Jesus in the Spotlight
Back row from left: Audie Gemora, TV5 and Theater; Anthony Pangilinan, TV5 host, Zebedee Zuniga Music; Carlo Orosa, Manager,Theater; Ramon Victoria, Dance; Gary Valenciano, Music; Ronnie Henares, TV; RayAn Fuentes, Music; Greg Colasito Manager; Seate
Bill Bright believed that to impact a country, we would need to affect the Seven Mountains of influence in culture. One of them is arts and entertainment, which is king in the Philippines. Cru is there, working to connect everyone to someone who truly follows Jesus.
Orpah Marasigan runs Artists in Touch, Cru’s entertainment ministry in Manila. “By God's grace most of the people attending AIT over the years are now in the top positions in different TV networks,” she said, “and because we have relationships with them, they are now working with us to reach their new and budding artists.”
Recently, AIT hosted Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis’ stepson and producer of the Narnia movies, to speak at a dinner for TV and movie producers. It was widely attended and he encouraged entertainers there to bring the gospel into their industry.
God has truly opened a door to impact the elite world-shapers in the Philippines. But, how did it begin?
Former AIT staff member Brenda Friesen remembers, “We couldn’t get inside the TV stations, so we did prayer walks around and asked the Lord to open the doors for us to go in and have ministry.”
The Lord answered their prayers through someone at a church that worked there. “We were able to have lunch with one of the gals who did a daytime TV show and some girls from the college music department who went on to be in the entertainment world,” says Brenda. “We would go to their concerts and recording studios to meet people. The first year was just getting introduced to all the entertainers.
“One of the AIT ladies, Ida Henares, who used to be VP for Talent and Development in GMA7 – a big TV Network – opened the door to be able to allow me to be a consultant, LIFE coach and Counselor for their very young artists.”
36 celebrities prayed and accepted Jesus during their last workshop.
