31 Jan2017
CARP LV and FFWPU President Discuss Outreach
Contributed by CARP Las Vegas
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the second day of the lunar new year (January 29), the CARP Las Vegas team welcomed FFWPU USA President, Dr. Michael Balcomb, and Mrs. Balcomb for an intimate gathering of sharing testimonies and laughter.
After all CARP members briefly introduced themselves, Mrs. Balcomb immediately asked all first-generation CARP members to share how they were introduced to CARP and the Divine Principle. All four members talked about their unique meetings with their spiritual parents, why they were drawn to study the Principle, and paths of growing their faith in the past two years. They also talked about one new CARP member who was currently participating in Generation Peace Academy.
Then, it was the second-generation CARP members’ turn to share their testimonies of how they witnessed the power of the Divine Principle transforming the lives of guests, and how they could come to understand the heart of True Parents through outreach and appreciate the challenges and sacrifices of guiding others through this spiritual rebirth experience. They expressed that they felt that outreach was a blessing rather than a burden, and wished that more second-generation Unificationists and CARP members could make a change and taste the wonder and joy of witnessing.
Dr. Balcomb was especially excited to hear about their upcoming 40-day Summer Pilgrimage and Training. CARP LV core and new members plan to travel while carrying out basic life of faith training, and visit East Garden, Gloucester and other places where True Parents spent a lot time. They will also visit some CARP chapters along the way to witness together and share the joy and excitement of witnessing as a culture and lifestyle. They are planning to invite both first- and second-generation CARP members from other chapters to join this training.
One big question in the mind of all CARP members was, “What’s my life like after graduating from CARP/college?” Dr. Balcomb told them not to ask an open-ended question like, “What should I do?” Instead, he reminded them how True Mother would rather hear, “Mother, this is how I would like to contribute to the Providence using my talent.”
Dr. Balcomb went on to share the goal of having more younger leaders at FFWPU USA and local communities by 2020, and encouraged all CARP members to pray about how they could step up in support of True Parents’ work.
With Dr. and Mrs. Balcomb visiting and confirming True Parents’ love, CARP members felt a renewed sense of pride and determination to do more in this year of the Fire Rooster.
Rafer Pai
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I am so happy to learn CARP is alive, thriving and continuing its mission. I am a former member from 1986. Till this day my time in CARP and MFT has been my foundation and link to True Parents. After settling in DC and serving under Rev. Woo I was fortunate to attend many of True Parents events in DC . To all my new found brothers and sisters of CARP, you are the frontline soldiers, the Abels, the sparkle in Gods eye! ITPN Aju
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