HDHC Small Group Leaders Meeting - 01/06/08

Ellen Moon read the HDH “The Meaning of Zero Point”. The meaning of zero point is - I exist for you… Those who can not reach the zero point cannot go to heaven…When you reach the zero point you can find God. Then you can make God the center of your life…

Ellen concluded by saying the important point is to deny ourselves.

Mrs. Feddema warmly greeted everyone and said she was glad to see everyone. She was excited about the Jubilee year being extended through 2008. Mrs. Feddema felt last year was a good year. The leadership grew as well as the number of small groups. The communities have been reorganized with 3-5 small groups under each community leader.

When we started in 2006 there were only 14 groups and now there are 38 in New Jersey and 45 in our region. In Clifton there was only one community leader, Gloria Sato, who had to take care of 45 families. Now, she is still a community leader but only over 3 small groups. She has 10 families in her group. The other community leader for Clifton is Christine Libon.

Another great accomplishment is that 2 groups multiplied. Mr. Shirato, the leader of one of the new groups is here. Mrs. Des Lauriers, who is the leader of the original group he was in, was at another conference. The Des Lauriers’ strong point is that they really take care of their members.

Mrs. Feddema shared a testimony of their dedication to one 1800 couple (who are distant from the church). Mr. Des Laurier drives the wife to work and picks up her up every Monday night (because she doesn’t have a ride.) They believe if they keep loving and serving this couple they will join their group.

Then Mrs. Feddema referred to Rev. Sudo’s description of the HDFC small groups which describes HDFC as building eternal loving families, not just here on earth but ones that will continue in the spiritual world. The relationship with our spiritual children will never change. These are relationships you can bring to the spiritual world.

Jack Jewell’s ascension was such a shock for Mrs. Feddema. He was her assistant for HD School. She felt how much he supported her. There was a big void when he was gone. She couldn’t get over him. Then she began to read about spirit world in the Cheon Seong Gyeong. She felt the more she read the more she could feel comfortable about the spirit world.

The main point is love. Love is the air in spirit world. We need to experience all kinds of love here on earth – the 4 realms of heart. How much have you cared for and loved people determines where you can go in spirit world. The more love you have given and experienced love, the more freedom you have in spirit world.

Even if you did something great that could be remembered in history it doesn’t matter in spirit world. Love is the only thing that matter in spirit world. (No other accomplishments). As John Hessell mentioned in his sermon ... We must become true children of God and True Parents, as well as true husbands and wives. We must put love as our first priority.

Before sharing the goals for 2008, Mrs. Feddema announced the total number of guests who attended small group activities in 2007. The total was 328! In addition, 150 guests attended True Mother’s Speech Tour in November. She deeply appreciated everyone’s hard work and dedication throughout the year.

The Motto for 2008 is “Manse for the *Ssang Hab Jubilee years of the 7th and 8th years of Cheon Il Guk of Universal Peace Federation.”

When she saw True Father writing the motto she could see signs of his aging. We have to be aware of his situation.

These five points are necessary to maintain a spiritual standard. Without them we cannot be effective as leaders nor multiply our group.

Report on the National Conference for Blessed Family Department

The conference was led by Mr. Jim Stephens. He reported that True Parents asked the Korean Church to have monthly Blessing Ceremonies. (These were official Blessings with all the conditions not just giving them Holy Wine.) Rev. Hwang reported that they had blessed 395 couples on 11/17. True Father asked how many of the couples were single and how many were previously married couples. The number of previously married couples was greater than the number of single people who attended the blessing. True Father was not happy with the report. He wanted more single people to be blessed. He asked Rev. Hwang to have two more Blessings on the national level and then have Blessing Ceremonies on the district level every month on the 17^th.

Mrs. Erikawa commented that what happens in Korea will happen in Japan and what happens in Japan will happen in America. Mrs. Feddema added that True Parents want to bless all mankind - every human being on earth.

In New Jersey, we have this new church where we can hold Blessing Ceremonies. 20 -30 couples could receive the Blessing from the small group contacts. We also have the Education system for it.

Then, Mrs. Feddema asked everyone to repeat the motto for 2008!

“Manse for the *Ssang Hab Jubilee years of the 7th and 8th years of Cheon Il Guk of Universal Peace Federation.”

She was happy to see new faces at the meeting. She then introduced Rev. Roghanian and thanked him for coming.

Mrs. Francisco gave a testimony. She said that now that the community is organized around the smalls groups her community has gotten bigger. At the recent Christmas party, there were 70 people. It was a nice gathering. At that gathering she shared her testimony how she used to have constant headaches before 2007. She gets up at 5 am every morning and does pledge and 50 bows and never goes back to sleep after pledge. However, the day of the Christmas Party she decided to rest she felt her energy go down. She collapsed. After she rested she had only two hours to finish everything. Wrapping presents, cooking and everything else, to prepare for the meeting. God gave her a lot of power to help her finish preparing everything on time.

She was grateful to Rev. Roghanian for teaching the Iranian couple and giving the introductory lectures to her guests. We need to work together in the community. If you can lecture or whatever you can do, please offer it, to help others.

Then Mrs. Feddema asked Rev. Roghanian to share about his small group activity. He said often has appointment on Sunday so he can’t come to the HDFC Leader’s meetings. However his group is witnessing even though no one comes to the leader’s meeting. They are a group of leader’s so he doesn’t feel he needs to lead them. He believes the leader provides the vision. Once everyone catches the vision the leader are no longer needed. He sees his job as a facilitator.

Their group started with 2 families. Neil Angelino put his name down because he wanted to be in Rev. Roghanian’s group. Then Rev. Porter, Rev. Pobanz and Rev. Sabourin joined. They have 6 families. Last year he taught an Iranian man for 12 weeks, 4 hours a day. The Iranian sat and absorbed everything. His wife also studied. They went from beginning to the end. They became Ambassadors of Peace at the last event. There is another guest who also comes, Marty. You may have met him.

They spend 20 minutes on an introductory lecture at each meeting. However, their group only meets every 2-3 weeks. Thus, he invites the guests to come once a week to continue the lectures and give them love.

Rev. Pobanz witnessed to a lady who was a neighbor for 5 years. Finally she decided to say something to her and found she was very interested in the spirit world. Kerry, Rev. Pobanz' husband has written 2 books about the spirit world. (See how spirit world is working to bring people together.)

Rev. Roghanian then shared about a book that he was reading which was based on the findings of a psychiatrist who had no religious beliefs. Through her interaction with her patient she discovered the activity of evil spirits and tries to help her patients combat its effects on their lives. Rev. Roghanian feels that this book validates the work of Dae Mon Nim’s (on a cosmic level), as well as showing the efforts of this psychiatrist (on the individual level.)

Mrs. Feddema expressed that she hoped to see him more often at the meeting. However, she would accept having an appointment to teach DP as an acceptable excuse for not being able to attend the meeting.

Mrs. Derflinger reported next. She spoke about the development of her project called “Getting Back to Our Roots.” They had two very successful events and are planning another in the near future. The first one was a testimony by Mrs. Ang about her life growing up in the Mid West. Some neighbors came, members and an artist. Now, this artist has offered her house as a location for future meetings and introduced Monique to other people. Some of them she had met before but they were not so open. However, after being introduced by the artist those people had a different perspective about her what she was trying to do.

The second one was about the experience of lady from Indian. 9 guests came in addition to members. Through each meeting she was able to make new contacts and find the person she could use as the speaker for the next event. The next event will be on February 9th, about South America. Some of the people she had known for years are now starting to change. She meets many new people as well as strengthening and improving current relationships through the discussions. It also allows her to meet people from many different backgrounds. At the last meeting, there were Hindus, Muslims, Jewish and Christian guests. The spirit of the meeting was so high that she could still feel it (in her house) when she came downstairs the next day.

She even finds the opportunity share about the matching and blessing with people she has working with for a long time. Now they are changing their mind. Many doors open through this method. Because of her connections, the owner of a new school is going to let them use the Recital Hall for a joint meeting with another small group. She could meet many educators through this method. She always welcomes the small groups in her community to bring their guests to these events too.

Mrs. Feddema urged her to send photos of these events then they can be shared with everyone. She commented that Mrs. Derflinger is very creative in how she meets and sets up events. Mrs. Derflinger responded that she is not such a bold person so she uses this method of witnessing.

Mrs. Lewis followed her with a testimony about her small group serving the Senior Citizen’s Home in Montclair. This was the 4th year that they had gone caroling at the Senior citizen’s Home. This year they wanted to add something to make it more exciting for the children and the seniors. They had a Christmas play. It had a nice message Santa Claus said “Christmas is all about Jesus who came for you and me.” They also went Christmas Caroling in Denneze Nelson’s area. The people were waiting for them.

Denise made a very nice “professional" brochure to give out. It had the very best photos from their activities to show what they are doing.

Mrs. Feddema said the brochure was beautiful and asked that she bring more. The small group leaders who made brochures used very creative ideas. Get ideas from other groups and create a brochure for your own group (if you don’t have one yet.) Then you can give out to people that you meet. It will help you with your work.

Mr. Ottosson reported that his group had grown a lot during the year. The meetings are great but the members are totally different. They don’t connect outside the group. There are a lot of needs. His focus has been to give love and have a meal. When people come, eat and share, it was good. They didn’t want to leave. There was very little initiative. They were just waiting to come. At the end of this year he called Joe Leonard and asked if he could come and help him. (He is one of his group members). He couldn’t come to the meeting. Bjorn felt this was the last straw. People didn’t answer their phones. He felt maybe no one would come. No guests come, the members barely come themselves. Then the leadership team called and asked the numbers of guests (that came to True Mother’s speech.)

He talked to God. God told him not worry about the results but keep going no matter what. This is your hope. Even if he can not see the ultimate goal of the small group providence he promised God to keep going. Now the members offer to rotate the meetings.

Mrs. Feddema testified to Mr. Ottosson. When he put his name up as a group leader no one signed up in the beginning. She told him to keep going. Now he has 7 families in his small group.

Then Mrs. Feddema asked the leaders to have a short discussion about how to achieve the new goals for 2008.

Reports:

Mr. Ottosson reported for his table. It is important for all the groups to have a common vision and goals. We should work together toward those goals and vision even though our individual group situations are different.

Mrs. Simons report that everyone has experienced those kinds of difficulties their as Mr. Ottosson mentioned. Her group has meetings every other week and on in – between - weeks they go witnessing with the peace messages.

She reported that Mrs. Francisco shared that they have separate meetings for members and for guests. They didn’t have unity until after they did a prayer condition for 40 days. They have 2 meetings a month for guest and 2 just for family members. She went on to say that it is important to build up deep relationships within the group. If a member is not able to share his difficulties in the meeting with everyone in the group, then we haven’t become a family yet. We need to create activities that create that environment.

Mrs. Libon represented the brother’s table. Mr. Shirato, Dr. Takezawa, Mr. Inomata, Mr. Acolatse and Mr. Rollins.) She shared that Mr. Rollins wanted to focus on the text from Purpose Driven life by Rick Warren.

Mrs. Feddema responded that on the way to fulfilling the purpose for our eternal life we will be challenged like the wheels bumping on the railroad tracks. God wants to see our good character and keep a high standard.

Mr. Shirato’s group just recently divided but they are not really divided yet. They meet together often. He is looking for a seasonal project that his new group members and do together. He needs to bring the members of new group together.

Dr. Takezawa reported that his group didn’t get any smaller during the year. However, they feel lonely. He looks forward to growing the group this year. They currently have 5 families.

Mr. Inomata shared that the group changed when they divide into two groups. The members are having problems.

Mr. Acolatse reported that he has 11 families in his group now but they are not ready to multiply. He needs to help some of the families work through their difficulties first.

Mrs. Libon reported last for her table. She feels she is not enough. She group stopped rotating for the meetings. So she volunteered to continue hosting them. Then the members began to complain. As a result they are rotating the meetings again. She was inspired today with the idea of working with other groups. She wants people to write articles about their experience on with the MEPI events. Then she can give them to the editor of an Arab newspaper she contacted.

The report for the last table was Rev. Sato (which included Mrs. Geller, Ellen Moon and Mr. Nagase)

Mrs. Geller represented her husband (Rev. Geller.) The most important point is to bring guests.

They are challenged because both she and Rev. Geller have major responsibilities at the church headquarters. Those responsibilities take time and energy away from preparing for the weekly small group meetings. They need to make a good plan. Perhaps they could switch to alternate weeks for the meetings to give them more time to prepare. Another challenge is that the meetings are not rotating to other members homes. The other members say that their homes are too small for the group meetings. However, she feels there would be better connections if they rotated house to house.

Mr. Nagase reported that it is a new experience for him as a leader since their group just since developing

from dividing Mr. Inomata’s group. His wife is concerned that we have a lot of out reach events but not so much after care. He wants to find out what the members would like to do. It is important how to ask questions so that the members will express their thoughts.

Mr. Nagase feels we need more internal organization in the new church to allow members who would like to help feel welcome and know what needs to be done. We need to create an environment where people will want to come and where they feel comfortable.

His group would like to come and clean the church. (It is good to know who should be contacted for each function in the church so members can find out where they can plug in.) We need to let everyone know who is in charge of each area through e-mail or by making a list in the Sunday bulletin.

Ellen Moon commented that we should put photos of our events and activities all around the church so guests can see what we are doing. Mrs. Geller added we also need to put up a schedule of events.

Mrs. Feddema closed with the following remarks. –We must keep a spiritual standard then everything will workout. This is a great year! Let’s make it a jubilee year of returning joy back to God!

Mrs. Monica Lewis closed the meeting with prayer.

*Ssang Hab: conjoined

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