ACLC Revives Clergy Worldwide
The American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) has actively been promoting the Marriage Blessing of True Parents all over the nation, and even the world. Recently, ACLC’s counterpart in England, the Assembly of British Clergy, was established. In Peekskill, New York, a thought-provoking prayer breakfast was held, and in Atlanta, Georgia, marriage education was provided at a pastors’ forum. You can read more about these events below.
London, United Kingdom
On January 30, 2016, Rev. George Augustus Stallings Jr., the national co-chair of American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), spoke to about 100 ministers in London. Rev. Stallings’ presentation was electrifying. His speech revived the hearts of the clergy and FFWPU members present.
The event was held at the Lancaster Gate headquarters of FFWPU United Kingdom and was also the occasion for the establishment of the Assembly of British Clergy. The program was organized by Mrs. June Darby, the first national leader of the Unification Movement in the UK. About 100 clergy participated.
The program was electrifying.
According to Mrs. Darby, “Rev. Stallings gave a brilliant and inspired and inspiring talk to the ministers, more than fulfilling my hopes. He really helped them to understand True Parents’ heart, vision and teaching and mission, for which I am deeply, deeply grateful.”
Robin Marsh commented: “I loved the preaching style of Rev. Stallings. His expressions were exciting. ‘I am joining the dots,’ ‘Fasten your seat belts,’ ‘For some of you we are going into rocky ground.’ And at one point, when he challenged them with ‘new wine,’ everyone became more thoughtful about how the Divine Principle transcends regular Christian teaching.”
“I was so moved to hear Rev. Stallings’ inspired presentation in Lancaster Gate,” commented Alexander Herzer. “I think it was astounding. Rev. Stallings is such a wonderful son of God and True Parents. His love of Jesus and True Father’s insights all made it a privilege to be present.”
Joanna Hartl commented, “I am so excited to have met Rev. Stallings, and feel like a small child again, wondering what God has prepared next, just around the corner, as the recent meeting with clergy opens up a whole new dimension of what God is expecting us [all] to do in the future!”
“Rev. Stallings’ visit was a great success. He deeply moved the hearts of the clergy,” remarked John O’Neill. “This program laid the foundations for genuine growth and development with our minister outreach in the UK.”
“One pastor came up to me and asked me to please come and educate and bless his church as soon as possible,” said Mrs. Darby. “Another lady pastor asked to become a member of our Association of British Clergy.
In summary, Mrs. Darby wrote, “I am amazed and deeply grateful to Rev. Stallings, for he has a unique gift, the ability to transform people of faith, to ignite them, especially Christians, and he is helping our [FFWPU] members to renew their faith, hope and fighting spirit, including myself.”
Peekskill, New York
On Saturday, January 30, 2016, the New York ACLC held its monthly prayer breakfast in Peekskill in northern Westchester County. Forty people attended the program at the Peekskill Christian Center, including Cheon Il Guk Itinerant Worker Rev. Richard Buessing and FFWPU-USA President Dr. Michael Balcomb and his wife, Fumiko. Also in attendance were the FFWPU pastors of the New York District.
Rev. Levi Bond and his wife, Rev. Sandra Bond, were the host pastors for the event. In his powerful welcome, Rev. Levi Bond gave a stirring testimony of his love and appreciation for his wife of 40 years and emphasized the importance of marriage.
Rev. Daryl Clarke, pastor of the Brooklyn Family Church, was the master of ceremonies, and Rev. Esteban Galvan, pastor of the Bronx Family Church, offered the prayer for the breakfast. Then Rev. Edner Pierre-Louis, the FFWPU district pastor of the New York District, offered the opening prayer for the program. Ms. Nandi Bengu led the meeting in a congregational song and later performed two beautiful, uplifting solos.
Rev. Tanya Edwards, pastor of the New York Family Church, read the ACLC Statement of Purpose and the Mission Statement. Rev. Stephany Graham, the senior pastor of the Peekskill Presbyterian Church, enthusiastically led a responsive reading from Romans 8:15-39.
Father John Keane offered a wonderful prayer for the nation and the world. Father Keane is a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in Garrison, New York. He has traveled extensively and lived in Japan for 18 years. The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement order was founded in 1898 in an effort to bring unity among the Christian faiths, and Father Keane heads up local interfaith programs. He recently received the 2016 Martin Luther King Service Award from the Peekskill Area Pastoral Association (PAPA). Father Keane knew Archbishop Stallings decades ago, when they both had ministries in Washington, D.C.
A video was shown depicting the ministry of the ACLC and the significance of the Marriage Blessing. The video featured many political and religious leaders known to the audience.
The keynote speaker was Rev. Jesse Edwards, ACLC national evangelist and founder of the United Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia. He gave a riveting, witty and transparent message about his love for his wife. He emphasized the need for a change in the blood lineage and stressed how the Marriage Blessing is God’s vehicle at this time for changing our lineage from Satan’s to God’s. His presentation was well received by all.
Rev. Dr. Gilda Price of the Mywin Evangelistic Ministry in Laurelton, New York, commented: “Rev. Edwards’ message with the theme of two becoming one was to the point, and he was living what he preached. He didn’t have to think about what to say; he was feeling every bit of it. The host pastor, Rev. Levi Bond, was so grateful for us being there, and I appreciated his hospitality. He made me feel right at home. Today I learned something. Messages don’t have to be long or particularly eloquent. What’s important is whether or not they are on target.”
It was an honor having the president of FFWPU-USA, Dr. Michael Balcomb, and his lovely wife, Fumiko, in attendance. Dr. Balcomb gave closing remarks and read some of Father Moon’s testimony of his encounter with Jesus at the age of 16.
Pastor Lal Singh of the Holy Family Assembly in Jamaica appreciated Dr. Balcomb’s remarks. “I was most humbled when Dr. Balcomb said, ‘We have lost our first love.’ It was thought-provoking to me in this new year. I want to renew my love and my service to God, be a humble servant and be all that God wants me to be,” Pastor Singh said.
Contributed by Rev. Bruce Grodner and Julia Okamoto
Atlanta, Georgia
On Saturday, January 23, Pastor Haruki Kimura of the Atlanta Family Church hosted a Pastors Forum. The keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Sinclair Grey, who spoke about God’s ideal of creation and the three great Blessings. A young adult from the Atlanta Family Church, Miambi Koko, gave a C.L.U.E. (Creating Love and Uplifting Esteem) presentation. She emphasized the importance of waiting until marriage to have intimate relationships. The C.L.U.E. curriculum is an abstinence-based character education program.
On Monday, February 1, Pastor Mark Abernathy and First Lady Edna Abernathy hosted an ACLC Pastors Forum in their fellowship hall at the Connect Point Christian Center in Snellville, Georgia. Among those attending were State Senator Donzella J. James, Rev. Aaron B. Lackey, the head of his denomination, and several members of the “172-clergy,” and even five new guests. The group read together True Father’s speech entitled “The True Family Movement to Save Humanity,” which explains how Heaven prepared a lineage to bring forth God’s only begotten son, and the importance of the Marriage Blessing to change the fallen blood lineage.