IBA Unplugged 2010 - Reviewed!

After 2 days of pumped up back to back worship sessions, I believe many of our hearts are filled with songs of praise for the Lord!

This year's IBA Unplugged had 3 teams to participate in the competition:

i) Still In Progress from TTDIGC Youth
ii) Undecided from SSGC Youth
iii) Grace Given from PKGH Youth

Each team gave their best and after much sweat and anticipation, the results were out.. (Well I sorta gave it out via facebook ad page :-X)


Champion: Undecided from SSGC Youth
1st Runner Up: Still in Progress from TTDIGC Youth
2nd Runner Up: Grace Given from PKGH Youth

After all, we only lost by 3 points away to SSGC! It was really a close one I must say. Both SSGC and PKGH sang both songs each but we were more "Gung Ho", so our team sang 3 songs instead. Had some slight hiccups along the way but thank God, all in all, it went pretty smoothly. :)

(Our Golden Guitar for the prize!)

Nonetheless, most importantly is that this event achieved its purpose as how God would intended it to be:

a.) To sing forth our hearts of worship and praises, as a sweet sound to the Lord's ears.
b.) To bless the fellowship between everyone involved in this event. (Especially during all the practice sessions! Oh and yes, not forgetting the great support as well.)
c.) To allow others to witness our worship to our Father in Heaven.
d.) To help us realize that our talents are for His Glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom as a response of gratitude. Don't be wicked and lazy or you'll end up using your talents to bring you burdens..
e.) To remind us that God placed a heart of praise and worship when we accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour in our lives!


The speakers showed how God placed that very heart of worship in their lives, replacing their sorrowful and bitter songs that rang so constantly in their ears while they were bondage to sin. It was truly a convicting message, showing how the Lord changed them from a curse to all they knew to a blessing to everyone they met. They also remind us that funky music cannot bring us true joy but only temporary excitement, so let us not seek for such tunes to help us triumph the evil one but to the seek Lord as He is the way, the truth and the life!

Credits must be given to SSGC for hosting this event as they were efficient in keeping the event going as well as entertaining the crowd. Thumbs up to you guys! The publicity was well done as well as the turn out was fantastic. Praise the Lord for answering our prayers yes?


Okay! I believe by now you guys must be itching to watch and listen to all the performances so without further a due, first up:-

Still In Progress| TTDIGC Youth: Who is like the Lord?



Still In Progress| TTDIGC Youth: This is my Father's World



Still In Progress| TTDIGC Youth: The Lost Sheep



Undecided| SSGC Youth: Walls of Jericho



Undecided| SSGC Youth: Great is Thy Faithfulness



Grace Given| PKGH Youth



Grace Given| PKGH Youth



For all the prayers, thank you guys! Team Still In Progress, as your team name says it, you guys will keep progressing. May God continue to inspire your hearts to use your talents in furthering His Kingdom and to know Him personally.

As for the youth, don't hesitate to sign up for next year's IBA Unplugged as TTDIGC Youth is blessed with many musically inclined individuals to aid you in polishing your talents for God!

Until then.

God bless,
daryl 's u n d a e' heng

IBA Unplugged 2010 - His Perspective

After going through many practice sessions, we managed to conduct an interview with the manager of the team, Mr.Chew Kuang Ern, to see things from his perspective towards the event of IBA Unplugged 2010.

Shortly after their sound check in SSGC, we conducted the interview via MSN! Here we go:


1.) Can you kindly update us your full list of members and their roles?

Sure. The members in the band are Alex, Ian, Evelyn, Wen-Li, Jeana Joy, Johnson, Cher Maine and I. Johnson, Evelyn, Cher Maine are the main singers. Ian plays the bass, Wen-Li the acoustic guitar, Alex the drums, Joy the keyboard and I the electric guitar. Ian and Wen-Li do have roles in singing too though.

(From left: Kuang Ern, Ian Fan, Evelyn Tan, Cher Maine & John Khor)

2.) How's the preparations coming along?

The preparations have been coming along pretty smoothly. We have finalized all the songs that we're playing and now we're working to make our songs as tight as possible.

3.) What are your main obstacles or challenges faced in your preparations?

Well the biggest challenge we've faced is to bring out the best in the songs that we're playing. We're given points for creativity so it was a challenge to make the songs as creative as possible without spoiling the song or changing its meaning or message.

How about gathering for practice sessions? As it's during the examination period as well as other commitments?

We've had almost no problems getting the members to meet up. We're blessed to have a committed team of band members who are willing to sacrifice some of their time to attend the practices. And also to practice on their on and being prepared for each practice session.

(Photo: Wen-Li)

4.) When was the last IBA Unplugged our church participated and who won in that year?

The last time our church participated in IBA Unplugged was in 2008. SSGC was the church that won that year. They also were the champions last year as well.

How far would you rate our team compared to theirs in terms of taking champion placing in the year that TTDIGC participated?

Well we gave it our best that year. Many of the competing teams were very good and talented. However, I would say we probably would have placed second that year had there been a second place prize.

5.) How would you think TTDIGC would fare this year's IBA Unplugged then based on your preparations so far? Confident for champion placing?

Well we're all hoping to win this time. There will be four teams participating in IBA Unplugged this year so we're hoping that we either get first or second. I can't be certain we'll be champions but based on our preparations I think we can at least place second.

6.) Any tips for those interested to participate in the next IBA Unplugged from our youth?

Well start practicing your instrument or vocals! Listen to more Christian music as well as contemporary music. IBA Unplugged puts a lot of emphasis on creativity and the 'tightness' of the band. So its good to form a band among your friends and play together so that you get used to your friend's style of playing and he or she likewise gets used to yours. Also listening to Christian music as well as contemporary music gives you ideas on music arrangement which will help a lot as creativity is one of the criterias of the competition. Lastly just have fun! Enjoy what your singing or playing and you will naturally gain confidence and get better.

(From left: Jeana Joy & Alex Tan)

7.) Are there any specific prayer requests and are there any shout outs you would to give to your supporters?

Oh yes. Pray that God will help us in our final preparations that we get the songs done up well. Also that the musicians and singers remain in good health till and even after the competition. Besides that, we will not be nervous on the actual day of the competition itself and lastly we will play and sing to the best of our ability on the competition day. Shout outs? Well firstly, thanks to all the people who have supported us and helped us during practice. Secondly, to all the youth, come and support us for IBA Unplugged 2010!!


Indeed, they'll be needing all the prayers and support to ensure that they stay focused in offering songs of praise and worship due to God, our Father in Heaven. Do pray for the event as well, allowing non-believers to come with a receptive heart and mind, to be able to know our Father personally!

4 days to go. See you there!

God bless,
daryl 's u n d a e' heng

Updates!

First up, for the Recyclables Community Service, we've collected approximately 330KG of newspapers!

Plus, there were only 14 of us so if we divide the total weight of the newspapers evenly, each of us would have brought 23.5KG of newspapers. Imagine if we had 30 of us? :)

Nonetheless, we'll be progressing to the next stage approaching to the TTDI residence. Do start to pile up your papers at home to add on to the total weight (which means let your parents be informed about our activities!)

We want to make an impact to our neighbouring community, so do pray that God would honour that very desire of TTDIGC Youth. Comparing to the small Thessalonian Church during Apostle Paul's time, they made an impact of their faith so strong, it reached as far as 250 miles away!

1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

"And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.."

Let us strive to put God's name on high!

Next,

for our dear faithful readers of the Youth blog, allow us to introduce our new list of contributors of the blog!

1.) Daryl Heng
2.) Gary Heng
3.) Alex Tan
4.) Xin-Yi
5.) Jo-Yi
6.) Yit Mun
7.) Phoebe Lim
8.) Johnson Khor

We'll be having a fixed "2 posts a week" by this list of contributors but we'll also be posting up updates (such as IBA Unplugged, Recyclables Community Service, etc.) in between the posts. So do check back here often to keep yourselves updated!

That's it for now, do look forward for the upcoming posts this week!

God bless,
The YTM Committee

Introduction to Recyclables Community Service!

After taking in your feedback and suggestions, on this coming Saturday’s YTM, we’re having an Introduction of

PIC (people in charge):
1. Gregory Ho
2. Xin-Yi
3. Alex Tan
4. Ian Fan

Objectives & Goals
• To raise awareness in the communities of the TTDI, relating the core problems which led to the need for running such a social organisation in the first place.
• To help our affiliated shelter home by gathering the money collected from the recycle and channelling it to them.



• To understand the importance of recycling and how much of an impact it could make to the world if we do our part.

What to do?
Please ask your immediate neighbours, classmates or even friends for their old newspaper (Please do bring your home’s newspaper also)

What to wear?
Do wear sporty outfit as we’re gonna sweat it out with all that carrying of loads and loads of newspaper!

Please come and participate!
Over time, depending on the feedback/response/money generated, we shall expand our collection channels to circling around the neighbourhoods of TTDI in proper stages namely, Athinapan, Zaaba, Datuk Sulaiman, Abang Haji Openg, Amminudin Baki and Rahim Kajai respectively,but to be scaled according to the capacity of our youth labour force.

FAQs

1. I don’t have transport!
Please contact the PIC above and they will arrange the tranportation for you =)

2. I can’t find anyone who is willing to give their newspaper and my home don’t have much old newspaper also.
It’s okay, we will always need the extra hands in any ways possible so don’t feel discouraged if you think you are not contributing by not getting any old newspaper.

3. My parents disapprove because they lack understanding of the activity and I’m not sure how to explain it to them.
Do contact Uncle Lay Seng, Uncle Vincent or Uncle Chee Kong and they will contact your parents regarding their insecurities with the activity. If you don’t have their numbers, contact Alex or Gregory for it.

4. I don’t feel like going .. How?
We can’t force you to come but let us encourage you that serving others can be real joy! After all as Christians we are told by Mark in God’s Word, Mark 10:45 :

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

And we are to follow Him as He is an example to all of us on what it means to live life on this sinful world!

God bless and see you this Saturday!
The YTM Commitee

Getting Plugged for Iba

As we know it, Iba Unplugged(Click for more details) is back once more just within a month away! (Sept 4 2010) Having our TTDIGC Youth representatives assembled to kick start the practice, we have:

Male Vocalist: Johnson
Female Vocalist: Wen-li & Evelyn
Pianist: Jeana Joy
Drummer: Alex Tan
Bass: Ian Fan
Electric Guitarist: Kuang Ern

Photos freshly taken and posted for the first practice last night. The only present members were Johnson, Wen-Li, Alex, Ian and Alex. The others couldn't make it due to other commitments but will be active soon for future practices!








As they're getting familiar with the songs being picked to be performed, a little hiccup on one of the song's chorus. Nonetheless, a great start to kick off in their preparations.

Stay tuned for more updates on their progress. Most importantly, be mindful of them in your prayer list!

God bless,
daryl 's u n d a e' heng