The location selected for the Boston event was Faith Christian Church, a newly constructed facility in Dorchester with seating for 400 to 500. This church has been the sight of several of ACLC events and a Seung Hwa Ceremony. The hotel selected for Hyun Jin and Jun Sook Moon and their ever expanding entourage was the Double Tree Suites Hotel, overlooking the Charles River in Boston.

The mobilization plan developed by the State Leadership team included six outreach categories:

ACLC/AFP Visit Team
Hoon Dok Groups
Youth Ministry
Worcester Community
Boston Witnessing Center
Other New England States

We reviewed the results of our most recent campaigns and established a mobilization goal of bringing 150 guests to Hyun Jin's speaking event. Our mobilization plan had four elements:

1) Initial mailing (to our ACLC, AFP and Boston Witnessing Center lists)

2) Personal visits

3) Emphasis on guests bringing guests, and

4) A new guest confirmation system (based on a 21 group by 5 guest category reporting matrix)

In addition, we developed a plan for the January 31st Breakfast Meeting with Hyun Jin Moon based on a goal of bringing thirty ACLC and Ambassador for Peace Guests.

Three of the outreach groups were particularly successful in organizing invitations and bringing guests: The Worcester Community (under the leadership of Sam Wada), the Boston ACLC/AFP Visit Team (including Rev. Bishop Bamfo, Hiroko Hiroi and Catherine Ono) and the Bridgeport Community (under the leadership of Rev. Kris Hempwicz). By the evening prior to the Boston speaking event, we had names of 135 confirmed guests.

Another team that made extensive preparations for the two day event was the Hospitality Team, led by Kinuyo Edgerly, including Sachiko Yatsu, Yukie Hori, Yoko Lux, Miyano Takahashi and Hitomi Shimomoto. The extensive hotel arrangements, including set up for both Hoon Dok Hae and the ACLC/AFP Breakfast Conference were led by Marjorie Buessing.

On the day of the event, Hyun Jin and Jun Sook Moon and their entourage landed at Logan Airport at 12:30 PM. They were met at the Airport by our District Director, Rev. Richard Buessing and our team of drivers under the management of Ken T. During the drive to the hotel, Rev. Buessing briefed Hyun Jin Nim on the organization of the New England District, and presented him with a colorful "Report Book" that detailed recent activities in each of the New England States.

The arrival of the entourage at the hotel by Ken T.'s drivers was so efficient as to take the hospitality team entirely by surprise. However, once everyone was assembled, the hospitality team served a delicious lunch in the Presidential Suite that was attended by Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Sook Nim, Dr. Yang, Rev. Jenkins, Jin Man Kwak, Rev. Richard Buessing, and State Director, James Edgerly .

Our district was blessed to receive support during the two event day by three STF teams and 70 CARP Students. Both groups stayed overnight at the Boston Family Church. During the afternoon of January 30th, the STF team worked to clean and prepare the church, serve food and manage parking. They were assisting Mr. Tetsuaki Takeda who was the event's Technical Manager and Shelley Watanabe who was responsible to prepare the hall, organize guest seating and prepare the evening's extensive gifts, plaques & awards.

During the lunch, the Report Book for the New England District was briefly reviewed Hyun Jin Nim asked questions about the Hoon Dok Groups in Massachusetts, Service for Peace activities, and about the Protection of Marriage campaign. Hyun Jin Nim emphasized that Hoon Dok Groups need to focus on multiplication, and the importance of a two pronged outreach strategy - one focused on new members, the other focused on non-conversion oriented public activities such as Service for Peace and Ambassadors for Peace. Rev. Jim Edgerly explained that Massachusetts had a comprehensive development plan; however, priority was placed on succeeding in two activities: Hoon Dok Groups and Youth Ministry

As the 7:00 starting time approached, the emptiness of the sanctuary was ominous. However, once Angle Climb of the Emanuel Baptist Church in Worcester started singing (accompanied by Sam Wada's band and Arlena Ferrabolli, Jim Edgerly and Rev. Levy Daugherty on vocals) the crowd started migrating up from the first floor where food was being served. As Rev. Jenkins began the program, the crowd in the sanctuary at Faith Christian Church was quickly reaching full capacity.

Rev. Jenkins did masterful job as Master of Ceremonies for the event, creating an energetic and joyful atmosphere that warmly embraced the highly diverse group of guest, including clergy and congregations from approximately 50 different churches, mosques and synagogues. In particular, the audience appreciated Rev. Jenkins acknowledge of the Prophet Mohammed as a messenger from God and his proclamation of role of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He welcomed leading ACLC faith leaders of New England, including Imam Seifullah, Father Cecil Cozier, Rev. Eduardo Yarde, and Rev. James Bradshaw. He also gave a warm greeting to the large group of Swedenborgians attending with Rev. Stephen Ellis of the Church on the Hill in Boston.

A brief song and beautiful invocation was offered by Rev. Dr. Tina Saxon, a team leader of the Health Environment Leadership Project. Welcoming remarks were offered by Pastor T.L. Barrett who testified how seven years earlier, Rev. Moon had helped him reestablish his marriage that had been dissolved for ten years.

Two participants in the 120 nation speaking tour then testified about their experience reading Rev. Moon's speeches on the front line. The first speaker was David N. Scholet, a theological writer and researcher at the Gordon Conwell Seminary who traveled on the tour to Japan, Korean, and Western Europe. The second speaker was Bishop Errel Skyers of the Shaloh Apostolic Church in Bridgeport, who testified about his experience on the tour in Japan and Korea.

The audience was then entertained by the Harmonizing Stars from Rev. Bradshaw's Church of God and Saints in Christ. The group sang "I'm Hung Up on You", a well known song written by Bishop Robert Stallings from Connecticut who came up on the stage, along with several others, to add his voice.

Dr. Yang then read his remarks, imploring the audience to appreciate that the life long leadership of Rev. Moon was based upon a personal experience with Jesus. He explained that Rev. Moon and Mrs. Moon both grew up in what is now North Korea and that Rev. Moon's early ministry took place in an environment of Japanese imperialism, civil war and communist oppression. Rev. Moon will soon celebrate his 88th birthday and is represented in the speaking tour by his third son, Hyun Jin Moon.

Following the video presentation, Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr. came to the stage to introduce Dr. Hyun Jin Moon. Archbishop Stallings gave a detailed review of Hyun Jin Nim's impressive resume, including four degrees from "the academy" and participation in two summer Olympics.

The intensive build up to Hyun Jin Nim's arrival on the stage was rewarded with a clear, well constructed message that presented both the biblical and logical basis for the theme of the speaking tour: "One Family Under God, Aju". Hyun Jin began by explaining the basic elements of God's design, the creation of His own family on earth, as revealed in the Book of Genesis. He presented the mission of Jesus as the second Adam, the one who God sent to fulfill the same purpose of establishing one human family under God. Hyun Jin Nim then spoke extensively about America's central role in fulfilling God's Will. He explained the important role that the American military played on the Korean peninsula during the early day's of his Father's ministry. He described his father's work not as a brainwasher, but rather as a "heart-washer".

Finally, Hyun Jin Nim admonished the faith leaders to no longer focus on their own denominations, but the work towards the fulfillment of God's Will - one family under God. He went throughout the audience, embracing clergy and asking them to shout with passion: "One Nation Under God, Aju!"

Hyun Jin Nim's address, presented without notes, was powerful because it was passionate, uplifting, scriptural, and logical. There appeared to be no resistance to the message whatsoever. The atmosphere create by his words, speaking on behalf of his father, was one of unity and great hope.

Following the address, Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Sook Nim received flowers from Imam and Medina Seifullah of the Al-Baqi Mosque in Springfield. Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Sook Nim presented beautiful ACLC pins to eight clergy who had participated in the 120 Country Speaking tour. The recipients of the pins were:

Rev. James Bradshaw
Father Cecil Cozier
Simone Mason
David Scholet
Bishop Errel Skyers
Bishop Robert Stallings
Minister Lewis Partin
Rev. Israeli Mercedes

Dr. Yang and Rev. Jenkins then presented ten Ambassador for Peace appointments plus Family Church of Peace flags to the leaders from forty churches and mosques.

The evening ended with collection of a love offering, and a closing rendition of "Bye and Bye" sung by the CARP Choir. After the closing prayer, at about 9:40 PM, it was apparent that most in the audience was not yet ready to leave. The crowd lingered in both the sanctuary and first floor foyer long after the event's conclusion.

The following morning, Hoon Dok Hae with Hyun Jin Nim and Jin Sook Nim took place in the first floor banquet room of the Double Tree Suites Hotel. The meeting was attended by the three STF teams, a very large gathering of CARP students, plus Blessed Central Families from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The gathering started with a cake cutting ceremony. As pieces of cake were being distributed and enjoyed by the group, the speech from the Fifth World Speaking tour was read Mika Kuwahara of Worcester, Massachusetts. Then Rev. Jenkin's emceed an excellent second generation entertainment program. The initial performers were a solo performance by Jin Soon Branchalhao, and a rendition of "A Life Uncommon" (Jewel) by Mika Edgerly. Both singers were accompanied by Sam Wada's band from Worcester.

Next, the STF band did a rousing performance of the immortal Chuck Berry Song, Johnny B. Goode, including extensive choreography by lead singer Nam Jin Bowman and back up singers. The final performance was two beautiful songs sung by about seventy college students and CARP members, under the leadership of Boston University Student, Nina Sugawara.

Hyun Jin Nim then came into the audience and spoke for approximately fifteen minutes. He immediately walked up to the area where primarily first generation were seated and explained that he identified himself primarily with course of first generation, because of a shared experience of persecution, sacrifice and misunderstanding. He also spent considerable time acknowledging the great sacrifice that had been made by our Japanese brothers and sisters. He reminded the audience that three of the four recent blessings of True Parent's grandchildren had been with members of the Japanese second generation. This blessing acknowledged the great contribution and sacrifice that Japanese members had made to God's Providence.

Finally, everyone stood up to form a "Youth Bridge". While the STF band played and members of the entourage energetically sang "When the Saints Come Marching In", the group passed under the outstretched arms of the CARP & STF members. With the loud music and mass of blessed bodies pressing together, the spirit of "One Family Under God" was palpable. The gathering ended with a cheer of mansei led by District Director, Richard Buessing.

Immediately after Hoon Dok Hae, an Ambassador for Peace and Clergy breakfast commenced in a meeting room of the second floor of the hotel. Approximately thirty religious and community leaders participated in the meeting. Guests included ACLC leadership from Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, a number of former state senators and representatives, and a group of outstanding Moslem leaders. Mrs. Alexa Ward was accompanied by several of women leaders from the social service sector.

The meeting started with introductions around the table. Under gracious guidance from Archbishop Stallings and Rev. Michael Jenkins, members of the gathering spoke spontaneously about their experience with the event of the previous evening and our movement in general. Because of the heartfelt, honest nature of the testimonies, this spontaneous sharing continued for at least one hour. The shared sense of hope and unanimous statements of support for the mission of the True Parents were way beyond what had been experienced previously in the New England District.

Hyun Jin Nim spoke only briefly at the end of the gathering. He referred to the recently published by DeSousa book, titled "The Enemy at Home." The book explained that anti-American sentiment that has fueled terrorism has resulted from the failure of America to show its true Judeo-Christian nature to the rest of the world. Those who hate America are reacting to the materialist and decadent culture that is conveyed in all that the U.S. exports through movies, television, music, etc.

Hyun Jin Nim stated that the faith leaders of the United States had failed to direct the country towards goodness because they have become overwhelmed with doctrinal differences and concern for their own denomination. He explained that Rev. Moon came to American to take the country back for God and that his movement is the only one that can do it.

At the conclusion of the breakfast, a group photo was taken in the mezzanine.

Hyun Jin Nim was universally well received during his visit to Boston. Our precious second generation were very excited to be with him. Religious leaders of diverse faith traditions received his words because of his passion, his clear explanation, the universality of his heart and message.

We are proud to have our True Parents represented by Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Sook Nim. The next time they visit Boston, they will be enthusiastically received by an even larger and more diverse audience of faith leaders, social activists, and Blessed Central Families.

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