The Words of the Burton Family
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The Words of the Burton Family |
A Valentine's Day news feature on Channel 7, KWWL Waterloo, Iowa reported the Unificationist tradition of love and romance that is flourishing in two generations of the Blessed family of Gerald and Michiko Menning in Waverly, Iowa. See story at www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=14001452
"If you think arranged marriages only happen in other cultures or countries, you'd be wrong. An eastern Iowa couple is in one, and their children plan to follow suit," Channel 7 Reporter Tara Thomas tells viewers.
"Nearly 30 years ago, Gerald and Michiko Menning became husband and wife. They had just met. The Waverly man and Japanese woman entered into an arranged marriage through the Unification Church led by Reverend Sun Moon," Thomas says, adding: "Since that ceremony, the now 57-year-olds have been happily raising five children in Cedar Falls."
"Reverend Moon introduced each other, matched and we talked if we accept or not. This is our choice and we talked and we agreed," Michiko Menning tells the reporter.
"And their oldest, 21-year-old Erika, already has plans to marry. Like her parents, it's an arranged marriage," Thomas says.
"He lives in Missouri. He's studying to be an engineer, over in Rolla. I feel very special and unique in our own way," Erika Menning says on camera. Thomas interviewed all of the five children of the Menning family and reported that "they embrace the Unification Church teachings they've been raised to follow, even the arranged marriage part."
By all accounts, the feature by Reporter Thomas is respectful and appreciative of the Unification Church marriage tradition practiced by Unification Church founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon for more than 50 years. [Rev. Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han, have presided over arranged marriages in the United States since 1969.] Reporter Thomas concludes her story with an accurate assessment of the religious stance of the Mennings which is true of Unificationist couples the world over: "As for mom and dad, they see their union as a higher calling and one that culture and language could not divide. Mennings, very nice family."
The positive media bonanza resulted from the Menning family's determined effort to distribute 430 of Rev. Moon's autobiographies in their town. Both parents and all five children were distributing books. In January, Michielu Menning, 15, gave a copy of True Father's autobiography to his classmate at Columbus High School. This classmate took the book home and gave it to his father, who works at KWWL TV in Waterloo. The father knew about the planned Valentine's Day special program that would highlight couples with a unique background. He recommended that the station interview the Menning couple. When contacted, Mrs. Menning agreed to be interviewed but suggested that her children also be part of the story, and Reporter Thomas agreed.
Mrs. Menning has also reported that after one month of distributing Rev. Moon's autobiography in her local community, the Catholic High School that her children attend had placed a copy of the Divine Principle next to the Holy Bible and other books for spiritual development at a school event.
During the book distribution, the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Urban Education in Waterloo informed the family that they wanted to use Father's autobiography for their workshops. Some youth organizations have also indicated to the Menning family that they want to use the autobiography as one of their textbooks.
In a recent open letter to Unification Church members, Mrs. Menning wrote: "We have heard that 'Now the spirit world is ready to help us' and that [this is] 'the Era of God's Direct Dominion' It is really so! I am going to testify that I felt miracles. I wish the true love seed will grow until the end of the earth and spirit world."