Heart of Attendance

Mitshi Ishioka
October 4, 2009

During the last week, I had many opportunities to interact with the True Family. On Friday, Liz and I attended an ACLC meeting where Jin Sung Nim proceeded to approach us. He asked us if we were part of STF still and we both acceded, saying we were there because we were part of the service projects team. He paused for a moment and seriously said, “STF should really be here.” Liz and I turned to each other and knew that he meant business. Before we could reply, Jin Sung Nim briskly walked away.

The next day, we received morning service about attendance and what it truly means. Apparently, Jin Sung Nim held a meeting with the STF staff about the heart of attendance and what it truly means.

Attendance should be part of our culture, something that shouldn’t have to be taught, but a habit engrained into us at a young age. It hit me deeply that attending In Jim Nim isn’t about attending one person, but it symbolizes attending the whole True Family, including True Parents, and ultimately Heavenly Father.

Thus, during the ballroom dancing event, I truly wanted to have a heart of attendance to show my support and gratitude towards In Jin Nim and the True Family. Through that attendance I realized that God can pass down tremendous blessings.

For the 1st time on STF, or in my life for that matter, the brothers on the other side of the room felt like my biological brothers. I saw them and treated them the way Heavenly Father intended me to. It was amazing! It truly felt like a heavenly culture and it would have never come about if it wasn’t for ballroom dancing. Even beyond that, I don’t feel like that culture could have been there if my heart of attendance wasn’t there. It laid the foundation to be able to see from God’s point of view.

Without the heart of attendance, without that culture, it is truly impossible to receive the blessings that Heavenly Father wants to give you.

Mitshi Ishioka