Children’s Ministry Celebrates True Children’s Day with Fall Festivals

In celebration of True Children’s Day and in support of the upcoming World Clergy Leadership Conference in December, Children’s Ministry hosted local Peace Starts With Me Children’s Festivals this past weekend.

Photo credit FFWPU-USA

The Dallas Family Church Children’s Ministry hosted their festival on Saturday, November 2. With local Unificationists inviting family, friends, and guests, almost 70 people came to attend! There were activities to entertain every age group, such as a giant homemade Jenga set, Cornhole, a photo booth, and a Kids’ Corner that included a craft station, a ball pit and other games. The Dallas Family Church café filled orders throughout the day and held a fall-themed bake sale. After a barbecue dinner, the program concluded with a raffle announcement and an Open Mic session!

The Washington, D.C. Family Church took the children to visit the Emmanuel Baptist Church where a Prayer Breakfast was being held. The children performed a song and presented a canvas to the church pastor, which the children designed that says “One World Family Under God” and “Peace Starts With Me.”

In Nebraska, the Omaha Family Church celebrated on Sunday, November 3, combining the Fall Festival with Sunday school. The children worked to put together gift packages for local high school students and delivered the packages to a church in Benson later that afternoon.

In Mobile, Alabama, the entire Unificationist community came together to host their Children’s Festival! Pastor Jario and Leena Gavin organized the event, which brought in a record number of volunteers to make the event possible. The program began with some outdoor lawn games, then moved indoors to create cards and care packages filled with donated Halloween candy for Operation Gratitude. Families continued to have fun by taking pictures together at the photobooth, enjoying playtime at the Gather Kids Place, and participating in Family Minute-To-Win-It games. Pastor Jario also led a Storytime featuring “The World God Made for Me” by Laurel Nakai, sang a song about peace, and shared a short message on the Peace Starts With Me initiative. The children were given a Peace Starts With Me Kids Challenge Card, which encourages them to serve someone in their home, friend circle, school, neighborhood or community. Once they complete the challenge, they bring it to Gather Family Church for a free Open Play pass at the Gather Kids Place!

Photo credit FFWPU-USA

Children’s Ministry at the Belvedere Family Church and the Family Church of New York City held a joint event. The games and activities focused around three themes: Love for God, Love for Others, and Love for Creation. The children donated their Halloween candy to participate in Operation Gratitude. They closed their program with a prayer, three cheers of Eog Mansei, and party bags!

Photo credit FFWPU-USA

Approximately 115 people gathered at the Family Church of Connecticut on October 27 to celebrate True Children’s Day with the installation of their new Assistant Pastor Chigo Ahunanya. Rev. Miilhan Stephens, secretary general for the Northeast Region, gave a message about adopting True Mother’s “All In” heart, and shared about his own commitment, encouraging everyone to look within themselves. After cutting the cake and enjoying a potluck lunch, the children participated in a team treasure hunt, face painting, and origami. The Family Church of Connecticut invited a band of fiddles for entertainment, which had everyone on their feet square dancing and line dancing.

Photo credit FFWPU-USA

In celebration of True Children’s Day, the Los Angeles Family Church was graced with a special sermon from Western Subregional Director Rev. Larry Krishnek. After Sunday service, participants enjoyed a delicious Korean lunch, and played plenty of family games and activities, such as BINGO, a face painting contest and a ping pong tournament! Winners were presented with nice prizes.

The Minneapolis Family Church combined their Pre-K to fourth grade classes, and invited Leena Gavin to lead the class in singing “Omaya Nunaya.” Mrs. Gavin provided a very poignant statement to describe the value of True Children’s Day: “We celebrate this day every year so that we can remember who we are, as children of our Heavenly Parent, God, and to express gratitude to True Parents for giving us grace of being reconnected to God.” The children then decorated Happy True Children’s Day cards, and concluded with bubbles for the kids and a cake celebration together with the entire community.