does it mean?

F. ALLOW JESUS TO LIVE IN YOU: Die Daily and Surrender Daily

Read Galatians 2:20 and 1 Corinthians 15:31.

1. What do you need to do to allow Jesus to live in you?

2. What does it mean for you, personally, to die to sin and self?
What things (habits, eccentricities, relationships, or maybe a
present job) would you need to give up or surrender to the
Lordship of Jesus?

“No longer I, but Christ.”

EXPRESS
How would you apply this lesson in your daily life? What practical
measures would you commit to the Lord to do in humble submission to
His desire that you live a Spirit-filled, victorious kind of life?

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 SESSION 6

Overcoming Strongholds
EXPLORE
If you have trusted in Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, Christ has
set you free from the power of sin and death through His victory on the
cross. But if we allow sin to permeate our lives, Satan builds strongholds
in our minds and our flesh by which he tries to control us. We are in a
spiritual battle with the forces of evil, but we have the power in Jesus’
Name to repent of these sins and to break these Satanic strongholds.

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the
devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Ephesians 6:10-13 – “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in

the strength of His might. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that
you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able
to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do

not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are
not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up
against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought
captive to the obedience of Christ,”

John 8:31-32 – “31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had
believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples
of Mine; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free.”

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EXPRESS
GROUP A: UNFORGIVENESS AND BITTERNESS
Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32 – “26BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do
not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not give the devil
an opportunity. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor
and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind
to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in
Christ also has forgiven you.”
2 Corinthians 2:10–11 – “10But one whom you forgive anything,
I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven
anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11so that no
advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant
of his schemes.”

Unforgiveness Bitterness / Anger Hatred

Unforgiveness and bitterness are major strongholds of Satan. To be
delivered, ask the Lord to reveal to you any person whom you haven’t
forgiven.
List down their names and their offenses against you. Then in obedience
to the Lord, forgive them one by one by praying the following prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, because You have forgiven me all my sins
through the blood of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I
now forgive__________ (person’s name) __________ (what they did)
and the emotional pain of __________ (list how it affected you) that
it caused me as You have forgiven me. I now trust in You to use this
experience for good in my life and in the lives of others. I claim in Jesus’
name and based on His shed blood that any evil influences that were in
my life are now rendered powerless and cleansed from my life. In the
Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)

GROUP B: SEXUAL IMMORALITY

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 – “18Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man
commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own
body. 19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not
your own? 20For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify
God in your body.”

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 Lustful Thoughts Abortion Child molestation
Pornography Fornication Rape
(including internet) Adultery Masturbation
Lesbianism Homosexuality Fetishes
Incest

List down every person, including prostitutes, with whom you had
sexual relationship and then pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for having a sexual
relationship with ______ (name each person’s name). I repent
and claim Your forgiveness and Your cleansing from these sins.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I renounce these sinful sexual
relationships and I break any bonding between me and those
persons. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command all evil
spirits that are in me or around me as a result of my sinful sexual
relationships, to leave me forever, to not send similar spirits, or
replacement or reinforcement spirits to me. In Jesus’ name and based
on His shed blood, I claim His victory over these sins and any evil
influences that were in my life are now rendered powerless. In the Name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

If you were sexually abused, or raped, you were a victim. Pray the
following prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I was ______ (sexually abused, raped) by ____
(person’s name). I renounce having my body used in this way. I claim
cleansing and healing of my mind, body, soul and spirit by the blood of
Jesus Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I cancel any ground
that Satan has gained in my life by this and I command any evil spirits
that were transferred to me to leave me forever, to not send similar,
replacement or reinforcement spirits. I trust You to use this experience
for good as You promised. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

For the other sins, pray:

Heavenly Father, I now confess and I repent and renounce these sins
(name each sin) __________. I claim my forgiveness and cleansing. In
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command any evil spirits that are
in me or around me as a result of these things, to leave me right now,
to never return, to not send similar spirits to me, or any replacement or
reinforcement spirits. In Jesus’ name, I claim victory over these sins and
cleansing from any evil influences that were in my life. Amen.

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GROUP C: OTHER SINS
Galatians 5:19–21 – “19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,
which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these,
of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those
who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Suicidal Thoughts /
Pride “Cutting” or Self-Injury
Actions
Temper Covetousness Anorexia
Anger Greed for Power Bulimia
Rage Greed for Money Addiction to:
Envy Slander Drugs
Alcohol
Jealousy Gossiping Video Games
Rebellion to Authority Stealing Rock Music
Internet / Social
Unbelief Swindling Media
Blasphemous
Gambling
Thoughts
Low Self-Esteem Depression

For the sins that you checked pray:

Lord, I confess that I have been guilty of __________ (say each one
you checked). I repent and renounce these sinful acts and claim Your
forgiveness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command all
evil spirits that are in me or around me as a result of these sins, to
leave me, to never return, to not send any similar spirits, or any
reinforcements. I claim in Jesus’ name and based on His shed blood
that any evil influences that were in my life are rendered powerless
and cleansed from my life. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
GROUP D: COUNTERFEIT SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES
Begin by praying:
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You to guard my heart and mind, and reveal
to me all the cult or occult practices, false religions, and idolatry in which
my family or I have knowingly or unknowingly been involved. In Jesus’
name I pray, Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:15–16 – “15So watch yourselves carefully, since you

did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from
the midst of the fire, 16 so that you do not act corruptly and make a
graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness
of male or female,”

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 Deuteronomy 4:19 – “19And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven
and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and
be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the
Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.”

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – “10There shall not be found among you

anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire,
one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who
interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11or one who casts a spell, or a
medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12For whoever
does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these
detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.”

Leviticus 19:31 – “31 ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not

seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

Spirit of the glass Arbolaryo Animal Sacrifice

Ouija Board Witchcraft / Kulam Clairvoyance
Fortune Telling Astrology Spirit Guides
Palm Reading Seance Gayuma
Tarot Cards Anting-Anting / Amulet Ghost
Horoscope Faith Healing Automatic Writing
Transcendental Idolatry
Consulting Mediums Meditation
Praying to the dead,
Feng Shui Astral Projection ancestors, images,
saints, idols
Dwendes Speaking in Trance

Romans 1:25 – “25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is
blessed forever. Amen.”

Exodus 20:4-6 – “4You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any
likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the
water under the earth. 5You shall not worship them or serve them;
for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations
of those who hate Me, 6but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to
those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My
glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”

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 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 – “2For I am jealous for you with a godly
jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might
present you as a pure virgin. 3But I am afraid that, as the serpent
deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from
the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

1 Timothy 2:5–6 – “5For there is one God, and one mediator also
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as
a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Confess and renounce each thing you participated in as follows:

Lord, I confess that I have participated in ____________ (say each one

you checked above or listed). I repent and ask for Your forgiveness,
and I renounce _________________________ (say each one again).
I confess that I have prayed to other gods, images, idols, etc. In the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command any evil spirits that are in me
or around me as a result of these things, to leave me right now, to never
return, to not send any other similar or replacement spirits to me. In
Jesus’ name and based on His shed blood, I claim that any evil
influences that were in my life are rendered powerless and cleansed
from my life. Amen.

Confess and renounce each thing you participated in as follows:

Lord, I confess that I have worshiped and prayed to ____________
(say each name of the false god or idols and images). I repent and
ask for Your forgiveness, and I renounce worshiping and praying to
__________________ (say each one again). In the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, I command any evil spirits that are in me or around me as
a result of these things, to leave me right now, to never return, to not
send any other similar or replacement spirits to me. In Jesus Christ’s
Name, I claim that any evil influences that were in my life are rendered
powerless and cleansed from my life. Amen.

GROUP E: FAMILY HISTORY - SINS OF ANCESTORS:

Exodus 20:5–6 – “5You shall not worship them or serve them; for
I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of
those who hate Me, 6but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to
those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

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 1. Occult Practices:
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________

2. Idol Worship of:

____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________

3. Addiction in the Family

____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________

Declaration:
In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject and disown all the sinful practices of
my ancestors. I do not agree or approve of their activities. I pledge my
allegiance to Jesus and I cancel any claim that Satan has over me
through the sinful practices of my ancestors. As one who has been
delivered from the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom
of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, I cancel all demonic strongholds in my life.
I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, who purchased me with His own
blood. I declare myself to be eternally and completely committed to the
Lord Jesus Christ.

EXPERIENCE
CLOSING DECLARATION AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Declaration:
By the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20),
and in His Name, I command every familiar spirit and every ene-
my of the Lord Jesus Christ that is in me or around me to leave my
presence forever, to not return to me, to not send similar or
reinforcement spirits. I commit myself to my Heavenly Father, I will
faithfully follow Jesus and to do His will by the power of the Holy Spirit
in me, from this day forward. I am His and I love Him!

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Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You as Your child, purchased by
the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Lord of the universe
and the Lord of my life. I submit my body to You as an instrument of
righteousness, a living sacrifice, that I may glorify You in my body. I
now ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I commit myself to the
renewing of my mind through reading and obeying Your Word in
order to prove that Your will is good, perfect and acceptable to
me. By Your grace, I will follow Jesus and live to obey and honor You
in all that I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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 SESSION 7

Baptism

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27
 SESSION 8

How to Pray
Part 2
EXPRESS
1. What are you most worried about? How should the knowledge that
our heavenly Father knows what we need change your perspective?
2. What spiritual disciplines do you think you need to develop so that
God can work in your heart and transform you from the inside out?

EXPRESS
Individually spend time in prayer by putting God first, telling Him your
worries, and ending with thanksgiving. If you are done praying for
yourself, spend time praying for others.

As you pray, follow these guidelines:

1. You may pray with one or two other people.
2. Prepare your heart for intercession using A.C.T.S.
(Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication)
3. Use short focused prayers. (about 1–3 minutes will suffice, avoid one
person from monopolizing the prayer time.)
4. Pray one concern at a time as the Lord prompts each of you.
5. Agree together in prayer saying “Amen”, “Yes, Lord”

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SESSION 9

Vision

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 EXPRESS
GOD’S WILL FOR ME

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever

1 Corinthians 10:31 you do, do all to the glory of God.”
“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our
2 Peter 3:18a Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ”
“18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and
on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all
Matthew 28:18-20 the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus. 2The things which you
2 Timothy 2:1-2 have heard from me in the presence of many
witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also.”
“preach the word; be ready in season and out
2 Timothy 4:2 of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great
patience and instruction.”
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and
appointed you that you would go and bear
John 15:16 fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that
whatever you ask of the Father in My name
He may give to you.”
“but you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
Acts 1:8 My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest
part of the earth.”

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EXPERIENCE
MY OWN VISION

Write your own vision statement based on the verses you've just read:
1. If money is not a problem and failure is not an issue, what do you want
to do for the Lord?
2. In view of God’s mission and vision for the church, what is God’s
mission and vision for your life?

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 What’s Next?

True Life is one of the modules of GLC 1 Essentials. GLC is our program
for the essentials that we need to jumpstart our spiritual journey with
Jesus.

What are the

GLC 1 Essentials?
Book 1: One by One
Learn about and live out your faith in Jesus.
Book 2: Spiritual Disciplines
Grow in your relationship with Jesus.
Book 3: The Holy Spirit
Discover who the Holy Spirit is and live a life dependent on Him.
Book 4: CCF DNA
Know and understand our God-given mission, vision and core values as
a church.

We invite you to learn more about our faith and our relationship with
Jesus. We encourage you to grow spiritually and learn how to follow
Jesus in a small group.

Take GLC Essentials in your small groups or in CCF (for schedules,

contact CCF Center or satellite).

For more information, visit our website: glc.ccf.org.ph or email us at

glc@ccf.org.ph

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