The 48th International Spiritual Training Seminar held in Florida for the First Time in Two Years
First-Timers Account for About 30 Percent
The 48th International Spiritual Training Seminar was held from December 11 to 13, 2009 at the Sun Pedro Center in Winter Park, Florida. This was the first International Spiritual Seminar held in Florida in two years. The number of participants was 29, including 10 first-timers (34%).
The Seminar was guided by Rev. Yoshiko Teshigawara (Ordained Minister, Chairperson of the International Spiritual Training Center), Rev. Mario Kawakami (Ordained Minister, Chief of Southern California Missionary Area), Rev. Bruce Mallery (Ordained Minister, Chief of New York Missionary Area), and Rev. Hideki Takao (Assistant Minister, International Spiritual Training Center).
The Seminar program had 10 lectures, including “Let’s Protect Our Earth.” There was also a Q&A session, and an explanation and practice of Mind Purification Ceremony, Ancestor Memorial Service and a Candle Service.
According to the International Spiritual Training Center, since many of the participants were originally from Brazil, who speak Portuguese, there was a period to train them on English propagation skill. Also, after the importance of the English monthly magazine, Truth of Life, was made clear, there were 20 new subscription requests.
Comments from the participants included, “I would like to become a lecturer and propagate the teaching.”
REMARKS BY REV. YOSHIKO TESHIGAWARA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPIRITUAL TRAINING CENTER
“Thanks to the members in Florida (Fort Lauderdale area), who served as the host, the Seminar turned out to be a fulfilling one. I was happy to see that the repeater participants had made great improvement. I was also happy that the first-timers were very impressed with the teaching. I would like to continue to introduce the International Spiritual Training Seminar to as many people as possible.”