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Seicho-No-Ie News

INTERVIEW


“EMBRACING MY FATHER’S GUIDANCE”

Rev. Marie Murakami,

New Vice Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America

“My father was very strict with me. He always guided me, ‘Man is a child of God, so you must always be No. 1.’ If I was in second place, I had to expect one hour of preaching from him. Every year I participated in the Seicho-No-Ie speech contest, which was held for children between the ages of 5 and 10. My father gave me a voice practice session every day. Even when I lost my voice from the practice, I was not allowed to miss the contest, so I had to go up to the stage.

“When I looked at the back of the contest hall, I found my father praying seriously. I felt sorry. Suddenly my voice, which I had lost, started to come out.”

With her vitality nurtured this way, Rev. Murakami devoted herself to the activities of the Youth and Young Adult Association and was later employed by the Brazil Missionary Headquarters. After three years of service, she resigned. After her marriage, she left the Movement because her husband hated religion. She concentrated on the management of their chicken farm. “It was a period of training for to say “Yes” to everything my husband said.”

In 1984, with her husband’s permission, she was employed again by the Missionary Headquarters. While being the Chief of the White Dove Association, among other activities, she planned and held White Dove Association Leaders Workshop at four spiritual training centers. During devotional labor and cleaning service periods, she would wear jeans and join others in the activities. She was always up and front in leading other people and developed many leaders.

She says, “From now on, I would do my best as the assistant to Rev. Yoshio Mukai, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America.”

She always cooks for her family even when she returns home late. Let’s count on her infinite energy in expanding the Movement.