Humour brings out responses in people

By Frank Flegel

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Jesse Manibusin says he is shy and reserved but a microphone and an audience animates him and he, in turn, animates his audience.

Manibusin was the presenter at the Archdiocesan Centennial Youth Rally held April 17 at Holy Redeemer Church. The rally’s theme, The Fire of the Holy Spirit is in us: GET FIRED UP, indeed fired up the 60 or so Grades 7 - 12 teens and a dozen adults and priests from nearby communities. The teens came from all over the archdiocese and represented 13 different communities.

Manibusan is from Two by Two Ministries headquartered in Grapevine, Tex. He travels the world spreading his love of Christ and the Holy Spirit. He came to Saskatchewan April 15-17 at the behest of Archdiocesan Youth Ministry and the Regina Roman Catholic School Board. He presented a music ministry workshop in Regina April 15, performed for about 1,000 Grade 9 students April 16 at the Conexus Art Centre, and was in Swift Current on the 17th.

Manibusan engaged the audience and had them enthusiastically responding to prompts about the church, the Holy Spirit and God.

“Life is not for us to be entertaining, it is to be fired up,” he said. “The fire of the Holy Spirit is in us,” he prompted and the audience responded loudly “Get fired up.”

He frequently called for applause for the church, for God and the Holy Spirit. Other prompts elicited equally enthusiastic responses.

He often hears that going to church is boring, he said. “Church isn’t boring, you’re boring. Say ‘I’m boring,’” he prompted the audience, who again responded with enthusiasm. “Act as if you’re excited and you will become exited.”

Manibusin followed that with another prompt: “The Lord is with you,” and received an enthusiastic reply, “And also with you.”

“Just think how the priest would respond if you replied like that in church,” he said.

His self-deprecating humour frequently referred to his ample size. Shuffling down to chose an audience member for a demonstration, he referred to his movement as “a chubby guy jogging.” Another time he complained that he’s not out of shape, “I’m a circle.”

Later, choosing one of the tallest teens in the audience, he stood beside the teen and said they were impersonating the number 10. The humour took his size out of the picture and the audience became fully engaged in his presentation and message.