Announcement of Transition and Introduction of Incoming District 3 District Pastor - Crescentia DeGoede replaces Manoj Jacob as District 3 District Pastor - Marjorie Buessing appointed Interim Director of the Blessing and Family Ministry

We want to take a moment to thank Rev. Manoj Jacob and his wife Rany for the care and investment they have given to the Clifton Family Church since taking on the role of Local and District Pastor in 2013. We are deeply grateful for their service and commitment to this role throughout such a historic time in our movement. Though they will be moving on from this role, they will remain respected elders in the district and community. We wish them luck in their next mission.

As we prepare with great excitement to welcome True Mother to America in December, right here in New Jersey, and the arrival of the momentous year of 2020, we would like to announce the appointment of Rev. Crescentia DeGoede as District Pastor of District 3 and Senior Pastor of the Clifton Family Church. The installation service for Rev. DeGoede will take place on Sunday, October 27.

Rev. DeGoede, her husband Leighton and their family feel called, and humbled to accept this responsibility. The ongoing ministries at the Clifton Family Church, including each city community, BFM, YAYAM, CARP, Outreach, along with Kodan, ACLC, UPF, WFWP, and YSP are precious and critical activities. We look forward to working together and inviting the full community to be engaged and involved in the work of building and strengthening the family of God and True Parents.

As Rev. DeGoede takes on her new role, Mrs. Marjorie Buessing will step up as Interim Director of the Blessing and Family Ministry to support and continue the critical work of family support and marriage preparation.

With the guidance and blessing of our Regional Chair, Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, Subregion 1 leadership as well as the Jacob and DeGoede families look forward to welcoming you on October 27, as we usher in the next successful chapter at the Clifton Family Church.

Please see enclosed below a biography for Rev. Crescentia DeGoede.

Rev. Demian Dunkley Rev. Miilhan Stephens President, FFWPU USA; Subregional Director, SR1 Secretary General, SR1

Crescentia DeGoede

Crescentia DeGoede is the oldest child of Claire and Geoffrey Hinkle, a 2075 couple. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania, in a loving family actively engaged in the hometown providence. From an early age, Crescentia took on increasing responsibilities at Shehaqua Family Camp each summer. Her family was part of the core group to launch and develop the popular family camp.

Crescentia graduated from two years of Special Task Force (currently Generation Peace Academy) in 2007. She then graduated from Arcadia University with a B.S. in Sociology in May 2011. She was matched by her parents to Leighton DeGoede of Seattle, Washington and Blessed in 2010. Together, Crescentia and Leighton served first as Youth Pastors, and later Pastors of the Family Church of Philadelphia, mentored by PA State Pastor, Rev. Shota Iwasaki from 2010 to 2012. During that time, Crescentia also worked at a job in the field of social services.

Crescentia was appointed by True Mother as the Director of the National Blessing and Family Ministry (BFM) of FFWPU in August 2013. The BFM provides education and support for individuals and families navigating the matching process and for couples preparing for marriage, as well as marriage and family support and enrichment programs and services. Crescentia has been serving in this role full time for the past six years.

As BFM Director, Crescentia manages a department with hundreds of volunteers nationwide, an office staff of five, which requires strategic planning, budgeting, and pastoral care. Under her leadership, BFM has consistently offered Blessing Education workshops, 24+ Connect Singles Retreats, Matching Supporter Training programs, and Parent Matching Convocations nationwide. BFM has also partnered with the Blessed Marriage Project and High Noon organizations to offer the Energize! Couples Retreats and High Noon programs. During her tenure, new volunteer training programs, educational webinars and courses have been developed for online delivery. Crescentia also initiated and maintained a robust and memorable multi-day Blessing experience, which has encouraged hundreds of American Couples to join the Cosmic Blessing in Korea over the years.

Crescentia is an experienced presenter and speaker, having given presentations at BFM programming, as well as sermons in church communities around the country. She has extensive experience offering one-on-one care and consultations to Blessed Family members on a variety of different issues such as matching support, lineage related concerns, marital conflict, dissolution requests, parenting challenges, bereavement, and crisis situations. Crescentia has enjoyed interacting with BFM Directors from around the world and International HQ staff during virtual and in-person meetings. This has broadened her scope of understanding and sensitivity to the situations and needs of our Blessed Families worldwide.

In her capacity as BFM Director, Crescentia has been blessed with the opportunity to attend True Mother in person in Korea and in America many times and has been deeply impacted by True Mother’s love, presence and words. Crescentia believes that True Parents have raised her up to be the woman she is today.

Leighton and Crescentia have a four-year old daughter, Rose, and a 2-year old son, Elon, and another one on the way! Both children attend the Jin-A daycare in Clifton, NJ. Their family is currently residing in Bloomfield, NJ and plan to relocate to Clifton, NJ soon. In addition, Crescentia is currently pursuing a Masters in Religious Studies from the Unification Theological Seminary.

Together with their parents, Leighton and Crescentia continue to expand, Bless and raise their Tribe comprised of relatives, friends, neighbors and many brothers and sisters yet to be discovered. They are passionate about sharing the love and blessings of Heavenly Parent and True Parents with everyone they are connected to.