Phatboy Team: Fernando, Mike and Jason
Each Gift Shared:
An Unexpected Moment of Encouragement at Gathering 2025
There’s something special about coming together — the greetings, the laughter, the hum of conversation, and the quiet anticipation as the room slowly fills. As people arrived for MC Canada Gathering 2025, the atmosphere was full of warmth and excitement — a shared sense of purpose and community.
Behind the scenes, long before anyone took their seats, another kind of gathering had already begun. Phatboy Productions, owned by Mike Lapuz, is a unique event service company based in southwestern Ontario. Specializing in lighting, staging, sound, videography and even DJing, they support everything from weddings and fundraisers to concerts and large conferences — like the MC Canada Gathering.
Throughout the weekend, the team not only managed the production but also joined in the worship...
Having worked with MCEC for the 2024 Annual Church Gathering, Mike and his team were already familiar with the potential rhythm and flow of the week. That Wednesday morning, Mike, Fernando and Jason arrived at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener from Windsor and quietly began their work — raising lights, plugging in microphones, snaking power cables and setting up screens as high as the room allowed. If you looked closely, you might have seen Mike tapping the drums during sound checks or Fernando playing the piano. Throughout the weekend, the team not only managed the production but also joined in the worship — singing along from the sound booth.
Phatboy worked steadily in the background. Friday night brought a series of surprises. With a full Festival of Gifts program planned by Randell Neudorf and Yoel Masyawong, the production team had to adapt to a wide range of audio needs — from choir microphones to solo acts, hand-helds to instrument setups. At one point, Jason even had to run to the front to realign a projector view after a table was jostled.
Fernando grabbed the note and switched on the overhead light...
By the end of the night, after a successful (and slightly chaotic) evening, a collective sigh of relief could be felt among the team. With two and a half days behind them and only a half-day to go, Mike, Jason and Fernando headed to the parking lot. Just as they reached their car, something unexpected caught their eye — a white piece of paper tucked under the windshield wiper.
“Oh no! What is this?” was their first reaction.
Fernando grabbed the note and switched on the overhead light. What they found was not a ticket or a warning — but a blessing:
“May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
Go in peace, knowing you’re loved.”
“I have never received such a note at any gig I’ve done,” said Mike. The men took the thoughtful encouragement to heart and were grateful that someone took the time to share such kind words.
The theme of Gathering 2025 was Each Gift, inspired by 1 Peter 4:10: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” To the anonymous person who shared their gift of kindness and affirmation — thank you. It was received with full hearts.
