The Words of the Selover Family
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The Words of the Selover Family |
My friend LS is a fundamental, traditional, dedicated, devoted Christian. She and her husband PS both are Presbyterian elders, committed, supportive and generous givers to the church that my husband Thomas and I have been investing in for several years in Westchester County, NY.
We have known this couple even before they were married. Their wedding ceremony was held during a Christmas Festival Service in the church. On this delightful occasion, we prepared the Holy Wine and presented it to them on their wedding day; they took it and prayed over it with grateful hearts. This couple has served and given a lot to this church. They also know that we are matched and blessed by Rev. Moon because we shared our blessing testimony with them. Their attitude toward us is mixed: sometimes they appreciate our participation in this church matters, sometimes they are skeptical, perhaps because they are afraid that we will bring in un-orthodox ideas which are different from Presbyterian belief. But, overall, it has been a very good and rewarding relational experience to us.
On Feb. 19, 2012, my husband preached a sermon on True Love at this Presbyterian church, and we followed up with the distribution of our True Father's autobiography after the service. I also prepared one additional Korean version for LS whose mother tongue is Korean, not English, though her English proficiency is excellent. Because, I want her to be able to completely grasp and understand the message and the background of the culture that True Father originally intended to convey through his mother tongue Korean, which is fully expressed in this book without translation. Afterwards, I was glad that I did it just for her, because she appreciated it very much.
She later shared with me that after she started to read the book, she was moved by True Father's words and the message behind the words. She started to cry, started to repent for being so mean and biased toward Rev. Moon. The more she read, the more she wanted to continue reading. She wept till she finished the book in two days. She kept asking questions about our church. She is curious about the Divine Principle. I invited her and her husband to come to our Original Substance Divine Principle workshop. She said she will definitely seriously consider coming to attend the workshop. Now, her attitude toward us has changed. She is much more relaxed, at ease and appreciative to us.
Lately, our son David came back home for a short break from NextGen Academy (NGA) one year program. We presented David's testimony to this couple at their home. David shared his experience in Malawi and the spiritual and physical training through NGA. They gave donation for the good cause, were delighted and inspired; and want her son (who is currently 10 years old) one day to participate in the NGA program and to be just like David to do great things for God and others.
As we keep sharing and serving at this Presbyterian church, the pastor and the congregation, including this couple and their family, have become good spiritual friends. My husband has been serving as treasurer at this church for 2 years by now. The church didn't seem to have any immediate dramatic change – the church is still under the Presbyterian structure, and the choir still sings every Sunday as usual; but we know that some things are changing in this church and we are changing as well. We feel inspired, uplifted, and hopeful, though sometimes exhausted. We know although this can be a long journey, but worthwhile and rewarding. To me, it is liberating; it is a healing process for me personally because of my own Christian church background while growing up.
May the joy, dignity, honor, authority and all the glory be unto God, Jesus and our True Parents forever more, Amen and Aju!