Home Church Theme Song Contest Winner

Andrea Higashibaba
January 1986

Dear Participants of the 1985 Home Church Theme Song Contest,

On behalf of President David S.C. Kim, I want to thank everyone for your participation in this year's contest. The entries, I feel, have been the closest yet to the song for which we are looking. As was the case last year, the contributions for the 1985 contest came from members in many parts of the world in many different missions, including from home church members. It was the most difficult year to choose a winner.

The song chosen, finally, was a simple and beautiful song called "Home Church is the Way" by Hans Lorentzen and his 15 and 13-year-old sons from Ames, Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Lorentzen were blessed in Camberg in 1981, and also have a 10-year-old daughter. Mr. Lorentzen works for the Norwegian family's cleaning company, and his wife works at the training center.

Here are the lyrics to "Home Church is the Way":

All man seeks to find
Peace in heart and mind.
Love, for which we search,
Is fulfilled through home church.

Let us sing this message out
Home church is the way, no doubt.

Man had never learned
How to be concerned,
How to love and care,
To forgive and to share.

Let us sing this message out
Home church is the way, no doubt.

But the time has come --
God seeks everyone.
He would like so much
That we all do home church.

Let us sing this message out
Home church is the way, no doubt.

In February or March of this year we will launch the next annual contest. You can start tuning in for inspiration from now. We would like to extend a special invitation to the members in the foreign missions. We did receive an offer of a home church puppet show, but unfortunately we don't yet have the forum for anything but songs. But don't give up!

We look forward to your entries. Watch for details. As always, thank you for your work for True Parents all over the world.

In Their Names,

Andrea Higashibaba
(1985 Home Church Theme Song Contest Coordinator)