Be the Activators
The National Ministry Team gathered in the Crystal Room at the New Yorker Hotel on September 12 for their monthly meeting to deliver recent updates on community activities and upcoming events around the country.
Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, Regional Chairman of Family Federation North America discussed the important position of America as the Elder Son Nation. In anticipation of the upcoming Peace Starts with Me rally on November 12, Dr. Kim said, “America was blessed by True Parents and Heavenly Parent. America has a holy mission which is to welcome the second coming messiah. At this rally we will show the world that we have fulfilled our holy mission. We need to bring this country back to God’s side.”
Northeast Subregional Director Rev. Demian Dunkley enlightened everybody with details on the upcoming rally. After a summary on the three-day Leaders’ workshop in Korea, True Mother said, “With liberation, Korea divided into South and North…At that time, I was in North Korea…Yet Heaven knew that I needed a period of growth as God’s only daughter, and since I could not grow properly in the North, Heaven guided me to head south…I wanted to drink some water…and as I was drinking the water, [my family] was caught…We could not just return home…so that night we crossed the 38th parallel.”
Demian’s takeaway from this was that America as well as every individual needs to start anew, which is the sole purpose for the rally. “We have to move on, we have to cross that boarder,” he said. He then invited Curtis A. Farrow, a well-known musical director, onto the stage who launched the assembly of the 5,000 voice choir two days ago and has already received confirmation from 25 other musical directors. He said, “We need to be the activators to bring True Mother to America.”
Dr. Michael Jenkins, Co-Chairman of the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) briefly recapped the ACLC Marriage Blessing Ceremony that took place on August 18, and closed his message by announcing Bishop Noel Jones, pastor of the City of Refuge church in Gardena, California and a large influence in mega churches around the country will be attending the November Peace Starts with Me rally.
Crescentia DeGoede, Director of the Blessing & Family Ministry updated the crowd on the recent Hyojeong Cosmic Blessing that took place on August 26, 2018 at the Cheong Shim Peace World Stadium in Korea. “This is the legacy of our True Parents,” Crescentia said as she showed a gallery of photos from local blessings all over America. She went on to introduce an upcoming Family Preparation Tour for the Northeast region run by John and Helen Abelseth, as well as the Energize Couples Retreat from December 7-9 in the Pocono Mountains.
National Director of Youth and Students Ministry Naokimi Ushiroda presented surprising statistics such as the seven ministries under Youth and Young Adult Ministry’s (YAYAM) umbrella. Some of these ministries include Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and Youth Pastors’ Ministry. Naokimi continued to share ministry news like how 21 communities are using the preschool curriculum which the head of Children’s Ministry, Leena Vincenz-Gavin, has developed, how approximately 700 youth attended camps throughout this year, and the launch of the Youth Pastor Mentorship Training program to help pastors and youth pastors work better together. He then invited a few youth ministry leaders onto the stage like Tasnah Moyer, Program Coordinator for YAYAM who shared an overview on the recent Summit workshop, and Naria Gaarder, Administrator for Youth and Students for Peace who talked about the Ocean Challenge program this year as well as Family Ocean Camp.
For more information about the upcoming Peace Starts with Me rally on November 12, click here.