Rooted in Christ, Growing in Grace

By: Bro Ernie Alama

St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians offers us a beautiful image of our spiritual journey: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.” — Colossians 2:6–7

There is no other way for us than to remain rooted in Christ.

At the Wedding at Cana, our Blessed Mother Mary gave the servants a simple but profound instruction: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). These words continue to speak to us today.

To be rooted in Christ means listening to Him and living as He taught us: to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as ourselves (cf. Mark 12:30-31). When we live in this love, our roots grow deeper. When our roots grow deeper in Christ, we grow in grace.

We Did Not Make This Journey Alone

Today, the GTA Prayer Foundation continues its ministry as a registered charitable organization and society in Alberta, supported by its Board of Directors, lay servants, volunteers, families, and prayer communities.

But GTA could never have sustained this journey alone.

Our prayer communities have been blessed by the spiritual guidance, encouragement, and welcome of the pastors and parishes where we have been allowed to pray, worship, and serve. We therefore express our profound gratitude to Fr. Dominic Ngo, O.P., Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish; Fr. Eli Cañete, former Pastor in Brooks; Fr. Kelvin, current Pastor in Brooks; Fr. Dan in Banff; and Fr. Francis of Annunciation Parish in Edmonton, together with the priests and pastors who preceded them and supported GTA throughout the years. Their pastoral support has helped our communities remain connected to the life and mission of the Church.

To all of them, and to the many priests, religious, lay leaders, families, volunteers, benefactors, and friends who have walked with GTA: Thank you. You are part of this twenty-year journey.

The Question Before Us: What Comes Next?

During our Life in the Spirit Seminar Retreat at Holy Trinity Church, Fr. Dominic asked our community an important question:

“What will the GTA Prayer Foundation become five years from now and beyond? How will it continue growing in grace in Christ?”

This is perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary.

An anniversary should not only ask: Where have we been?
It should also ask: Where is God calling us next?

Our celebration cannot simply be about remembering twenty years of accomplishments. It must become an opportunity for renewal and recommitment to discipleship. The calling remains before us every time we look at the GTA Prayer Foundation logo:

“Walk Before Me and Be Blameless.”

We see these words every week when we gather for praise and worship. But after twenty years, perhaps God is asking us to see them again with new eyes. They are not merely words on our logo. They are our calling.

Growing in Grace

During our Life in the Spirit Seminar, our brothers and sisters dreamed about the future of GTA. They envisioned prayer communities continuing to grow in grace and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They envisioned GTA reaching beyond Canada and helping establish prayer communities internationally. One sister even imagined GTA prayer communities “mushrooming” in different parts of the world.

We do not know exactly what the next five, ten, or twenty years will bring. But perhaps we do not need to know everything.

Abraham did not know the entire journey when God called him.

Mary did not know everything that would follow when she said: “Let it be with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

The disciples did not know where the Holy Spirit would lead them when they left the Upper Room at Pentecost.

They simply trusted. And so must we.

Remember. Renew. Rekindle. Recommit.
As we celebrate twenty years, four words can guide the next chapter of our journey:

REMEMBER — Remember God's faithfulness and the people who helped build this community.

RENEW — Renew our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and our love for one another.

REKINDLE — Rekindle the gifts, charisms, and fire of the Holy Spirit within our prayer communities.

RECOMMIT — Recommit ourselves to discipleship, prayer, service, evangelization, and the mission entrusted to us.

Twenty years ago, God planted a seed. Today, we see branches and fruits that we could not have imagined when the journey began.

But we must never forget:

The strength of the tree does not come from the branches. It comes from its roots. And our roots must always remain in Jesus Christ. Wherever God the Almighty, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit lead us, may we have the faith and courage to follow.

May we continue to walk before Him and seek to be blameless.
May we remain deeply rooted in Christ.
May we continue growing in grace through the Holy Spirit.

And through the intercession and example of our Blessed Mother Mary, may we always have the courage to say: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Happy and blessed 20th Anniversary, God the Almighty Prayer Foundation!

The journey continues.

Rooted in Christ.
Growing in Grace.
United in Prayer.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Committed to Serve.
Sent Forth in Mission.

To God be the glory—now and always.

Bro. Ernie Alama, PhD
GTA Prayer Foundation Elder Lay Servant