September Highlights from the Las Vegas Family Church
The Las Vegas Family Church has had a very exciting September. Here are a few highlights from their eventful month!
For months, members of the community worked tirelessly to hold monthly Blessing Introduction Barbecues and weekly Divine Principle Workshops. Their efforts paid off on September 10, when more than twenty couples bound their lives for eternity in a Marriage Blessing Ceremony, held to commemorate the fifth anniversary of True Father’s ascension to the spirit world. On the same day, a group of fearless young people joined together in a purity pledge, where they promised to stay abstinent in anticipation of their future spouse. Later, on September 20th, Reverend Ken Doo joined the Las Vegas Community to hold an appreciation barbecue for everyone who helped make the September 10th Blessing Ceremony and purity pledge possible.
On September 19, the International Peace Education Center (IPEC) held a forum to celebrate the International Day of Peace, which took place on September 21st. At the forum, titled Peace Starts with Me, Mr. Akira Watanabe and Ms. Sofia Schersei were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace and appreciated for their tireless efforts to promote unity in their communities.
Just a few days later, on September 22, pastors gathered at IPEC for a second forum. There, they honored ministers who attended the Blessing Ceremony, heard testimonies from participants of the International Religious Leadership Conference, and explored new ways to connect to Christian ministers and their congregations.
The young people of Las Vegas met together for an evening of fellowship, fun and planning. There, they brainstormed ways to work together to create a vibrant and thriving community in Las Vegas.
Many of the college students of the Las Vegas Community are also members of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP), a group working to transform the culture of college campuses by encouraging authentic relationships and personal growth. In September, CARP Las Vegas students were excited to learn that professors would begin recommending their organization to fellow classmates. The students kicked off the school year with a tribe talk that boasted 52 participants, including 22 newcomers.
CARP members joined together to answer the question, “How can I be truly happy in my life?” In addition, CARP held a two-day workshop titled Peace Starts with Me. Three newcomers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the College of Southern Nevada attended the workshop, which featured time for bonding, songs, and the reading of True Parents’ words.