First White Dove Assotiation One-Day Truth Realization Seminar for the Middle-Aged held in the Republic of China
The Objective to Expand and Improve Mothers' Study Classes
In the Republic of China, a White Dove Association One-Day Truth Realizataion Seminar for the Middle-Aged was held for the first time from September 20 to 21 at the Electronic Training Center in Banchao, Taipei. The number of attendees was 152.
According to the Republic of China Missionary Headquarters, because the White Dove Association membership is aging, there is an urgent need to develop younger generations. Therefore, in 2005 they started to emphasize expansion and improvement of Mothers’ Study Classes. To support this effort, the International Headquarters began in 2006 to dispatch an Ordained Minister from the Administrative Section of the White Dove Association Department to guide lecture meetings and other events. This time Rev. Toshiko Ando (Ordained Minister, Chief of the Administrative Section, White Dove Association, Organizational Movement Department) was dispatched. Her guidance was centered around the development of younger leaders.
The texts used included Chinese translations of Seimei no Kyouiku (Education of Life) by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi, and Aijo Kyoshitsu (Lessons on Love) by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi. The Seminar was guided by Rev. Ando, Rev. Masanori Morita (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China), and Assistant Ministers/Regional Lecturers.
Rev. Ando gave three lectures through Chinese simultaneous interpretation: “To Live Woman’s Unique Nature,” “Goal of a Mothers’ Study Class and Successful Examples,” and “Sundial Way of Life.” She also guided a Q&A session. She talked about her own experiences and actual techniques to help practice the teachings.
Rev. Morita gave two lectures: “Five Stages of Love” and “Seicho-No-Ie’s Environmental Activity.”
Joyous comments were received from the attendees, including: “I realized that harmony in the home can be achieved if we, wives and mothers, live happily”; “I would like to continue to study the woman’s unique nature and build a happy family life with gentleness and cheerfulness.” Three women decided to start Mothers’ Study Classes. Subsequently, three new Study Class sites were actually launched, increasing the number of Mothers’ Study Class sites to seventeen from only one three years ago.
Remarks by Rev. Masanori Morita,
Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China
“The Seminar was attended by not only middle-aged people but also Regional Lecturers who guide Mothers’ Study Classes. They studied earnestly how to hold and guide Study Classes. From the International Headquarters, the lecturers who had the actual experience of guiding the middle-aged were dispatched for three consecutive years, so it helped to deepen an understanding of the need to expand the middle-aged membership in all parts of the Missionary Area. I expect that this will contribute to increasing the membership. I would like to continue to work hard to increase new members and develop younger generations.”