About District 6 Pastor Michael Lamson

January 2013

Question: What did you think of the Foot Washing Ceremony at your inauguration?

I was really moved by the inauguration ceremony at East Garden. The appointment of leaders should be a public and spiritual event that can be celebrated by all. When Reverend Hyung Jin Moon and his wife led us in the foot -- washing ceremony, at first I felt guilty; here our president was washing our feet. Then I realized he is also a leader and a brother who is showing us that the essence of leadership is service. Also, this set a pattern that as our leader, he will not ask us to do something that he is not willing to do, and that we should lead in the same way. Thank you, Heavenly Parent for such an amazing experience.

Question: What nicknames did you have growing up and why?

Do you remember the story from the late '70s, early '80s about the Life cereal kid named Mikey? How he would cat anything? Well my name is Mike so that nickname stuck with me for many years. Often family and friends would say when we were getting ready to eat "Let's see if Mikey likes it." There was also a time when it was cool to say words backwards so "Mike" became "Ekim." "Ekitn" had a ring to it, I guess, so many friends started calling me that.

Question: If you had a million dollars, what would you do?

I would take my wife on a 'round the world adventure where we could focus on each other.

Question: What story does your family always tell about you?

My son shares often about how when I would be gone in Africa for weeks, he would miss me but also be excited about what I would bring back for him -- bones, snake skins or a monkey. My daughter shares a story about how I used to read books, sing her songs and tell stories for her and her brother. I can't remember doing that, but I am relearning with our grandchildren. The story I love to hear them tell the most is how their dad lives for the sake of others and loves God.

Yeon Ah (Lee) Moon

Question: If you could travel back in time, who would you meet and why?

I would want to spend many years with Hans Christian Anderson. I have always loved reading, and his children's stories always fascinated me. It would truly be an awesome adventure to talk with him and experience how he created such stories as The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Snow Queen, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Little Match Girl, and The Ugly Duckling.

Michael Lamson was born in Greenville South Carolina on May 15, 1956 as the third out of seven children. He moved to North Carolina when he was one-year-old. He has been living in Columbus, Ohio for the last seven years as a three- generational family with his Iwo children, his son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Michael joined the church in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 3, 1974 several weeks after his brother: Art, joined. He was Blessed at Madison Square Gardens in 1982 to Wiveka Ringmo from Sweden, and together they have two children. His church activities include working with the national Mobile Fundraising Team (MFT) for nine years, serving as a Sunday School teacher and city leader in Washington. D.C.., teaching the second grade at New Hope Academy in Maryland and helping as a summer camp staff with Camp Sunrise. Since November 1996 he has served as the national messiah for Cameroon, where he lived with his family from 1997-2005. He was appointed as District 6 Pastor in 2006 and re-elected in 2012.

Question: If you didn't have to sleep. What would you do during the time you would normally spend sleeping?

I would learn how to dance, read lots of books, lay on my back and study the stars, write a book (or two), clean the house, pray for all the members in District 6 and most likely would be a little lonely if no one else was awake.

Question: If you could be a superhero, which superhero would you be? How would you use those powers?

I think I would like to be the Silver Surfer. He has the power to accelerate the evolution on a planet, and I would use that power to prepare many planets that humans could live on.

Question: Do you have any phobias? If so, what are they?

None that I have discovered.

Question: What is an exotic dish that you've never eaten but would like to?

Cobra blood and beating heart. Consuming the fresh blood and still heating heart of a cobra will infuse that snake's power and spirit into your own, at least, in Indonesia.

District 6 Council Members

Michael Callahan
Jack Harford
Lucy Park
Welborn Rozier
John Triggol
Mamoru Uyama
David Young