More than a hundred participants attended A Day of Praise and Worship on 24 May 2025, at the Philippine Community Centre in Laverton. The event was organised by the Women of Ophir – including Nhessica Weber, Luz Foxwell, and Pebbles Dela Cruz – and brought together Filipino-Australians and believers from various church denominations and cultural backgrounds for a shared celebration of faith.
The gathering was inspired by Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity” — and featured music, testimonies, and a spirit of harmony that resonated throughout the day. The program opened with Tribe by Victory Worship and concluded with Heal Our Land by Jamie Rivera, with worship offered in English, Tagalog, and Hebrew. The blowing of the shofar — a traditional symbol of spiritual awakening — added a meaningful moment to the proceedings.
“Sama Sama was truly a powerful and prophetic gathering that echoed the heart of Psalm 133:1 — ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity,’” said Pastor Jose Puyat of Jesus Is Lord Church. “This wasn’t just another event — it was a prophetic moment, marking the beginning of something greater.”
A standout performance came from the Kiko Choir of St. Francis Church in Melbourne. The group’s renditions of I Will Sing Forever and Tell the World of His Love were filled with joy and conviction, drawing a strong response from the audience. The choir, composed of Filipino volunteers, often turns to music as a source of strength and connection, especially for those who have left family members behind in the Philippines.
“The event has shown the concept of harmony, collaboration, and mutual respect among different religious traditions and beliefs,” the choir shared. “It highlighted the idea that despite diverse theological interpretations, there are common values that can unite people across faiths.”
Another memorable highlight was a song and dance presentation by the Beit HaMashiach community, a Melbourne-based group of Jewish believers in Jesus. Their interpretation of There Is None Like You and Zion by Aaron Shust was described by one attendee as “a masterpiece of powerful storytelling.”
“As a Jewish believer in Jesus, it was a joy to come together with Filipino Christians from different church backgrounds and celebrate the One who has brought us together — Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah… I also believe that the Filipino people have a special destiny to fulfil for God’s Kingdom around the world through your love for the Lord and your humble servant heart,” Rabbi Lawrence Hirsch of Beit HaMashiach said as he reflected on the significance of the event.
Churches from across Melbourne participated, including Transform Church, Jesus Is Lord Church, Connect City Church, CrossCulture Church, and others.
“The atmosphere was quite moving, and you could feel the spirit of unity and love hovering in that community hall… Yet when hearts are united in glorifying God, the impact is immeasurable. What a beautiful glimpse of heaven on earth,” Pastor Ignacio Abadilla of Connect City Church said.
“It was such an amazing experience and a blessed opportunity for Transform Church to participate in the event. God truly moved that day, and we look forward to more opportunities for unity in faith,” said Thom Baccay, Worship and Creative Pastor at Transform Church.
Throughout the day, many attendees shared how personally meaningful the event had been. Some travelled from as far as Gippsland and said they hadn’t expected to be so encouraged. Others were moved by the multilingual worship, especially hearing Tagalog and Hebrew in the same service. One attendee described the moment of singing How Great Is Our God in Hebrew as feeling as though “the angels were singing with us.”
Attendees also commented on the spirit of interdenominational unity, with one noting that it was refreshing to see churches gathering “with no agenda except to lift Jesus.”
“The display of love and unity among diverse churches and communities brought a profound sense of hope. In a world that often feels uncertain, we are reminded to courageously take a leap of faith… even the smallest light can shine brightly in the darkness. May we continue to be that light in our communities,” organiser and worship leader Nhessica Weber said.
The day featured many meaningful highlights. Worship was offered in multiple languages — English, Tagalog, and Hebrew — reflecting the multicultural spirit of the gathering. The blowing of the shofar served as a symbolic call to spiritual renewal. The Kiko Choir’s joyful and heartfelt singing, along with the moving song and dance presentation by the Beit HaMashiach community, added depth and diversity to the event. Throughout the afternoon, there was a clear sense of inter-denominational unity, with inspiring testimonies and shared expressions of faith creating an atmosphere of encouragement and connection.
What began as a “simple conversation over dinner” between the Women of Ophir has now become a vibrant example of unity in worship. As organisers and attendees echoed, “this is just the beginning” — a seed planted for future gatherings of shared faith and fellowship.