In a recent interview, Federation of Transparochial Charismatic Communities (FTCC) President Tetchie Rodriguez dishes out some information on the significance of Church groups to a Christian's faith walk.

KERYGMA: Has anyone asked you why a community is necessary?

Techie Rodriguez: Why do we need the body of believers? It's because we cannot exist alone. God calls us individually in salvation but He puts us in a body of believers.

K: So, you're saying that you cannot survive the world by yourself?

TR: No, a lone ranger ministry is not possible. I haven't seen any leg outside of the body performing, it has to be attached to the body for it to function. It's the same way with us Christians-I can't say, "I'll just read the Bible at home. Anyway, I can go to Mass..." God said so Himself in Genesis 2: 18, "It is not good for man to be alone." We need other people because we need to support one another. We need to pray for one another. We need affirmation from others. These we can't get outside, we need a group of fellow-Christians to do this for us and for us to do the same for them.

In my case, I bore much fruit when I got involved with community. I learned patience, and people learned to be patient with me also. I learned to share. I learned to be generous with what I know. I share my time. I lend an ear to anyone who needs someone to listen. Through all this, you will be able to see that we were really "commissioned," as in we are the Co-missioners of Christ.

K: How will you convince me to join a community if the movement is alien to me? What pointers you can give?

TR: I believe that all of us have a certain hunger in our lives. Even if you have everything, there is always something lacking in us. Each of us is created as worshippers but the real issue is whom or what are we worshipping? It could be a whole lot of things like sex, money, business, power. Think of the process of how God invited us. First of all, God didn't isolate Himself, He didn't adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. I'd reach out to where you are. I wouldn't be Bible-toting and quoting verses to people. People might be turned off and avoid me. People need to discover and know God. How? I can share exactly what the Lord did to my life. I need not weave someone else's colorful life because what happened to me is real, a true story.

K: What if someone approaches you and asks how will he know the group that would suit his needs?

TR: Again, different communities have different charisms. First, you have to know the culture of the community.

K: Would you recommend community-hopping in order to gather information about the different prayer groups?

TR: No. I wouldn't recommend it if you have a community where you're already growing. It's like being planted in a pot and uprooted. But if you haven't gone to one, it's okay. Like me, at first I was like a butterfly.

K: You were still searching then?