The Big Sky state welcomed the "We Will Stand" tour to the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings. The attraction to the event was positively magnetic and the 700 seat banquet hall was completely full well before the starting time.

The tour began Feb. 25 in the Bronx, New York where 3,500 clergy and followers joined the 81-year-old evangelist, who called for national interracial

and interreligious harmony and cooperation.

The Reverend Michael Yakawich, pastor of the local Unification Church, now called the Billings Family Church, stated in the press: "It (the event)is asking for everyone to take a stand against drugs, alcoholism and racism."

Prominent Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Pentecostal ministers have been joining the tour. "This is an ecumenical program, not that far removed from what we've done in the community," he said.

"The faith community must take a leading role in making a better reality for all our citizens. Our churches, temples, mosques remain the most segregated part of our society."

"Many clergy, especially African-Americans, have decided to stand with Moon on the issues of rebuilding the family, restoring the community and renewing the nations", Yakawich said.

Bishop Richard Larsen, the Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and former mayor of Billings gave a beautiful welcome to Father Moon and the assembled. He was absolutely confident that the program was vital for Montana and the city of Billings.

Reverend Orie Medicine Bull, a Native American Indian from the Mono Nation and Christian minister stated: "The Native American's know that Reverend Moon is right. His position on the family and purity in marriage is an essential aspect of the universal truth that is God's vision for the family. The Indian nations are all in support of Reverend Moon. He says he is our cousin and he is right."

Reverend Medicine Bull brought 30 leaders with her. They had flown in from San Francisco to support the Billings event. Most of the audience was made up of white Christians. Reverend James DeFoe came from Wayman African Methodist Episcopal church.

Reverend Mark Wachtstetter of the Crown Point Assembly of God in Chicago gave a warm introduction to Father Moon, reinforcing the main theme of the tour: "The deterioration of the family parallels the rest of society's ills. Those problems supersede the denominational barriers."

Father Moon's address was delivered in Korean with simultaneous translation by Mr. Peter Kim.

The speech was truly inspiring, though there was a significant struggle when he spoke firmly that men are subject in the family. He used the example that the woman's love organ is concave or shaped like a bowl so it can receive while the man is designed to give the seed of life.

The women in the audience definitely were squirming at this point, but completely changed when he laid into the men telling them in no uncertain terms: "You cannot be men of God if you are unfaithful." The women, in particular, cheered at the sound of this statement.

The evening concluded with the presentation of gold watches to local ministers in recognition of their service to their communities. Chief Windy Boy presented special native blankets to Father and Mother Moon.

But first he went right to the microphone. It looked like trouble! He began sharing a lengthy explanation of the painful heart of Native American Indians. Then he suddenly stated that they (Father and Mother Moon) were the only ones that he felt could actually do something about the source of these sorrows. As he at last presented the blankets he sang a soulful ceremonial song.

Something most significant seemed to be going on. Father Moon embraced him with patience and a warm hug touching the heart of many who stood in silent, then exuberant witness.

 Download entire page and pages related to it in ZIP format
Table of Contents
Information
Tparents Home