Public Lecture Meeting and Leaders' Workshop held in Southern California
Study of the Secret to Prosperity and the Teaching that All Religions Emanate from One Universal God
A public lecture meeting (Japanese and English) was held on September 28, 2008 at the Japan America Theatre in Los Angeles, California. A Southern California Leaders’ Workshop (Japanese and English) was held on October 12 at the United States Missionary Headquarters. The public lecture meeting was attended by 384 people, which was an increase of 12 people from last year. The Workshop was attended by 46 people, up by 3 people from last year.
The public lecture meeting aimed to enhance propagation to new people and was held under the theme, “The Secret to Prosperity Starts with Laughter.” It was guided by Rev. Masayo Tsuruta (Ordained Minister, Chief of Northern California Missionary Area) and Rev. Shinji Takahashi (Ordained Minister, a director of Brazil Missionary Headquarters). Rev. Tsuruta explained the wonderfulness of the “power of the mind,” which everyone possesses. He introduced the fact that many people had been saved by utilizing this power and that the teaching is spreading to all corners of the world. Rev. Takahashi talked about the law of the mind, saying that the sundial way of life helps materialize prosperity at home and in businesses. He used slides and introduced examples of companies which grew their businesses by practicing it.
Comments received from the attendees included: “I was deeply moved by the lectures. I was able to understand the importance of the mental attitude and the benefits of laughter.”
The Leaders’ Workshop was held in October under the theme, “Grand Harmony and Our Mission.” It was guided by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie United States Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Vice Bishop of the United States Missionary Headquarters, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area), Rev. Tomio Otsuka (Ordained Minister, United States Missionary Headquarters), and Rev. Hideharu Sugiuchi (Ordained Minister, United States Missionary Headquarters).
Rev. Teshigawara lectured on “World Peace and Our Mission” and stressed that the gratitude for and worshiping everything is the key to resolving the issue of peace/environment/natural resources. Rev. Kawakami’s lecture was entitled “Why Do We Study Islam?” He stated that from the viewpoint of the teaching that all religions emanate from one universal God, the study of Islam will lead to world peace. Rev. Otsuka lectured on “A Digest of the Four Holy Sutras,” while Rev. Sugiuchi’s lecture was on “The Seicho-No-Ie Teaching and Deeds of Love.”
Comments received from the attendees included, “I was able to deepen my understanding of Islam.”
Remarks by Rev. Mario Kawakami,
Chief of Southern California Missionary Area
“It has been only a short time since I became the Chief of the Southern California Missionary Area, but I was impressed to see the leaders of the Missionary Area study the Truth deeply at the pubic lecture meeting and Leaders’ Workshop and practice it in their daily lives. I appreciate the thorough guidance of my predecessor, Rev. Tsuruta and would like to work hard to expand the Movement in the future.”