Cultivating Relationships with God and True Parents
On February 7, the National Ministry Team held its second monthly meeting of the year, with many being amazed by the overwhelming love of True Parents after True Mother’s recent activities in Senegal.
Rev. Buessing began the meeting with words from True Father’s speech entitled, “Americans Need to Awaken to the Will of God.” In this speech, True Father said, “The American people must not think that the blessings of God that have created the United States of today are only for America. They need to come to the profound realization that these blessings are for the world.” Rev. Buessing shared a similar message: “Although we may call ourselves ‘Americans,’ we must be beyond that. We must be part of the ‘love race’ that True Father talked about.” He then illustrated how True Mother has set an example for Unificationists to be part of the “love race,” as she showed her pouring heart for the continent of Africa.
Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, the Continential Chairman of Family Federation for a Heavenly USA highlighted the kind of relationship Unificationists must have with True Parents. Dr. Kim was especially inspired to share this message because of Mrs. Amy Yang, the primary organizer of the recent Chinese Divine Principle workshop at the International Peace Education Center (IPEC). In her efforts to bring joy to True Parents, Mrs. Yang had a mentality in which she first proclaimed her goal, and then finding any means possible to achieve it.
“It is through this kind of relationship with True Parents that we can bring America back to God,” said Dr. Kim. After the successful workshop, Mrs. Yang had a dream in which True Parents asked her, “How was the Chinese workshop?” The next day, she was personally invited by Dr. Kim to share with Unificationists of the National Ministry Team regarding the workshop.
Dr. Kim also discussed True Mother’s heart behind her recent activities in Africa. He underscored True Mother’s loving heart for African families by announcing that True Mother will be recognizing three African families from each country during True Parents’ birthday celebration in Korea.
Several other Unificationist leaders and representatives then took the stage to share about their personal experiences attending the World Africa Summit in person. Mike McDevitt, the Director of the Hyojeong East Garden Museum, said, “True Mother really loves the world and all of humankind, and it was manifested more in the Africa Summit than I have ever seen.”
Co-Chairman of the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr., echoed Mr. McDevitt’s sentiments by speaking about his experience visiting Goree Island with True Mother, where she prayed for the ancestors of Africa to liberate them from the deep suffering they had endured. “I am an African-American, a descendant of slaves. And to come back to Africa, to Goree Island, to the Door of No Return as a freed man, was the most liberating experience of my life,” said Archbishop Stallings. “True Mother connected all of humanity to Africa. By liberating our African ancestors, she liberated all of us from our history of selfishness.”
Dr. Michael Jenkins, the other Co-Chairman of ACLC, recapped the recent 22nd Annual True Family Values Banquet as well as the USA Inauguration of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD). Dr. Jenkins also shared exciting news that through these events, the past two global rallies in Korea, and the monthly prayer breakfasts, the clergy of ACLC have shown great enthusiasm in sharing the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony with others.
Rev. Hiroshi Inose, Director of HSA-UWC Kodan, then shared about the most recent Japanese-American workshop at IPEC. He described how people were so moved by the lectures on True Parents’ life course and God’s course that there were not enough tissues at IPEC.
Rev. Buessing then announced that the former Vice Presidents of Family Federation for a Heavenly USA, Rev. Mari Curry and Rev. Miilhan Stephens, will be accepting new positions in 2018: Rev. Curry is now the Education Director of the Evangelism & Education Department while Rev. Stephens is the Secretary General of the Northeast Subregion. Congratulations to Rev. Stephens and Rev. Curry!
