HDHC Group Leader’s Meeting << BACK TO SMALL GROUPS PAGE

3/04/07

Mrs. Feddema shared from the National HDHC Leader’s Conference. Rev. Cotter said the International Leadership meeting was very inspiring, 1,500 leaders participated. There were 3 True Children who spoke last year. This year Hyo Jin Nim spoke also. There were numerous reports over the 3 day period. They really enjoyed the presentations of the True Children, especially Hyun Jin Nim’s and Kook Jin Nim’s.

During Hyun Jin Nim’s presentation he had the leaders go through a human tunnel. Then he proclaimed that they should become teenager again to work with a youthful spirit.

Mrs. Feddema interjected that Rev.Won Pil Kim said people who manage businesses should be mature and principled people. She could see that wisdom in Kook Jim Nim. If he is in charge of the businesses of the church everyone will prosper.

Kook Jin Nim mentioned in his talk that our movement is not mature enough to take care of the high level professionals that could come to our movement. We need more education.

True Father will eventually go to spirit world. We should unite with the True children’s leadership and create unity. At 88 years of age most people are thinking about going to spirit world. However, True Father is still planning to do more. After DMN’s visit we should be making a new start with a new spirit.

One brother is going around Korea teaching about small groups. The small group activities in Korea are getting better now.

Rev. Cotter said that there is much more potential to develop HDHC quickly in America. Rev. Dr. Kim said he would visit each district and give lectures to members on how to become owners of CIG.

Mrs. Feddema announced that Rev. Cotter became the leader in the Bay Area. The current leader has to take care of some personal difficulties. Rev. Cotter found out that in that area there were no small group activities.

During the phone conference Rev. Cotter asked Mrs. Feddema to share about the New Jerusalem HDHC Small Group Manual. She shared about the format of the meeting, the reporting system and the HDH.

Rev. Curtis Martin, the leader in Southern California, was very supportive of what she said. He was happy to hear good results from the reporting system. He had been struggling to get reports from his leaders. Her advice was very helpful to him. He also agreed with her about using short passages for the HDH instead of lengthy ones, where people can get lost in so much content. He had tried it with 3 pages but it wasn’t so effective. He wanted to get a copy of the manual right away.

Rev. Cotter said that National HQ should have made a manual like this for the HDHC group leaders; however, they were too busy to create one. He suggested that each of the HDHC regional representatives to get a copy of the manual from New Jerusalem and use it in their small groups. He also asked her to e-mail the material so he could give a presentation for the HDHC leader’s seminar he was giving on Saturday (3/3/07).

On Saturday (3/3) Mrs. Feddema received calls from Chicago, Texas, and other regions, who wanted copies of the manual.

However, Mrs. Feddema reminded us that this is only the formation stage, especially the HDH material for the outside guests. We used True Father’s Words heavily in this manual, which the guests are not familiar with the UC terminology. When we make the second one it will have a combination of Bible verses and True Father’s words for the new guests.

Rev. Curtis Martin developed the curriculum for the minister’s small group with Bible quotes and True Father’s or DP. It has been effective.

We can work together to make the next manual better. Please use the manual and give us your comments. Mrs. Feddema will read the comments and then our leadership team will work on the areas that need improvement.

Mrs. Libon mentioned that Mr. Paquit is leading a Bible study group. He could share his experiences. He knows the Bible well. Mrs. Feddema responded that Giovanni is supposed to come to these meetings. However until this month he has been working two jobs. He told her he stopped one of the jobs so he could start to come to the HDHC Leader’s meetings in March.

Then Mrs. Feddema reminded us about Rev. Geller’s announcement of the 12,000 speech tour. Please use this opportunity to bring new guests.

The topic for the meeting is “Bringing new guests.” Mrs. Feddema asked if any of the leaders would like to share how they were able to bring new guests to their meetings.

Mrs. Lewis was the first leader to share. She began by expressing that she was so moved by Rev. Jenkin's effort and support for the Amnesty Event, and seeing 5,000 members attending the event.

Then she began to explain about the guest who came to their meeting. She was an older lady who listened to the Voices of Peace, (which Mrs. Lewis’ husband does the filming for) a program aired on Channel 76. It reports on the international activities of our movement. The lady called the number on the screen to find out more about the organization –Voices of Peace. They invited her to attend the small group. She is really into service so they made that the topic for the meeting.

Mrs. Lewis used World Scriptures about the work of the Eskimos. Monika likes the World Scriptures because it gives quotes from different religious background on the same topic.

Mrs. Lewis appreciates Mrs. Nelson’s (one of her members) ability to bring people out of themselves. She knows how to ask the right questions. The lady stayed until 11pm. She didn’t want to leave.

They had another meeting at Denneze Nelson’s house. She brought her warm contacts. Mrs. Lewis could really see that Mrs. Nelson had built very strong relationships with her guests. Mrs. Lewis was impressed that Denneze drove all the way to Bridgewater to pick-up her guests in the snow. She also prepared a royal banquet for everyone to eat. Her guest brought some food too. The guest was very happy as she looked around at the different people. She comment that it looked like the U.N. she likes the International Club.

Denneze gave the guest CIG wine in the kitchen. They plan to do an official HW ceremony later with the husband present.

Mrs. Lewis said she used the M&M ice breaker for the meeting. It took a long time but it was good.

Mr. Sprague, the next speaker, expressed that small group meetings were about recreating the states, the nation and the world. “Our beliefs, culture and thinking are so ratified.”

Mr. Sprague had trouble just reading TF’s words for the meetings so he added Bible quotes. One person brought heir daughter to the meeting because she wanted daughter to understand the importance of abstinence.

His wife told him they needed to make the condition of reading the speech for the 12,000 tour before True Father comes to America. They decided to read the speech for the meeting with guests. They liked the speech and the person who brought her daughter said she wanted to bring 2 more people in the future.

Mrs. Feddema commented that Mr. Sprague cultivated the guest by using Bible quotes with True Father’s words and then the guest was able to listen to the speech.

Mr. Jewel gave the next report. He shared that Mrs. Kitanaka met someone casually at a Health Spa. She realized the person was religious so she boldly brought up the subject of the messiah, and that he didn’t come to die.

They had a holiday gathering in their group and invited the guest to come. The guest was very inspired. Then she attended another meeting with HDH with True Father’s words on the family from the True Children’s Day Speech. The discussion question was to describe what your family was like while you were growing up. She shared deeply about her situation.

Now she wants to join their group. She has a time issue. However, she wants to join the 1-Day D.P. Seminar in Spanish. She is inspired and very connected to their group.

Mrs. Feddema shared her own experience with bringing new guests to their group. On Saturday (3/3) they had a mini Japanese Cultural Night. They made sushi together. They were expecting 3 guests. However, the wife of the couple became ill and didn’t come. The husband came. He is from Bolivia (but of Japanese decent.) He looks like Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid. After the Sushi they did origami. The guest was very good at making origami cranes. He even created his own unique style for the tail.

They plan to do origami on a regular basis, in their group, and invite guests to come. This guest invited the group to come to his house. They encouraged the guest to bring his whole family when he comes to the meeting the next time. They gave him food and a lot of origami to take back to his family.

There was only one guest but they bombarded him with lots of love. Everyone in the group got excited and stimulated to have a new guest come for the meeting. Having a guest come to the meeting makes a difference.

Mrs. Burns reported that they have meetings for guests twice a month. On Friday (3/1) they had a guest and read true Father’s speech from True Children’s Day. Bruce, her husband picked out the section about the sexual parts... He wanted to be very direct.

She was grateful to Mrs. Osumi who is in their group. Mrs. Osumi is part of the office staff at the Clifton Church. Therefore, she could give them a lot of information. Because of the information, they could use the meeting with the guest, to read the speech. When Bruce was reading the speech she saw an angel behind him. She thought maybe Rev. Geller brought the angel back with him from Cheong Pyeong and passed it on through Mrs. Osumi to their group.

The next section of the meeting was the discussion groups. The topic for the discussion was –“How to make new contacts (warm or cold contacts)” The reporters were Mrs. Lisbon, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Simon and Mr. McMahon.

Mrs. Libon’s group suggested using the websites AFP and Voices of Peace. She said one –on-one care for a person and while another person is doing conditions in the background is very important. Another idea was to meet people through friends.

If we have a minister contact we can ask him to introduce us to other ministers. It is also important to invest time and money. She also suggested that we follow the lifestyle from HD School of making 3 phone calls a day. If we do what we are supposed to do, we will see results.

Rev. Geller mentioned in the history of Korea they used to slaughter a cow for celebrations in small country towns. Then the people would eat the meat together. People are happy when they receive something. He met one mayor several months ago. Through taking care of him, he was inspired to bring 10 other guest to one of our AFP events.

Rev. Geller emphasized that we should focus long term to make a successful pattern in HDHC, by embracing people. If they are embraced heartistically they will want to come back.

Mrs. Lewis reported that in her discussion group they discussed about Japanese contacts. The culture is different. They don’t express so direct so it is difficult to understand what they think. How can they reach out to them affectively?

We should make effort to keep in contact with people we know, celebrate their birthdays, give them gifts and call them regularly.

One leader commented that everyone she has met was contacted before by someone else, somewhere else. Another leader commented that she is always direct. She announces she is a Moonie when she applies for a job because she doesn’t want rumors to start later. It is difficult in the beginning because some people will not accept her for the job. (But when they accept her for the job, there is a foundation to witness later.)

Mrs. Burns

Another suggestion was that we should contact our neighbors. They can be influenced by our good standard. When the husband drops of the children for a party he stays and talks to the parents of the child. He tries to find out what their standard is. Those parents respect him for being so concerned where and with whom his children make friends. Many parents just drop their children off at the party and leave.

Her husband delivers mail. At Christmas many patrons give him money as a present. He sent thank you cards to each person who gave him money. His daughter made the card and he put a family photo in it. He got a good response from his customers.

Another leader (Mrs. Lewis) said we should learn to use our situations for witnessing. For example, a stay-at-home mom can witness when she goes out shopping. One mother told her that she goes to the same cashier every time to make a relationship with that person. Mrs. Lewis is also doing that now, too. She always goes to the same person at Shop Rite. We can do the same thing on the bus or join a club, go to the YMCA. Someone can turn from cold to warm.

Mrs. Simons reported next ~

We should always express appreciation when someone does something good. People will be drawn to us.

We should also try to connect to our friends on a vertical level and not let the relationship stay on a social level.

We can make a survey about how to create a good family. It is a good way to make contacts (everyone is concerned about the family). Give out literature with your contact information. You don’t know who may be prepared. People who are attracted by the literature might call you back. Use World Scripture excerpts. They are common ground to talk to people about God, whatever the background of the person.

Regarding Christian contacts, acknowledge that they are saved (as individuals. Don’t condemn them.) Then introduce the idea of family salvation.

Steve Sprague interjected that we need to do more. Always talk to people. We don’t know if it is a good idea if we don’t try it. Try it and see if you get results.

Mrs. Feddema responded to his comment by saying we should go out and meet one new person a week. Reach out to the parents of your children’s friends.

Terry Mc Mahon shared for his group. He invited the parents of his children’s friends and asked the father why he decided to Home Schooling. The person responded it is the only way to have a God centered family.

Mr. McMahon also suggested we create an agenda: go to dance parties; invite guests to WFWP events; invite people to birthday parties; network with groups; talk to one new person a week. Invite someone for dinner then do DP one –on-one.

Mrs. Feddema announced that there would be a seminar with Rev. Dong Woo Kim. It was tentatively scheduled for 3/10 (but has been changed to 3/24). It is a 1- day seminar about “How to become owners of CIG.”

She also introduced the guest roster. It is a sheet to record information about guests who come to the small group. Each member in the group should have one. The goal is to fill up the sheet with 10 guests. “Shoot for 10 guests.” When you fill out the roster you can see how each guest is doing. This will aid you in guiding each member in nurturing their guests. It is important to keep track of the guest’s information. From time to time Mrs. Feddema will ask for a copy of the roster you have filled out.

Mr. Sprague closed the meeting with a prayer.

<< BACK TO SMALL GROUPS PAGE