American Church Outreach Teams Roll Out New Initiatives

Since the witnessing campaign was announced on June 22, 2013, Unificationists across the country have launched a range of projects and initiatives showing creativity and enterprise.

In Maryland, part of District 1, Pastor Miilhan Stephens and Outreach Pastor Jim Boothby have recruited a four-person team of young adult leaders who are creating projects to recruit new members and guests to informational events and fun outings. The pastoral team launched on June 29th the first of seven Saturday seminars teaching Divine Principle. They are negotiating the rental of a storefront in Greenbelt, Maryland which could be the hub of events seven days a week.

In the New York Metro area, part of District 2, Masako Aull, the New York Metro Kodan leader, reported the creation of a witnessing team made up of three to four people. The team practiced lecturing the Divine Principle in English to prepare for their witnessing and book distribution of True Father’s autobiography at Bryant Park in New York City. Instead of guests only listening to the Introduction of the Divine Principle and the Principle of Creation at the Video Center at 4 West 43rd Street, now three interested guests have been studying the Fall of Man.

Keiko Breland holds Divine Principle study groups with University of Bridgeport students

In New England, specifically Bridgeport, Connecticut, part of District 4, Keiko Breland helped create a clear education system, a variety of small groups, such as Divine Principle study groups with University of Bridgeport students, and a “Care Team” to offer consistent care for the increasing number of guests attending Sunday service.

Keiko Breland (left) and Alexa Ward (right) worked together to distribute True Father’s autobiography door-to-door in Bridgeport, Connecticut

For active outreach, Breland, together with Alexa Ward, vice-president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) USA, has distributed True Father’s autobiography door-to- door and set up book tables.

Unificationists in Chicago host brainstorm sessions in people’s homes to discuss witnessing strategies

In Chicago, part of District 7, Rev. Kazuo Takami organized brainstorming sessions in people’s homes to discuss witnessing and outreach strategies.

Kimie Stana (far right) from Dallas, Texas, attended an interfaith program where Dr. Karen Hollie Thibodeaux (center), seen with her husband Dr. Bishop David Thiboedeaux, testified about True Father and his work in the Middle East

In Dallas, Texas, part of District 9, Kimie Stana and other Kodan sisters created a witnessing team and continue to go to community colleges every week to distribute True Father’s autobiography and to invite interested individuals to Divine Principle lectures. Stana and another Unificationist attend an interfaith program with a Jewish Rabbi, a Muslim Imam and a Christian minister at Dr. Karen Hollie Thibodeaux’s church. Dr. Thibodeaux, who attended True Father’s Seonghwa, introduced her Unificationist guests and testified about True Father and his work in the Middle East to the guests attending the interfaith program.

The successful weekly Saturday pancake and Divine Principle seminars spurred the Colorado Family Church to launch a weekly Wednesday spaghetti dinner and Divine Principle introductory presentation

In Denver, Colorado, part of District 9, Rev. D. Michael Hentrich and the congregation established weekly pancake breakfasts and Divine Principle seminars attended by more than 25 guests in the last four weeks. Two guests are considering membership.

In Omaha, Nebraska, part of District 8, Pastor Mark Lincoln organized special sessions and witnessing teams.

The team of 10 people hold an outreach strategy meeting before they witness at the University of Minnesota

In Minnesota, part of District 8, Rev. Carl Swearson joined 10 people to witness at the University of Minnesota. The outreach team has been witnessing for five weeks and so far two interested, impressed students have listened to a Divine Principle lecture. The team now guides guests to the new website, www.MinneapolisFamilyChurch.com, created by Hyung Tae Ha, a young second-generation Unificationist.

Lorenzo Zurito, 32, (left) joined the Seattle Church and received the new member orientation from Pastor Nelson Mira (right)

In Seattle, Washington, part of District 10, Takako Kawamura reported that a breakthrough point came to the Seattle Church when Lorenzo Zurita, 32, joined the church. Kawamura and others host a One-Day Divine Principle Workshop and witness at a library twice a month. Kawamura’s goal is for each family to

witness to one person by August 23.

In San Jose, California, south of the Bay Area, Unificationists set up a book table during the lunch hour at the De Anza College campus center, and have already distributed 350 copies and obtained interested students contact information

In San Jose, California, part of District 11, Masako Ando reports that she and four to five sisters set up a book table every Tuesday for two hours during the lunch hour at the De Anza College campus center to obtain students’ contact information and hand out True Father’s autobiography. They distributed 50 copies a day, a total of 350 books during the course of seven weeks. The group then held an “Open- House” to show videos about True Father and Divine Principle lectures to the interested students who submitted their contact information. One guest realized the life-changing content of the Divine Principle and continues to study with a sincere heart. The Unificationists in San Jose, per the suggestion of their district pastor, Kevin Thompson, hope to create the South Bay Area church and are continually making plans for more effective guest care.