Our April prayer breakfast was held at Fairfax Place, a family-owned nursing home in Cleveland. The founder of this institution, which moved into this beautiful new building in 2000, is Mrs. Ethel Pye, a youthful 88 year old friend -- an ICC alumna who traveled twice to Korea in the 1980's. Her son Melvin is the current director of the facility. His wife Deborah also participated in ACLC events when she was working as a principal in Cleveland schools. She is now a minister. They all were present for this special gathering and made us feel very welcome. Dozens of Easter lily plants decorated the numerous window sills of their spacious meeting room, the bright morning light glowing through them on this perfect spring morning. 23 guests were with us, and 21 members.

As guests arrived from around town as well as Columbus, Youngstown, and Akron, our guest speaker from Washington, D.C., Rev. Levy Daugherty greeted everyone warmly and made the room even brighter. A welcome from MC Rev. Bruce Biddle led to an invocation by Rev. Andre Reese from Columbus. Beautiful testimonies were shared by Mrs. Megumi Lindstrom and Rev. Lillie North, who both gave a high-energy start to the proceedings with words of gratitude and love. Deacon Edward Walton, who recently returned from our Israel pilgrimage, read the scriptural offering. An original toe-tapping song was shared by Joel Lindstrom and Chris Bihary, known affectionately as "Sunshine Rose". The Cleveland Family Church children then offered up a peaceful version of Song of the Garden.

Announcements were given by Mrs. Keiko Biddle, and the ACLC Goals and Objectives were read by Rev. Dr. Thelma Johnson and Rev. Marvin Walker, who have also been with us to the Holy Land. Selections were sung in power and beauty by Rev. Pete "Iran" Figueroa, from Puerto Rico via New York, who leads a church near the campus of Oberlin College outside of Cleveland. Rev. Pete has a wonderful bilingual music ministry that touches hearts all around Cleveland in all types of church events and Hispanic venues. Our Pentecostal guests were not the only ones dancing near their tables. The spirit was definitely hopping.

The atmosphere was undoubtedly set well for our precious brother Rev. Daugherty! His speech was entitled "The Way to Build the Family, Restore the Community and Rescue the Nation". Sharing from scripture, dreams and personal experiences as a Unificationist, his hopeful message touched our hearts but also challenged all who were present. Though we were a very diverse group gathered that day, we were drawn together as family through Rev. Daugherty's love and wisdom in the Lord.

"Holy Juice" was shared and another song by Rev. Pete as we welcomed back Dr. Thelma Johnson for a deep and lovingly firm Call to Action. Sister Gloria Laurent, our ACLC membership coordinator, spoke on the value of showing substantial support by joining ACLC. Brother Joel Lindstrom gave Rev. Daugherty additional recognition and asked that an offering be taken for him, which received a generous response.

As is our tradition here, the closing benediction was delivered with strength and tears by Rev. Dorothy Burton. She asked all men to create a circle of prayer near the podium and directed all women to encircle the men and a prayer of healing and unity brought us to a close.

The event was a truly rich interracial and interdenominational gathering. Some ministers brought their families to be with us for the first time. Brothers and sisters helped care for babies of guests and attended with love also to the elderly patients who we met in the halls of the nursing home. Big thanks go to key Ambassador ministers who worked hard to bring this success to their own city of Cleveland. Thank you much also to Allyn and Kiyoko Lipstreuer, who so diligently took care of registration and picture taking. Thanks go to Chris Bihary for another splendid flower arrangement masterpiece, which found its way to Columbus afterwards to enhance the following day’s Sunday Service and sermon by Rev. Daugherty. Thank you also to members who couldn't come but helped to lift the spirit through their prayers.

Afterward, members introduced Rev. Daugherty to the Holy Ground established by Father Moon in March of 1965. This sacred place is on the classic landscaped grounds of the Cleveland Museum of Art in the heart of University Circle across from legendary Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra. The park holds an enormous pond, cherry trees, a flowing fountain and numerous statues including a bronze replica of August Rodin's "Thinker". Spring blossoms were in peak beauty all around us as we gathered under blue skies to give thanks, prayer and manseis for God and True Parents for our hometown, our ministers and God's Providence and wished Godspeed to Rev Daugherty as he departed for Columbus with brothers and sisters.

 Download entire page and pages related to it in ZIP format
Table of Contents
Information
Tparents Home