North Carolina Ministers Catch the Fundraising Spirit

As told by Ricardo Reyes-Reed to Michael Macijeski
August 1985

Left to Right: Mrs. Louise Allen, Dr. Joseph Paige, Dr. Gregory Headen, Ricardo Reyes-Reed, and Dr. Edwyn Baird.

My first encounter with The Shaw Divinity School came while I was the city leader in Wilmington, North Carolina. I had been traveling around to develop social action programs with the IRFF trucks stationed throughout the state. While I was in Raleigh, I was invited to participate in an interview on a radio show on the Shaw campus. I spoke out strongly about how our movement wants to serve America through social action, uniting the Christian community to heal America's grave social evils. I pointed out that all the money our members have fundraised in America over the years has gone to make possible such endeavors as buying the 250 trucks. Two members of the Shaw administration, Dr. Joseph Paige and Dr. Gregory Headen, were especially inspired. Dr. Paige is the executive vice president of Shaw Divinity School, and Dr. Headen is the dean of students.

Not long afterwards, Dr. Paige and Dr. Headen asked us if we could help move some furniture onto the Shaw campus for them. When Paul Rosario (another brother from our local church center) and I arrived with the furniture, Dr. Headen and Dr. Paige wanted to help us unload it, but we insisted on doing it ourselves.

After that, Paul and I went several times to visit Dr. Paige and Dr. Headen. We always had very good, deep discussions, and they asked many questions about the Principle and our movement. We felt that we really wanted to give them our spiritual support. We always felt moved to take them nice gifts, like ginseng tea. The four of us became very close; Dr. Paige and Dr. Headen would often say that they wished their students could be like our church members.

Dr. Paige and Dr. Headen were inspired about our description of fundraising as leadership training; they wanted to try it themselves first, before recommending its inclusion in any training program for their student ministers. They decided to hold a fundraiser at Dr. Headen's church, where he serves as pastor. I received a revelation that the product for the fundraiser should be fish. Through a connection that I had in Wilmington, we could get fish from a wholesaler in Durham at a very good price. Paul and I bagged up the fish Wednesday night-36 bags of ten fish each. We donated two coolers to Dr. Headen's church to keep them in until the sale. On Thursday, congregants from Dr. Headen's church passed out flyers around town which he had made himself about the fish fundraiser. During the weekend, Paul and I were out of town fundraising, and we were very concerned about how the fish fundraiser had gone. When we came back, however, we learned that they had sold out in 3 1/2 hours -- and they were very happy! Proceeds went to Dr. Headen's church.

Since then, we have received five donations of frozen fish from local wholesalers -- very good fish, too, even better than what one might buy in a store. The wholesalers could get tax credits. Dr. Paige and Dr. Headen are advisors to the student ministers of over 1,000 rural churches throughout the area, and we're planning fish distribution soon to all of them. Half of the fish will be used in fundraisers for the local churches; the other half will be distributed by the churches to the needy.

Before Father received his honorary degree from Shaw Divinity School on May 11, Paul and I were honored with achievement awards, together with about twenty local ministers, at a pastor's conference at Shaw which was attended by 120 ministers in all. The awards were given to people who had helped Shaw Divinity School widen its base of financial support. Paul and I had participated in making detailed plans for fundraising strategy, and had helped the school raise money during the spring term.

I am convinced that by serving and supporting ministers and other community leaders with Father's spirit of care and sacrifice, we can cement deep bonds of friendship. With this network, a solid foundation can be built for interdenominational fellowship and cooperation in the restoration of America.