Dear Family,

First we want to thank our Italian Family and Rev. Cali for their excellent support for this moment in history. Without hesitation the Italian members together with many of our sisters in a special prayer group prepared the way for us. Our Italian family is great.

Each step we take in Rome is guided by a sense of history and destiny. The ACLC pastors are gaining confidence in their faith. As they continue to proclaim Father as the messiah anointed by Jesus at the second coming they also experience persecution, suffering and misunderstanding like unto the early Christian experience. It gave them strength and deeper conviction when they could see the sites where early Christians were totally rejected and persecuted. The severity of the suffering of the early Christians humbled us. We visited Circus Maximus in which where many Christians were martyred. Many could feel that our suffering has been small compared to our forerunners. Some African American clergy felt deeply connected through this to the suffering that their ancestors had endured through slavery.

We visited the ancient ruins of the Roman forum. One of the most profound experiences was at the end of the forum. There we visited the prison (dungeon) that Peter and Paul were kept at separate times. Dr. C. Phillip Johnson stated, "Being in the prison of St. Peter and Paul made me feel the sense of urgency and greater sense of importance of the mission we have been called to. We have been receiving communications from the heavenly realm that we must be victorious. Many times we do not take our missions seriously enough."

The prison affected everyone. At the base of a 2000 year old building you enter through an iron gate and proceed down a winding stone stairway. There you enter a stone room that has a very low ceiling and is somewhat shaped like a small dome. Peter was imprisoned here. Paul was imprisoned here. It was real. Then we were told that the stairway was put in latter. The way you were put into the prison was through a hole cut in the ceiling. It was dark and damp.

Paul prayed in that very prison cell and determined that his new religion based on faith in Jesus would conquer Rome. He believed without doubt that, though he had but a handful of followers in the magnificent and all powerful Rome, that Jesus would win the empire for God. As he prayed, it is recorded in scripture that water sprang forth and allowed Paul to baptize other prisoners. In the floor in that dungeon was a spring feed basin about 2 feet in diameter and about 3 feet deep. We baptized one another in that dungeon. The water was pure and clean. Therefore whatever suffering we may experience we must believe and find the spring water in our suffering that will sustain and cleanse us.

Blessed Central Families, how serious must we be at this time. Paul, with absolute faith in the Lord moved Rome. From this dark and damp prison cell Paul experienced confirmation that God would give Jesus the power to turn Rome around. Our blessed central families must have this kind of faith. In every nation. We can turn the nation around. America is certainly deeply parallel to Rome. One is amazed at the architectural congruity of both America and Rome. Rome was truly the most powerful civilization on earth and if Jesus had been received Rome would have built the Kingdom of God on earth. America is the modern day Rome. It has the most powerful military, economy and the finest constitutional republic that has ever been established. To fulfill its destiny our beloved America must receive the Lord.

Many things that are not pleasing to the Lord existed in Rome and exist now in America. The next step is that America must follow II Chronicles 7:14 - 18 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel."

Can the nations of the world be turned toward the Kingdom of God, can America lead the way to the Kingdom of God? Blessed Central Families, the power of these Christian leaders bound together in blood lineage through the covenant of the blessing are also bound in blood with us and together we will help America lead the nations of the world to God's Kingdom of Cheon Il Guk. We have the power of True Parents who have been crowned King and Queen of all Blessed families. There is infinite power to be unleashed through our proper relationship with True Parents.

Each morning at Hoon Dok Hae the 120 clergy gather and we read Father's words, those words are attached. As we depart for Jerusalem we are overwhelmed by a sense of repentance and sorrow. The incredible foundation that God prepared for Jesus did not receive him. Now its time mend this history.

Please pray with all of your heart for this Pilgrimage.

Thanks America.

MWJ

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