ACLC Las Vegas Report of September 22nd
Reported by Kay Yamaguchi
On Friday September 22nd, ACLC Las Vegas held a Pastor’s Forum at the International Peace Education Center (IPEC) for the pastors who attended the fifth Seunghwa Anniversary for Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the Cosmic Blessing. The purpose of this event was to honor those pastors, to listen to their testimonies of attending the International Religious Leaders Conference, and to connect their mission as a Christian pastor to the Cheon Il Guk era and to True Mother’s desire for Christianity. As True Mother spoke at the final banquet, “Your time on earth is important. A world that attends Heavenly Parent and True Parents will be remembered with pride throughout history.”
The first session began with testimonies given by the pastors who traveled to Korea.
After their testimonies, Archbishop George Augustus Stallings gave his own testimony. In the second session, Archbishop Stallings emphasized on how the Christian pastors can become the True Parents to their congregation.
Two reflections by members who attended:
My husband and I were Blessed to attend the ACLC Conference prepared by Kay Yamaguchi, as follow up from the recent minister’s conference in Korea for the 172. We went especially to support Rev. William Owens, whom we had been acquainted with this past year.
We have both attended several ACLC Conferences in Las Vegas, including those with Archbishop Stallings. This time, I noticed a real shift in attitude and commitment in some of the pastors who attended.
Several pastors were asked to give their testimonies of their experience in Korea:
Rev. Giddens was the first to speak. I noticed a real change in his attitude. He gave testimony to the quality of the organizational structure, and the ‘Heavenly Headquarters.’ He called this a testimony to the presence of God. He spoke of the Heavenly Parent as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He said True Parents cannot do what they do without the Heavenly Parent. It was not only his words as such, but also the humbleness and feeling of conviction he was conveying. I could feel a new spirit of love for True Parents showing through his words.
Dr. Taylor testified that she experienced love in Korea, that the experience was overwhelming. She was very sincere.
First Lady Faye McDonnell spoke of her experience in Korea as life changing. She said there is a whole new world than what we knew. She spoke of Mother Moon as a Lady of Reverence, that she could feel God’s anointing on Mother Moon’s life. She was very moved by True Parents’ vision of world peace, and how precious it was to be in the midst of every tongue, who came together to praise Almighty God. She saw True Mother as someone with power and purpose. I felt also an attitude of humbleness, deep appreciation and openness for however God wants to use her. Her husband was right with her. They have been ministering to the poor. I could feel a great change is happening in their lives!
Rev. Owens spoke that he learned more being in Korea in 4 days than he had in the last 20 years! He said it was an honor to be there, that he came because of Archbishop Stallings’ encouragement.
Archbishop Stallings himself spoke, that God chose us, that He is calling us out of our own boxes and structures that we are used to being in. He spoke about God shaking us to the core and asking us to enlarge our territory, and not to be afraid to tread into deep waters. He spoke of Jesus being an anchor, and that he wants to be like Jesus. He spoke of the importance of spiritual discernment to evaluate our experience. He said we are coming into an experience far bigger than anything we are used to. He gave testimony to True parents as two people totally consumed, inebriated in God’s Love, offering all their energy and resources to build Heaven on Earth. There was a new feeling of deep sincerity and conviction as Archbishop Stallings spoke. He certainly was changed by the experience in Korea, as well! He warned against getting stuck in doctrinal hang ups to the point of losing the big picture. He gave testimony to True Parents coming to America for 34 years to strengthen Christianity. That if Christianity came to be what it was meant to be, it will be the greatest change agent the world has ever seen. He warned that everything will pass away except our character. We need to love creation, love others, and live for the sake of others. The true test is how we loved one another, so let us tear down the walls!
Later, Archbishop Stallings spoke very clearly about the Blessing and how important it is for the pastors to have a Blessing in their church for their congregants, especially testifying to the True Family Values, as an excellent teaching tool.
Later, the vibrant conversation at dinner testified to how electrified everyone felt.
Everyone was deeply grateful to Kay Yamaguchi for her amazing persistence!
We felt Blessed to be there!
Mrs. Kay Yamaguchi organized the pastors’ trip to Korea where they spent one week receiving spiritual guidance and listening to lectures which helped them understand the vision of Rev. Sun Myung Moon.
The pastors’ reflections were very moving and inspirational. Their outlook on the Family Federation, formerly the “Unification Church,” had changed markedly in a positive way.
The pastors all had revelations leading them to see beyond their own denomination and religious beliefs, to work on the commonalities among the world’s religions.
Archbishop George Augustus Stallings shared his personal experiences from his early life and the changes he experienced after meeting True Parents. Most moving was his transition from celibate life to married life and family man with a beautiful wife, picked by True Father, and with two beautiful sons. His continuing life of faith and burning resolve to fulfill True Parents desires deeply inspired the pastors.