The Words of the Buessing Family
|
|
The Words of the Buessing Family |
Richard Buessing was born in Merced, a farming community in the Central Valley of California. He was raised Catholic and attended Our Lady of Mercy School for nine years before going to Merced Public High School and Merced College. He met the Unification Church in October of 1971 while attending San Jose State University in California and moved into the Eighth Avenue church in San Francisco in March of 1972. Later that year, he joined a traveling missionary team and traveled throughout the Midwest.
He has been a state leader over the years in Colorado. Ohio, Arkansas, Georgia and Iowa, as well as a District Coordinator for the American Constitution Committee (ACC) and the American Freedom Coalition (AFC). He was Blessed in marriage at Madison Square Garden as part of the 2,075 Couples' Blessing in 1982, and he currently lives in Concord, New Hampshire, where his family settled in 1989. His wife, Marjorie Barrie, was elected to the New Hampshire State Legislature in 1992 and 1994. They have four children who have all graduated from college.
As an avid Divine Principle lecturer; Richard continues to teach at summer camps and Sunday School for the Unification Church. He has been District Pastor in District 4 for the past six years and was re-elected in 2012 by the District Council.
Question: What do you think about Hyung Jin Nim's foot washing ceremony?
It was the first time in my history in the church that I ever went through such a ceremony. The symbolism was very significant. It signified to me that our role as leaders and followers is to serve one another. The washing of feet is a beautiful expression of our attitude and heart to each other. As District Pastors, we should always remember this day as we do our daily work.
Question: If you had a million dollars, what would you do?
My wife and I would completely support the restoration of the Boston Unification Church. It is a beautiful building in one of the most historical districts in our nation. I would make it a showcase in Boston not only for our church, but a historical landmark for tourists to visit. I would devote one room to the history of Reverend Moon's work in Massachusetts and the United States. The next thing that I would do is buy a camp and conference center for children and adults. I would make it a year-round destination for youth activities, married couples, and spiritual retreats.
Question: What story does your family always tell about you?
My wife and children always laugh at me because of my use of the English language. They tell me that I don't pronounce words in the right way. I tell them that I grew up with a different dialect and set of words from growing up on a dairy farm in California! We have a joke in my family that to understand dad you need to study the "California dictionary." We have a lot of laughs at my expense. My own brothers and sisters are always amazed at how our children turned out so well, because they knew me growing up. I always tell them that it is because of their mother who loves and believes in them 100%.
Question: If you could travel back in time, who would you meet and why?
I would like to meet Moses. He was an amazing man who knew the living God on a certain level according to his time. He grew up in a palace, spent most of his life wandering in the desert or the wilderness, and died without reaching his goal. I would like to know how he handled so many people, went through so many hardships and still held hope until the last days of his life. I feel I could learn a lot from this man. I admire him for enduring all those years with great faith and determination.
Question: If you could be a superhero, which superhero would you be? How would you use those powers?
Superman. I grew up watching Superman, as did many Americans. He had supernatural powers. cared about the underdogs, and was totally fearless in his fight against evil. He stood for truth, justice and the American way. If I had those powers, I could help create a world of goodness.
Greg Breland
Jim Edgerly
Yukiko
Fairbrother
Justin Fong
Mike Myers
Masao Okano
Sam
Wada
Alexa Ward