AlabYouth

Prior to 2012 | The CHCC Youth Ministry was guided through the years by passionate young people and young professionals from our community. In the early days—long before we had our own church building—our fellowships found a home in the living rooms of members, rotating from house to house. Many times, our gatherings spilled into the outdoors, with places like Camp John Hay becoming our open-air sanctuary.

2012 | CHCC found a new home in Military Cut-Off—a place we could finally call our own. That same year, during our Valentine’s Day Youth Event, Love Quake, the name “AlabYouth” was born, sparking an identity that would grow with the ministry in the years to come.

2015 – AlabYouth “The Beginning” | It was sometime in 2015 when the name ‘AlabYouth’ was coined—a name that gave our ministry a life and identity beyond Valentine’s events, marking a new chapter in our journey together with the first official AlabYouth fellowship.

“We chose the name ‘AlabYouth’ for our church youth fellowship because it is a Tagalog version of ‘Youth on Fire.’ It reflects the purpose of our gatherings—to bring together youth who are passionate for the Lord, with the goal of igniting that same fire in others. Additionally, when spoken, ‘AlabYouth’ sounds like ‘I love you,’ symbolizing the call to love God and love others. It’s also catchy and relatable, especially since many of the youth connect well with the concept of ‘love life.’ And we can get their attention, hehe. The first AlabYouth fellowship was also held during a Valentine’s Day-themed gathering.”

– Ahmed

These years overflowed with memorable moments—from out-of-town trips to Itogon, inspiring youth camps, heartfelt outreach activities, scenic hikes, and countless shared laughs, to the highlight of 2018: the AlabYouth Concert: Recharge, a powerful night that united the community in worship and celebration.

Then came 2020, when the world came to a standstill for over two years. Fellowships moved to Zoom—still filled with joy and connection, but never quite the same as gathering in person.

Around 2022, face-to-face youth fellowships slowly began to take off again. Though it was a challenge for everyone to adjust to the new normal, the grace of God strengthened the fellowship—enabling us to press on and continue the work the Lord had entrusted to us.

In November 2023, Pastor Arnel and Tita Olive reached out to ask if we desired to continue leading the youth ministry. Growing up in a church community—and as a child, witnessing the joy in my parents’ eyes when they led the youth—deeply inspired me to follow in their footsteps. I am truly grateful that Jeff was there to support me in this calling. Since then, we have consistently held AlabYouth Fellowships every 2nd and 4th Sunday.

In January 2024, we held the first youth concert since the pandemic, kicking off a new chapter in AlabYouth’s history. We called it Revival, with the goal of rekindling the passion for the Lord that may have gone quiet during the past years. From then on, the yearly youth concert would be known as JAMnuary.

April 2024 | AlabYouth held its first camp since the pandemic at Camp Ho’Omaha, owned by Kuya Mike Ibanez. The theme, Off the Grid, invited us to disconnect from the virtual world that had kept us tied down during the pandemic.

March 2025 | AlabYouth Fridays began—a Praise and Worship Celebration held after school hours.

2025 – Present | We continue to guide and disciple the youth, helping them grow deeper in the knowledge and love of the Lord. It’s not just me and Jeff who are leading the youth—our whole community of friends and family generously come alongside us, making every gathering and fellowship fruitful and meaningful. We carry on the work our predecessors faithfully began, building on the foundation they laid. As the young ones say these days, “They ran so we could walk.” With God’s grace, we pray that the next generation will not only walk but run even further in faith, shining His light and making a lasting impact for His Kingdom.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9