The Words of the Hessell Family

Fundraisers Learn Humility, Gain Confidence

John Hessell
November 11, 1975
MFT Coordinator
New Hope News

On Tuesday, November 11, MFT Coordinator John Hessell invited me to his office in one of the buildings on some of our newly acquired property in Tarrytown. The house, as usual, was hustling with activity as physical restoration progressed along with the MFT administrative work.

John Hessell joined the Church in 1971 while touring Europe. Upon returning to the U.S. he joined the New York Church. In 1972 he became part of the first full-time fundraising team, selling brandy snifter candles in New York. During the 1972 Belvedere condition, he was captain of one of the two fundraising teams and later became fundraising coordinator. In 1974 his responsibilities increased as many members joined what was then known as Father's Special Task Force MFT's.

Before we toured the properties we had a conversation about MFT life. My first question was; "What attitudes should MFT members strive to cultivate within themselves?"

We try to think of fundraising as an offering which we make to God every day. The attitude we strive to achieve is one of selflessness and humility. Often I will warn the good sellers to be careful because it is easy to become proud, forgetting that it is God, not themselves, who is accomplishing. I say: "Always remember that there is someone praying tor you, someone who has sacrificed for you. Mr. Sudo says that offering has no mouth. If we turn to God and say: "God, look how hard I've worked for You and how much I've done," then our sacrifice loses its value.

Also we need to understand the principle of indemnity and the value of hard work. Hard work in itself is a condition which can be claimed by God. Hard work has a purifying effect on your nature; when you get tired, your defenses are down and your weaknesses tend to show. But you have to battle with your fallen nature. Another attitude out members learn is unity. The power enabling fundraisers to accomplish their results and to work so hard is the depth of unity of heart and the shared bond of common struggle. When I look back to the fundraising teams I have been on and the hard times we shared, I realize that the other members are like intimate brothers and sisters; I have a special relationship with them even if I never see them. It's not something we talk about it's a special feeling of mutual respect.

What kinds of changes have you seen in MFT members during the course of their mission?

What inspires me in my work with the MFT's is seeing the changes in people. The most notable change is in self-confidence. From every day's experience, the members learn how to accomplish mote, trusting them selves and having faith in God that they can do what they have to.

MFTers are put in a position where they have a goal to reach and a commitment to meet; through smuggling to meet them, they reinforce confidence in themselves and faith in God. Usually the shy, withdrawn people are the most reluctant to fundraise, but they can make the most noticeable changes in themselves, overcoming their fears to become outgoing people confronting the public about our movement. We may be reluctant sometimes to speak openly in the face of persecution, but through fundraising we can gain the confidence to stand straight and tall, representing ourselves fully without feat of ridicule.

Most of all, there is an inner calm and strength visible in those who have made a day-to-day contribution to God's providence. In fundraising, the contribution is in black and white. So judgment really falls, but if can fall in a good way, reinforcing our relationship with God and helping us realize: "I am a person of value in God's sight. God needs me." We can more freely relate to God if we can feel that He knows us and is with us.

When I was fundraising we lived a very simple life everything was the same every day. With fewer and fewer variables, I could focus on one point finding God. Through the daily experience, I could relate more and more deeply with God. In fundraising, my whole day was a prayer and each person I met was a new representative of God. We become experienced fundraisers, our inner spiritual life is free to grow. It may seem that other leaders sitting behind desks have it easy, but on the MFT you are really so free. The more we invest, the more we can see returned immediately. It is very clear. That is an important part of training because members can begin to learn that what is returned corresponds to what we invest.

What do you advise members having problems?

It is inevitable that we face struggles because God wants to push us through to our individual perfection as quickly as possible. In the course of fundraising, people normally reach a spiritual plateau. At this time I encourage them to search for what is lacking. Those are the times when we meet some kind of spiritual barrier, a cornerstone of our fallen nature. If our desire is strong, we can chisel away at that cornerstone through daily effort. The main thing I tell people in this situation is: "Don't stop, don't let that weakness affect you. Continue with your responsibility and through that good conditions are made whereby you can overcome."

The best condition is to fulfill your responsibilities. While looking for other conditions, we often overlook the basic ones. I remind people that their basic responsibility is the first thing to fulfill in order to make the conditions to overcome fallen nature.

When people say that they ate having a problem, I'll say, "Great. All the junk is coming out. Your past is being revealed and this is just the last you will see of it in this form, signaling the end of a phase of spiritual struggle" Very commonly, someone will say to me; "I can't face people. I feel so dead, like a robot. It's very mechanical and there is no heart in what I say and no life in my attitude when I meet people" So I tell them: "You've come face to face with your fallen nature. You've peeled away the layers until you've come down to the rotten part of your soul that you want to uproot." It is a difficult period, of course, but it is a chance to extract our fallen nature. try to look at spiritual snuggles as a benefit.

How does fundraising look to you from your perspective of several years experience?

Fundraising as it stands now has been a miraculous achievement. My thoughts go into how we can improve this rather than looking tor another system.... When we started our third MFT we worried about the area problem; we didn't know if there was room in the country tor a third team! It you were to tell me then that we would have is many people fundraising as we do now, I would say that it's impossible. There's nowhere to go. But our team leaders discover new ideas through their desires and creativity. The ideas don't come so much from me as from them. I have great respect for team leaders.

How has negative publicity affected fundraising?

In New Jersey we felt the effect of the Sheeran case and judgment has been falling. We find more people against us; we also find more people for us. No one is lukewarm, it's either hot or cold. The people standing behind us are more enthusiastic than ever because they see the unfairness of the accusations. The persecution has made fundraising more difficult but the quality of our membership and the overall commitment of our movement has changed so drastically and continues to do so. In spite of the variables, the foundation that we stand on is the commitment of the current members, which is growing and growing. For example, in the month of September one team maintained an average that in the past used to be the goal that we were striving to break. While our movement has not grown in numbers as quickly as we would like, the depth of commitment and the productivity of members has definitely changed. What each person is able to accomplish is so much more than it was so that it is as though we have many more members.

In the office John showed me several newly designed granariums and two styles of candles in heavy, smoked glass goblets (beautiful items, in my opinion) MFT's are now selling the candles.

The two large ponds on the former Kocher, now church-owned property, reflected the weeping willow trees fully under the angled late-afternoon autumn sun. Geese and duck made themselves at home in both ponds.

Restoration of one large Kocher house (now called the White House) is well underway, it is beginning at the smaller Gate house. Two larger stone buildings, and garden apartments still house some tenants. The Jacob House, the former Binger Estate, adjoins the former Kocher property und hosts New York's 21-day workshop. 

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