Famicon: ‘We are the Youth’
Contributed by Mi Young Eaton
The Youth and Young Adult Ministry Team gathered together on stage for the first time during the afternoon plenary session of Famicon 2017 on April 5. Naokimi Ushiroda, director of the Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the United States, moderated the plenary and took the opportunity to fully introduce his team.
The overall theme for the plenary was “Cultivating the Next Generation of Leadership,” and featured presentations by representatives from our national Youth Ministry, Generation Peace Academy (GPA), Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) USA, the newly established Young Adult Ministry, and Global Projects for Youth. District 10 Pastor Rev. Inchan Park also gave a powerful testimony about his experiences and insights as a young Unification pastor.
Coupled with the earlier plenary session on community development, the sense of the day was one of investment, understanding, and relationship. I’ve noticed throughout the conference that so many conversations between our brothers and sisters begin at the end of a session only to continue straight through a meal or a subsequent breakout session: a clear. sign of the eagerness of our hearts to connect more deeply with God, True Parents, and one another.
As with the previous days of the conference, a helpful tone of honesty prevailed throughout the plenary presentations. In the case of the youth and young adult representatives, when they concluded their comments, they received a prolonged, standing ovation from the audience.
The day closed with a concert, featuring performances by Apple Heaven USA, members of the Bridgeport band Prideswell, and the Las Vegas Family Church band.
Stay tuned for a final update on Famicon 2017 tomorrow, Thursday, April 6!
More photos coming soon.