To bring light to their constant sacrifice and dedication to the Unification movement, John and Helen Abelseth and Hans and Kiyoko Rinkema were given the Outstanding Family Award. On December 7, the couples arrived in New York to receive their awards and to be celebrated by the National Ministry Team. After receiving their awards from FFWPU USA President Rev. Richard Buessing and his wife Mrs. Marjorie Buessing, each recipient shared a few words with those in attendance about their gratitude for True Parents. The next day, they had the opportunity to experience True Parents on a closer level at East Garden, where they saw many artifacts of True Parents’ work in America. Below are detailed descriptions of the couples’ work in support of Unification movement. 

John and Helen have been a long serving Unificationist couple for the entire North America region. They have been faithfully serving as volunteer matching supporters, or people who support young Unificationists in the process of being Blessed in marriage, for many years.

John has been one of the key coordinators of all matching supporters in North America for the last few years. He has helped train and support countless matching supporters nationwide and overseas in-person and via teleconference.

John has volunteered to serve as the Blessed Family Department Director for Canada, providing care to Blessed families in Canada, and offering educational programs about the Matching Process throughout Canada.

Volunteering their time, last year John and Helen traveled to 10 communities all over North America to offer Family Matching Preparation programs to over 300 individuals, and trained many new Matching Supporters as well. Both are regularly teaching and giving the education to support the spreading of the Blessing.

John has been a volunteer organizer and speaker on countless Family Matching Support and Matching Supporter Training webinars, and has provided technical support for many other webinar series hosted by the national Blessing and Family Ministry.

The Abelseths dedicated a tremendous amount of their time to actively promote one of True Parents’ most important values, the Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony, all while supporting their six adult children.

Hans and Kiyoko have been an exemplary Blessed family in the Chicago area. They have been very involved in their extended community and have been active in the Blessing and Family Ministry for a very long time.

Both Hans and Kiyoko have been faithfully serving as volunteer Matching Supporters and Blessing Interviewers for the Chicago families for many years, and have helped many families to successfully navigate the matching process.

They have organized Blessing Education programs for candidates and Parents Matching Education programs for parents, as well as supported and organized Blessing events in their community.

Hans and Kiyoko also help train other members of their community to become matching supporters, and most recently they started offering monthly Family Matching support meetings.

In addition to their Blessing support ministry, Hans has been teaching the weekly Divine Principle workshop for guests, called “Reboot,” as well as the weekly DP lectures for second generation high school students.

Kiyoko is also involved in family care in their community, making sure families and members in need get help and support through their various situations.

They have three children, two of which are blessed, and raising their growing families. Their younger son is also involved in the local youth and young adult ministry.